DISABLED football fans have been left dismayed after one of the region’s biggest football clubs left them out in the cold.

A lack of allocated wheelchair space at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light meant members of the Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters’ Association were forced to join able-bodied fans to queue overnight for tickets for the Middlesbrough vs Sunderland match on October 30.

Paddy Cronesberry, Chairman of the association, said that they would usually expect to be allocated about 20 tickets but had only been offered five by the club, meaning that some of their members were left fearing they would miss out on the match.

It is believed that the problems with limited disabled tickets are a result of a decision made to limit Middlesbrough’s main ticket allocation ahead of the match.

Mr Cronesberry said: “This has been a disappointment and a shock. We thought it was totally unjust. This is about disabled people’s rights. Disabled fans should not be penalised because ticket numbers are limited.”

Although away fans are entitled to occupy 15 per cent of the Stadium of Light’s 49,000 capacity, ticket allocation has been limited for the upcoming game to 2,800, allegedly due to evidence of previous bad behaviour and persistent standing by Middlesbrough supporters.

A Sunderland spokesman said the club was working closely with Middlesbrough FC to accommodate the requests of disabled supporters.