Ten year wait is over

Last updated : 25 February 2009 By Tony Scholes

The area for our wheelchair supporters is not the best, it is right down on the touchline in the corner of the ground and of course is open to the elements as they sit there with no shelter. And yet, each and every time the subject was discussed there would be reasons given why a shelter couldn't be provided, even though those Supporters' Clubs on a number of occasions offered to foot the bill.

Just a couple of years ago a concerted effort to improve the facilities for those disabled fans fell down at that last hurdle. Some improvements were made, some of them significant, but they were still left out in the open.

Then, and finally came a breakthrough. In August of last year the supporters clubs had a meeting with the new Chief Executive Paul Fletcher. Like others before him he agreed with us regarding the facilities, but Paul vowed to get it sorted and provide that much needed shelter.

Since August there have been one or two delays but yesterday the two shelters were finally unveiled with representatives of those supporters clubs present, in particular from Earby Clarets who made a large donation towards them. They will be in use from the Sheffield Wednesday game this coming Saturday for the first time.

The only downside is that some seats in the corners of the two lower tiers behind the new shelters now have a restricted view. Those seats are the least used inside Turf Moor and so it isn't a problem for most games. When they are needed, the Spurs game was the last time, they will now be sold accordingly as restricted view tickets.

It's not perfect by any means, but this is another improvement for our disabled supporters who have suffered from the weather since the new stands were opened in 1996.

The photograph above shows the area where the disabled shelters have been located, unfortunately permission wasn't given for Supporters' Clubs to take photographs at yesterday's unveiling.