Older Blues fans have spoken about how they are finding it more difficult to get to games
Lifelong Everton fan John Roberts struggles to get to the Hill Dickinson Stadium owing to blue badge issues
Lifelong Everton fan John Roberts struggles to get to the Hill Dickinson Stadium owing to blue badge issues(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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Evertonians with disabilities have said they are considering handing in their season tickets to the club’s new stadium as they find it more difficult to get to matches. It’s been all change for Blues fans in the last 12 months as they adjust to life away from Goodison Park.
The club made its long-awaited move for the men’s team from L4 to a new stadium on the banks of the River Mersey in August. A series of test events were held prior to the first league game as the Toffees made the Hill Dickinson Stadium their new home for years to come.
However for some, getting to the match is becoming something of a chore. Matchgoing fans the ECHO has spoken to have said they are considering giving up their seats as they are finding accessibility, particularly around parking for blue badge holders, a real issue.
After consultation with representatives from those living and working around the Hill Dickinson Stadium footprint, Liverpool Council confirmed in July last year it had changed the operation of the parking zone in time for the final test event. Among the amendments include increased blue badge parking around Regent Road.
John Roberts is 77 and travels to the game from his home near Calderstones Park. He is part of a syndicate that has seats at the new stadium, with his first and last game to date being the 0-0 draw against Aston Villa.
John explained how getting to the game had become difficult owing to arthritis. He said: “I cannot walk more than a few yards without my hip giving me serious pain so we decide to get a taxi.
“We had to pretend we were going into a car park near Nelson Dock to get as close as possible. On the way out I had a young man organise me a wheelchair when I was ready to go, I can’t fault them for that, they were brilliant.
John, 77, can't walk more than a few yards without his hip causing serious pain
John, 77, can't walk more than a few yards without his hip causing serious pain(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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“The wheelchair was pushed to the Regent Road gate, the nearest to Sandhills Lane which is where our taxi driver said he had been stopped about halfway down. I then had another painful 20 minutes to get into the taxi.
“I’d have loved to have been able to park there with my blue badge. I’ve been watching Everton since 1959 and had a season ticket for 20 years.
“I was excited to visit the new ground. It’s obviously frustrating, it’s a beautiful stadium but it wasn’t built for people with blue badges.”
In an email seen by the ECHO, Everton’s accessibility team confirmed the club had “come up with alternatives to help our supporters attend the games.” This includes the provision of free taxis., while work is ongoing with the Everton Disabled Supporters Association (EDSA).
Additionally, the ECHO understands more than 100 disabled parking spaces are made available at Nelson Dock, the second highest in the Premier League. Barry Harrison, 85, had a season ticket at Goodison Park from 1966 up until the final men’s first team game against Southampton last May.
He travels from near Holywell in North Wales and has had to take four buses there and back after parking options around the stadium became unworkable. He said: “When I used to go to Goodison, I had my blue badge so it wasn’t an issue.
Everton fans making their way to the Hill Dickinson stadium on Regent Road before the game
Everton fans making their way to the Hill Dickinson stadium on Regent Road before the game(Image: Liverpool Echo)
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“The first time I went, I got the train and it damn near killed me, the walk from Sandhills. I get the bus now, for the Sunderland early cup game I left at 8am and didn’t get back until 5.40pm.
“I’m 85 for Christ’s sake, it’s a half a mile walk from the station. I missed the ballot to get a parking space because I was working and I wrote to Liverpool Council but never heard anything.
“People are really struggling to get to the stadium and there’s now night games in a row. I’m thinking of chucking my ticket in, it’s always been a social event for me, I’ve barely missed a game since 1996 save for Boxing Day and now I’m having to rethink it.”
Mike Penn, 80, from Maghull, told the ECHO last summer how he feared accessibility may be an issue moving forward. He explained how he had found the first season in the new surroundings.
He said: “Things are not better and at times somewhat worse. I found a parking area behind the Chinese supermarket with restricted parking but I could use my blue badge.
“The walk to the ground was a bit of a struggle but I managed ok. However, to claim a space on that road we had to get there about two hours before so we had a long wait.
Everton fan Mike Penn from Maghull concerned about the Blue Badge parking near Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium
Everton fan Mike Penn from Maghull concerned about the Blue Badge parking near Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium(Image: Liverpool Echo)
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“The last match I used the Soccerbus from Bootle. That worked out ok but it was still a fair walk into the ground.
“The main problem is if you have mobility issues there is no way of getting close to the ground, at Goodison it was fine. You can’t use a blue badge and there is nowhere you can be dropped off by taxi without having a distance to the ground.
“It’s probably ok if you are young and fit. Once into the ground it’s still a significant walk through the plaza to the turnstiles. It does get me down and at times I think about giving up my ticket.
“A few weeks ago the weather was awful and for the first time in over 70 years I had a ticket for the match but didn’t go. I was expecting my dear mum to come back and haunt me, I felt so guilty.”
In its advice to fans, Liverpool Council said in the first instance – blue badge holders should follow the guidance in “The Blue Badge scheme: rights and responsibilities in England.” This is in addition to being able to park on yellow lines, unless there is a loading/unloading restriction, so long as a valid Blue Badge is displayed along with the blue parking clock and the vehicle is not causing an obstruction.
According to the council’s guidance, Everton FC will implement road closures on a number of roads around the stadium on event days. They will reserve the right to not permit vehicle entry to, or exit from, these roads on safety grounds.