West Ham disabled supporters call for respect

Blind Hammer appeals for Accessibility Lanes to be respected.

 West Ham Disabled Supporters Board heard last night how some supporters are abusing the provision of Accessibility Lanes provided for such supporters.

The club instituted these lanes at security checks and stop/go areas as a vital support for its many disabled fans.

They are crucial to provide secure access for wheelchair users in particular with some claiming how some supporters are crowding into these lanes, jostling wheelchair users, bumping into them, placing them at risk of tipping over and even, some almost crash landing on wheelchair users in their selfish efforts to squeeze through.

There are all sorts of obvious reasons why bumping and jostling people with a range of disabilities may not just be scary but actually painful.

Sadly the abuse is not constrained just to this queue jumping behaviour. Some are also verbally abusing West Ham staff who have tried to dissuade them from crowding into the reserved lanes.

 It was also reported that these staff members have been physically intimidated, with some ending up on the ground after attempts to protect the lanes for use by disabled supporters.

This has to stop immediately, as it flies in the face of all the supportive traditions the West Ham family have tried to instil across the club and its supporter base.

West Ham, as a club, have positively engaged with its disabled supporters to improve many things over the years, including instituting the Disabled Board itself to improve West Ham’s understanding and support.

All of this would count for little though if we did not get support from our fellow supporters. The West Ham visit should be safe, supportive and secure for all, no matter what disability they have.

If you, or someone you know, queue jumps into the Accessibility Lane then please, please, stop and urge others to stop likewise. We are, after all, all West Ham together.

David Griffith