This is an excerpt from this week's Claret and Amber Alert, a free Motherwell newsletter written by Graeme McGarry that goes out every Thursday at 6pm. To sign up, click here.
As regular readers and anyone who knows me will be aware, I have two sons who are Motherwell supporters.
The eldest is particularly Motherwell daft, and as you may remember from when I shared the tale of his topless celebration after Lennon Miller’s late penalty winner against Dundee United, also just daft as a brush.
Due to an illness when he was eight, he also happens to be a wheelchair user. By that time, he was already attending matches regularly, and because of my work commitments, that would most often be with my dad.
When the wee man was told that he was going to be confined to a wheelchair for the foreseeable future, perhaps forever, he had two main concerns. One, that he might face a struggle to fulfil his ambition of playing for Motherwell, and two, that he would be unable to attend matches with his pals in the Davie Cooper Stand.
Given his never-say-die attitude, I won’t be discounting that first one just yet. But the more immediate concern at that point was how he would get into games.
Fir Park Stadium Manager Robert Park gets more than his fair share of stick from a section of the fanbase at times. And for full disclosure, he is a former neighbour of mine and family friend. But he could not have been more accommodating, making special dispensations for my son so that he could continue to attend matches from his favoured vantage point alongside his mates and his grandad.
So, it was of no surprise to me to find out recently that Bob is so engaged with the Motherwell Disabled Supporters Association, a wonderful organisation that represents disabled ‘Well fans and lobbies the club to ensure that Fir Park is accessible for all.
Recently, for example, the club became just the third in Scotland to ensure that they have stoma-friendly toilets across all seating decks and function suites within the stadium.
Such things should be celebrated, so it is great to see that the club, the ‘Well Society and the Motherwell DSA will be coming together to mark International People of Disabilities Day (which is on December 3rd) when Hibs come calling to Fir Park on Saturday.
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I have had the pleasure of speaking to chair of the DSA, Heather Horner, over the past few weeks in the lead up to the big day, and I know just how much effort has been put into the occasion. I also know how much effort both she and many others put in to ensure that every disabled fan not only feels as though they are part of the association, but even more importantly, simply part of the club.
I must admit, from my privileged position before my son’s illness, I had given little thought to the barriers that disabled fans face as they attempt to follow their team around the country. It is perhaps only when you are faced with those hurdles yourself, that you really understand what these fans are up against.
There is a wider conversation to be had about disabled facilities in Scottish football. The new raised seating deck at Hampden is great, for example, but as it is situated in the North Stand, access was for Rangers fans only at the recent League Cup semi-final. We were at the front of the South Stand, where the view was sub-optimal, to say the least.
At most grounds, the staff bend over backwards to try and accommodate any particular needs, but they are often hamstrung by a lack of investment in disabled facilities.
Money is tight, of course, but even when shelters exist, the whole experience can feel a little exclusionary. For example, at Kilmarnock or Aberdeen, where the disabled section is at the front, and the other fans are way up the back (something that may be experienced by away fans at Fir Park now too, in fairness).
Events such as this Saturday’s at Fir Park then can only be a good thing to shine a light on such issues, and will hopefully help to provoke a wider debate on how we can improve the match-going experience for disabled fans. And ultimately, for everyone.
There will be info points at each stand to help raise awareness of the DSA, and fans can support their work by purchasing pin badges for just £5.
At half-time, Scotland’s Cerebral Palsy world champions will take a lap of honour around Fir Park alongside the Community Trust’s PAN Disability team, and Block E are showing their support too with a banner produced specially for the occasion.
Junior DSA members will also be there as mascots, while I am slightly trepidatious about the fact that my eldest will be reading out the teams before the game. Not because he might trip up over a name or two, as he has his Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Tawanda Maswanhise down pretty well.
But if a wee swear word pops out, or worse, you are treated to a topless announcer, I can only apologise in advance.
