The two-week campaign looks to shine a spotlight on the clubs making a better matchday experience for disabled fans, and with our 4-1 victory the first derby at the Etihad with supporters in attendance since 2019, it provided the ideal opportunity for us to celebrate their return.
Life-long season ticket holder Lynn Ratcliffe, and her assistance dog, Simba, were particularly pleased to be back at the stadium on derby day.
A City supporter for 55 years, Lynn was first diagnosed with epilepsy in 1998 after sustaining a head injury.
She now attends every match with her trusted Yellow Labrador who can alert her if she is about to have a seizure. Simba is the only canine season ticket holder at the Etihad and not only is he adored by Lynn, but also by those that sit around them.
By sensing changes in the body, Simba can give Lynn a 100% reliable 24-minute warning before she has a seizure, meaning she has sufficient time to get to an allocated private space in the stadium to recover.
The Club has people on standby to help Lynn access this room, and when she first asked if she could bring an assistance dog, we helped find an appropriate seat in the stadium which is accessible for the pair.
“It’s absolutely fantastic to be back here,” Lynn said.
“I’ve followed Manchester City for as long as I can remember, and nothing can quite replicate that derby day feeling.
“Simba has enabled me to follow the team I love home and away. He loves having a season ticket here and having him by my side means I can enjoy watching the best team in the land and all the world.
“I would also like to thank the Club’s Access Team for making me feel comfortable returning to the stadium, and for their efforts to make my matchday experience as easy and comfortable as possible.”
When asked about the Weeks of Action campaign, Lynn expressed the importance of Level Playing Field’s commitment to improving the accessibility of stadia across the UK. She also mentioned how their website helps her to find important accessibility information for the grounds she visits on her travels with the Club.
Meanwhile, Finlay Fisher was one of the Club’s Junior Cityzens for the match. Finlay has cerebral palsy and is a participant in City in the Community’s (CITC) One City Disability Programme, which has been running for more than ten years.
The Junior Cityzens experience allowed him to get close with the players as they came off the bus before kick-off, watch them warm up from a pitch-side area and there was even time to stop for a picture with Moonchester and Moonbeam!
Finlay said: “I’ve had an amazing day seeing my favourite players and it has been great to spend time with other supporters who like me, love all things Manchester City.”
We also spoke with supporters about how the Club has helped them to make their first visit to the Etihad.
The derby was Oliver Isaac’s first City game, and he enjoyed watching the team win from the comfort of the Club’s Sensory Room. This specially designed space helps children with sensory processing issues to attend a match in a calm environment where they are joined by members of the team at CITC.
He was in attendance alongside his family, with Sunday marking the first time they had all been together since before the pandemic.
Oliver’s mum, Sam, thanked the Club for creating a space that takes into consideration the requirements of supporters with specific needs.
“By being in the sensory room, we have a safe space where we can relax and enjoy the match,” she said.
“If Oliver is feeling up to it, we can go and watch from the outside seats like the rest of the fans, but we also have the fallback option of coming in here to enjoy it. Having that peace of mind means we all feel relaxed and can enjoy the day a lot more.
“It’s a fantastic space and I’m so pleased Oliver has had the chance to come and support his beloved Manchester City.”
As well as talking to fans about their matchday experiences, we also caught up with James Frodsham, who works in the Club’s Hospitality team.
James has been deaf since birth, but this has not stopped him from achieving his dream of working in football.
“Ever since I’ve been young it’s been a dream of mine to work in football and I am so happy to be a part of the Club’s Hospitality team,” said James, who is responsible for promoting our hospitality offering as well as taking care of guests on matchdays.
“I love creating a great day for fans, although I must admit the full-time result can sometimes take away from this!
“Football has the ability to promote disabilities positively and help people to overcome challenges they face.
“I hope other disabled people who read this realise that it is possible to have a career in football and this may inspire them to pursue their dreams.”
Manchester City is committed to creating a comfortable and fitting environment for all supporters. Anyone who would like to speak to the Club about their individual needs can contact our dedicated Access Team at access@mancity.com.
Level Playing Field’s Weeks of Action end on Saturday 13 March. For more information about the campaign, visit: levelplayingfield.org.uk.
