Disability can be an isolating experience. You might feel as though you have few things in common with anyone else. Joining (or supporting) a club is a great way to change all of that; to meet new people and to socialise but not everyone wants to actually ‘do sport’ so why not be a terrace-based social dynamo instead?
Here are our top tips:
Forever
Picking your club is not like selecting a husband or a wife; you can divorce your partner but you can never switch clubs once you’ve made your choice.
Think carefully about which club you’ll call your own. You might consider location and costs (of tickets and transport etc) as well as whether you’ll support a big club (and be relatively anonymous among a large group or well-known among a small group. (The decision should really come from your heart though, not from your head.)
Pick a spot
Select a good spot in the ground (get there early if you need to dislodge another regular). The ideal location should give you a good view of the action and also people around you with whom you can swap views and banter. People are creatures of habit and you’ll find that the same faces will turn up week after week and locate in exactly the same places. Get to know them.
Instant friends
You’ll never be lonely. You and potentially thousands of others will always have your club in common and plenty to talk about.
Volunteer
Small clubs tend to offer more to people that want to really get involved. You might well be asked to help paint the fence or sell raffle tickets or other fundraising stuff. There’s also something nice about being familiar with people at the club; on any given day you might bump into the club captain on the bus.
Volunteer your family
Your family might also get involved with the club through fundraising or social functions. Your kids might even be selected as ballboys or ballgirls.
Supporters club
Supporters clubs often act as a foil between the players, manager, directors and fans; and aim to give fans a voice. Usually, such voices are only heard when the fans have some grievance with the club manager or the board of directors (and will petition for their sacking). Lots of clubs have specific Disabled Supporters Clubs too that consult on matters regarding access and facilities for disabled fans.
Supporters clubs can give you a better insight into what’s going on at the club and even a little influence over what it does next. Get involved.
On the bus
Supporters clubs usually run buses to games. These are likely to be private charters organised by the supporters clubs that bring fans in from distant suburbs or help them to get to away games. The costs are split equally amongst the fans and so are relatively cheap. It’s also a great way to build up to a game, in good company. (You should check access levels before booking your seat.)
Car pooling
If the bus isn’t your thing, you could drive. Why not lift swap with fellow fans, especially for away games? Splitting the petrol money equally between members of your small group will save you money and it also means that you’ll only have to drive to one in every two or three games because everyone will take a turn behind the wheel.
Lift swapping is also a good way to get to know people. Away fixtures could take you anywhere from Newcastle United to Plymouth Argyle and you’ll inevitably find out something new about your mates on such long journeys. (Apply some caution regarding getting into cars with strangers, especially where young people are concerned.)
Know the rules
If you’re new to the sport, get to know the rules properly before you tell anybody how to run the game – by shouting at the ref. Once you do know the rules it becomes a question of how eloquent or witty you can make your heckle.
Keep up to date
Keeping up to date will help you avoid other faux pas such as heckling the manager at the wrong moment. His team selection may be based on a lengthy injury list rather than a lack of judgement.
Know your history
Don’t shout at an untouchable. In other words, don’t criticise a player that has put in many great performances before, even if they’re having a ‘shocker’. Ryan Giggs, is an example of an untouchable; so he’s having a bad half, cut him some slack!
Be positive
Along similar lines; nobody likes a pessimist. Optimism is a welcome contagion since it’s much more fun to smile together than cry together.
Don’t jinx it
It’s not over till the fat lady sings. If you’re a goal up with one minute to go, don’t say ‘we’ve won this’ until the final whistle. Legendary football manager, Brian Clough, observed that “it only takes a second to score a goal”.
Don’t say ‘there’s no such thing as a jinx’. That’s the biggest jinx there is!
Don’t jinx yourself
Go to the toilet before the game. This way you’ll not need to go at half time when it’s busy and risk not getting back in time for the restart. You’ll find that a mysterious number of goals, points, wickets, tries and any other type of score are added whilst you’re not watching.
Another way to jinx yourself is to wear the wrong clothes. Listen to the weather forecast and don’t step out without at least a waterproof jacket. If you do, it’ll rain, guaranteed! (Wheelchair viewing platforms are often nearer to the touchline than seated areas and as a result can be exposed to the elements.)
Know your geography
If you’re going to go on foot or drive to a game, make sure that you have a route worked out before you set off. Not only will this prevent you from getting lost but it might also prevent you from accidentally having to go via the wrong end of the ground and through a bunch of rival supporters (which can get sticky). Plan your route and timings and plan your parking.
Regulations
Check out the rules regarding what you can and cannot bring into the ground. There may be restrictions on flags, banners and the like but also include things like flasks and so on. (Regulations may differ at away grounds.) Also keep in mind that rattles and vuvuzelas are a sure-fire way to lose mates.
Discounts
Lots of clubs run discounted season tickets or schemes where a companion/carer can get in for free or at a subsidised rate. Check out the club website or at the ticket office.
