Solidarity fundraiser in support of disabled Blues

THE ISSUE

The Manchester City Disabled Supporters Association (MCDSA) have been horrified to discover that for the first time in the 21 years at the stadium, Manchester City FC have decided to charge disabled fans for essential parking. This announcement was sneaked out a week before the start of the season, when fans had already renewed their season tickets and were unexpectedly hit with an additional cost of potentially hundreds of pounds that they had not budgeted for.

If you’re a disabled or older supporter, who physically cannot manage to use public transport or walk to the game, it’s likely that your only option is to come by car. These fans need access to a blue-badge parking space, not as a luxury or a lifestyle choice, but as a necessity to be able to watch their team.

For a club that claims to have a “zero tolerance policy for discrimination” and even provides a dedicated phone line so you can report fellow fans, this act is grossly hypocritical.

THE FIGHTBACK

The 1894 group, our Fan Advisory Board 'City Matters', the Official Supporters Club, MCFC Fans Foodbank Support, Solid Citizens fan group, and an array of individual City fans, groups, podcasts and prominent figures in football media have backed the campaign to overturn this discriminatory decision, as have Level Playing Field (the national charity for disabled sports fans) and fans groups from other Premier League clubs. They have called on all City fans to do the same.

This is everybody’s issue. Today, the club are coming for blue badge parking, but tomorrow it could easily be OAP concessionary prices, children’s tickets (as seen at West Ham and Spurs this season) and even season tickets, so we have to get together, support each other and fight!

SUPPORT FUND

Blues cannot stand idly by whilst those disabled and older fans with real access needs and on lower incomes are fleeced by the club. We are therefore today announcing the launch of a crowdfunded support fund to help those who need it.

Managed and distributed by MCDSA. this fund will help supporters who cannot afford this unnecessary disability tax imposed by well-paid Manchester City officials on those fellow Blues, who have to travel to the stadium by car.

We are fully aware that not all disabled fans survive on benefits, but many do, and it’s these supporters, who just about manage, that MCDSA will seek to support. The fund will be used to reimburse fans, who are being charged by the club for being disabled or old.

A £6 parking charge (rising to £12 next season) could be the difference between a fan attending a game or not.

We’re calling on fans (who are in a position to do so) to donate and show solidarity with the DSA and to ensure that our disabled supporters know the wider fanbase wants them at the Etihad, backing the team with the rest of us.

Thank you for your support.

For transparency: the funds will be being transferred to Howard Cohen, Chair of MCDSA for distribution. The rough cost of these 360 parking spaces for one game at £6 each is £2,160, and we have set the initial target at that amount.