Arjun Menon
Fans Voice Struggles with Accessibility at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Everton’s move to their new Hill Dickinson Stadium was meant to mark a fresh chapter for the club. For many disabled supporters, though, the transition has been far from smooth.
Several fans have revealed they’re contemplating giving up their season tickets some held for decades due to what they describe as inadequate accessibility, particularly around parking and drop-off points for blue badge holders.
John Roberts, 77, has supported Everton since 1959 and held a season ticket for the last 20 years. Living with arthritis, he was eager to experience the new ground but found the reality disappointing.
“I was excited to visit the new ground. It’s obviously frustrating it’s a beautiful stadium, but it wasn’t built for people with blue badges.”
Roberts highlighted the difficulties with taxi access. After matches, he’s faced a painful 20-minute wait for a ride, despite staff arranging a wheelchair to help him reach Regent Road. While he praised the efforts of stewards, the overall experience left him disheartened.
Barry Harrison, 85, had been a season ticket holder at Goodison Park since 1966 until the club’s final game against Southampton last May. For him, the parking situation at the new stadium has become “unworkable.”
“When I used to go to Goodison, I had my blue badge, so it wasn’t an issue. The first time I went here, I got the train, and it damn near killed me the walk from Sandhills. I’m 85. It’s a half-mile walk from the station.”
Harrison now relies on the bus, but the journey has him seriously considering whether to renew his ticket. “I’ve barely missed a game since 1996,” he said. “But this? It’s just too much.”
Mike Penn, 80, from Maghull, managed to secure blue badge parking nearby, but the walk to the stadium remains a challenge. “You can’t use a blue badge, and there’s nowhere you can be dropped off by taxi without having a distance to the ground,” he said. “It’s probably fine if you’re young and fit.”
Penn also tried the Soccerbus from Bootle but found it still required “a fair walk into the ground.”
Club and Council Stay Silent
Both Everton and Liverpool City Council declined to comment when approached by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
In an email seen by the LDRS, Everton’s accessibility team acknowledged the issues, stating the club had “come up with alternatives to help our supporters attend the games,” including free taxi provisions. The club has also made around 100 disabled parking spaces available at Nelson Dock.
Liverpool City Council, meanwhile, directed blue badge holders to follow the standard guidance under the Blue Badge scheme.
For fans like Roberts, Harrison, and Penn, the new stadium’s shortcomings have turned matchdays into a test of endurance. With no immediate fixes in sight, some may soon decide the struggle isn’t worth it.
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