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ian1964

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Everything posted by ian1964

  1. I would love Rangers FC to take the lead on this and give disabled supporters a decent facility to enjoy Ibrox, talk of expanding Ibrox may just give them the chance to do so?.
  2. Vicki Dennis I’ve decided not to renew my Premier League season ticket – there are still far too many obstacles for people like me After the summer break, many football fans will be looking forward to the start of the new Premier League season. But for some disabled supporters like me it’s a reminder that there is still a long way to go towards making the sport inclusive. I love football and held a season ticket at West Ham United from 2016-18. But I didn’t renew it last season and I won’t this year because I don’t believe disabled football fans are treated as they deserve to be. Under the Equality Act 2010, clubs are required by law to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. To start with, however, this is ambiguous. What exactly constitutes a reasonable adjustment? It is subjective and can be interpreted differently. Nor does it go far enough. There’s more to inclusion than just ensuring there are enough wheelchair spaces, or publishing an access statement online. The whole match-day experience matters. Take, for example, providing suitable toilet facilities. More than a quarter of a million people across the UK need fully accessible toilets known as “changing places”. Standard accessible toilets aren’t always suitable because they don’t include a hoist or adult-sized changing bench – and they are usually too small. Changing places toilets give disabled people greater independence. Yet according to new research by Muscular Dystrophy UK, only 75% of Premier League clubs – West Ham included – have registered one, though some football grounds have provided temporary solutions. Thousands of people with severe disabilities can’t experience the simple pleasure of watching a football match because they are denied a basic human right: the use of a toilet. Even if there is a suitable toilet, it will often be filthy or out of use. I’ve been to games where facilities haven’t been locked, which inevitably means non-disabled fans end up using them. Installing a universal Radar key, for use only by disabled people, prevents this from happening. Of course, people should take responsibility for their actions and use disabled toilets only if there is a genuine need. But clubs also have a responsibility to ensure their facilities are properly maintained and available. On more than one occasion, however, I’ve been unable to use a toilet at a match because it had been locked completely without even the Radar key working. Enduring hours of having to hold it in is a horrible experience. Football is supposed to inspire camaraderie and passion, but some disabled fans are forced to watch the game alone as not all clubs reserve spaces for friends and family to sit alongside them. Sometimes wheelchair users must also sit with supporters of the opposing team. That can be daunting. In that sense I’m lucky because at West Ham’s London stadium I was always able to sit with my partner. But we were so far away from other West Ham supporters that we didn’t experience the same atmosphere or sense of belonging as everyone else. The positioning of this seating was also open to the elements. I struggled with the cold and couldn’t even have a hot drink to warm up because there are no food stalls up in the stands. I would often go without eating or drinking the whole time I was there because it was too difficult to get down to the busy concourse. I’m disabled. Please don’t talk to me as if I’m stupid Penny Anderson Read more The first time I bought a season ticket there was no information about the evacuation procedure for disabled people, nor could I see any signs in the stadium advising on what to do in an emergency. The lack of information panicked me. I couldn’t focus on the game. All disabled people should have full and equal access to all areas of society. Sport is important to many of us, but reasonable adjustments still aren’t being made for disabled spectators. Far too often our experience of watching games is inferior to that of non-disabled people. I’d love to go to watch my team play this season, but my past experiences have put me off. Premier League clubs have a lot to learn. They must engage with disabled fans. They must listen to our feedback and, more importantly, they must take it on board and take action. • Vicki Dennis is a disability rights campaigner with Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Trailblazers network https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/05/disabled-football-fan-premier-league-ticket?CMP=share_btn_tw
  3. Mines arrived yesterday
  4. Some info posted on FF for travelling Rangers fans: I have made a couple of threads and commented on a few too so will keep all info on this one if that's ok with Admin.I live 15 minutes from the stadium.Money; 100DKK is around 12.50GBP No need to have cash with you, just use your credit card everywhere.Refreshments; I have been trying to contact the big pubs to get a good deal on Alcohol because its very expensive here.SO GREAT NEWSMurphys pub, address is Østergade 20, Herning. Opens at around noonThe owner is kindly offered to reduce pints of Carlsberg to 35DKKSo I suggest this could be a good base in the afternoonand he has also promised to play "Gers related" music so this is a great offer by the owner.The Old Irish Pub Opens 17.00 until 03.30Amazing offer by the owner .... Pints for 20DKK, 10 shots for 100DKK and 2 cocktails for the price of 1Fox and Hounds is the other big pub but refuse to offer any deal and pints are 50/60DKK I personally will be staying away from thereThese two pubs are in Østergade, 3 miles from the stadium.Stadium and Tickets; The match is not sold out. The address is Kaj Zartows Vej 5, Herning. Nice little stadium. There is normally netting in front of the away section. You can buy lager/beer in the stadium for 40DKK. Food is usually hot dogs but there may be other things too. The stadium is know as the Wolfs Den because it is supposed to be a bit of a fortress, lets see.TRANSPORT: There is a bus that leaves town and drops of at the stadium, I will post details here later.Hope everyone enjoys their trip https://www.followfollow.com/forum/threads/fcm-herning-thursday-all-info-here.84272/
  5. KYLE LAFFERTY has revealed his regret after being axed by Steven Gerrard in his second spell at Ibrox. The Northern Irish striker left the Light Blues after being told he was surplus to requirements by Gerrard. Lafferty admitted his attitude towards training played a role in his untimely exit from Ibrox. But Lafferty holds no ill-feeling towards his former boss as he seeks a new club. He told the Daily Record: "Steven had his view on me as a player and you don’t want to be told by any manager at any club that they are going down a different route and you won’t be needed next season. “He was straight with me and told me I wouldn’t be anywhere near the first team. No matter who you are or who you play with, that’s hard to hear. "But if it’s with the team you grew up with and the team you support then it’s a hammer-blow. "You want to be part of a Rangers side which wins the league and you want to make an impression and I was gutted not to be able to do that. “I would have liked to be asked to do more, to have had more game time but that was down to the manager. “He watched me every day in training and I will be the first to hold my hand up and admit I’m not the best trainer. “My performances in training and in games are night and day. “The manager has judged me in training and clearly that’s prevented me getting more games. The reality now is that I won’t wear that blue jersey again or play for that incredible support and it’s a horrible feeling. “I’m just scunnered that I’ve had to leave without saying goodbye to those fans who have been great with me. “When I joined Rangers from Hearts last summer I took a pay cut and planned to finish my career there. “Things change at all clubs but it’s been difficult, the manager had his opinion and we will agree to disagree on that. “There were times when I felt I could have done more but getting a few minutes here and there at the end of a game isn’t ideal. If I had been given more opportunities and failed then I’d have said, ‘fair enough, okay.’ “I felt when I was coming on for half an hour at the end of games and dong well and helping the team to go on and win games. I’m not gong to sit here and be bitter and claim I wasn’t given opportunities.” Despite leaving the club for a second time, Lafferty insists it has not tarnished his love for the Gers. He added: “It’s hard to know I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye. Before the last home game of last season I was taken aside by the manager and told I wouldn’t be needed. I wasn’t what the team wanted or needed. “It was after our final game at Ibrox against Celtic that I was walking around the pitch for the last time with my wife and daughter and my wife could see I was clearly emotional. “It was hard to take but you just have to take it on the chin. “So to be shown the door after one year is painful. I need now to to move on. Do I regret going back to Rangers? “Not for one second, I’m still going to support them and go to games. That love won’t ever leave me. “I will now be back to being a fan and go to games with my wife and daughter, that’s what I’m excited about.” https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4570450/kyle-lafferty-rangers-exit-steven-gerrard/
  6. Peter Lovenkrands warns Rangers not to underestimate Midtjylland PETER LOVENKRANDS has warned Rangers to under-estimate Europa League rivals Midtjylland at their peril. The Dane believes his fellow countrymen represent the stiffest qualifying challenge Steven Gerrard’s men have faced in Europe over the past two seasons. Rangers travel to Denmark on Thursday for the first leg of their vital Europa League clash. Gers academy coach Lovenkrands insists Midtjylland are a significant step up from Progres Neiderkorn, St Josephs, Ufa, Maribor, Osijek and Shkupi. He said: “I’d say this is their biggest test. A lot of people are probably looking at it and saying, ‘Ah, but it’s only a Danish team’. But this is a team that’s not just been finishing at the top once or twice, it has been consistently doing so in the Danish league for the last five to six years. “Two years ago they won the title. It’s a really good team and a good squad. They always build strongly. “They lost their manager last year but the assistant coach took over and it’s the same philosophy going through the club that has been for a long time. They are also further forward in their season. “They have played four league games and won all of them. They’ve started well as you expect them to do anyway. “They have played a few games while Rangers have just started, so they will be more used to playing together. It’s definitely going to be tough.” Midtjylland’s location has helped them recruit some of the best players in Denmark and made them a European club on the rise. The Danes have also benefitted enormously from the Right to Dream Academy — an initiative where talented footballers from West Africa are offered scholarships. Lovenkrands said: “They are a really strong side. Midtjylland and Copenhagen have won the title back and forth between them in recent years. “Their location in Denmark helps them too. Denmark is three islands and they are situated on the big island. “They are taking all the talent from that area while FC Copenhagen and Brondby take talent from other areas. “They are a really strong club, who are building themselves up to being a big, big club. I do hope and think Rangers are going to go through but it’s not going to be easy. They have also got the African connection. They get a lot of players coming in through the Right To Dream initiative. It’s a club that’s on the rise.” Lovenkrands was given the inside track on Midtjylland through a chance meeting with a former Denmark team-mate earlier this summer. He said: “One of my close pals, Brian Priske, is actually their assistant coach. I played with him for the national team and also the Under-21s. “I’ve known him for years and I met him when I was over in Italy at the Under-21 European Championship while I was doing my pro-licence. “We had a good chat but we didn’t know this was going to happen. I know they’ve got good players, fast wingers. They’ve got a goalkeeper who likes to play out but I think that’s something Rangers could maybe exploit. “They are not a team known for sitting back. Because they and Copenhagen have dominated the Danish league for years they want to go and play. “They normally dominate games so I will be surprised if they come here and sit back. I think they will go for it. “I have not spoken to the gaffer about them but I have spoken to a couple of the analyst boys. They have asked a couple of questions. “They know most of the stuff anyway. They have so many people looking at it. I will be surprised if I can tell them something they do not know.” While Lovenkrands is predicting a tough test for Rangers, he reckons they will head into the third round qualifier in good shape, both mentally and physically, after the last-gasp victory at Kilmarnock on Sunday. He said: “It was an important win. These were the type of games last season that Rangers would end up drawing and not getting the win. “But this time it went the team’s way and it was fantastic to see. The team pushed all the way to the end and they deserved it. Even if Connor Goldson hadn’t scored with his header I think the referee would have given a penalty because both centre-halves were wrestling. “The manager will definitely be pleased. These games cost Rangers last season and it was important to get off to a winning start, especially after Celtic had won the day before. “It also lets other clubs know Rangers are capable of scoring last-minute winners. “Even if it finished 1-1 it was a tough game at a tough venue. But I think psychologically it was a very good result. It gives the team a timely boost for the Midjtylland match.” PETER LOVENKRANDS was promoting a new Rangers Lotto campaign for the Rangers Youth Development Company. For full details on RYDC’s growing portfolio of products, visit www.rydc.co.uk or call 0141 427 4914. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4569548/rangers-peter-lovenkrands-underestimate-midtjylland/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1565041401
  7. 100% agree, it's only when Rangers fans do it there is total uproar. All clubs & SFA should be doing more for disabled fans.
  8. Murdoch MacLennan’s Greater Second Conflict of Interest: Being chairman of the Press Association Group and the SPFL. https://footballtaxhavens.wordpress.com/2019/02/28/murdoch-maclennans-greater-second-conflict-of-interest-being-chairman-of-the-press-association-group-and-the-spfl/
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