RiverSideBySide is our banner campaign championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
Saturday is our third RiverSideBySide matchday of the season, where we highlight our commitment to EDI – and this time, the specific emphasis is on Disability.
Meet Rosemary - our DLO!
Rosemary Berks is the club’s Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) and the main point of contact for our disabled supporters.
Since joining the club, Rosemary has hosted conversation events to get to know many of our disabled fans and hear their views. One discussion point currently being explored is establishing a new committee for the long-running Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters Association (MDSA).
To speak with Rosemary about being part of the MDSA, or any other disability enquiries please email rosemary.berks@mfc.co.uk or call 01642 757671.
Matchday Sensory Room
Our Sensory Room at the Riverside is a calm environment away from the hustle and bustle of the stands, ensuring people with autism and similar conditions - and their families - can make the most of matchdays.
The room is fitted with special lighting, music, and objects, with trained staff on hand to assist. For further information and to check the availability of the Matchday Sensory Room, please contact Yvonne Ferguson via yvonne.ferguson@mfc.co.uk or 01642 757648.
Audio Descriptive Commentary
In partnership with students from Teesside University, we offer an audio-descriptive commentary service.
The specialist commentary provides additional, detailed narration to help convey all the action of the match to blind or visually impaired supporters.
If interested please email brian.robinson@mfc.co.uk or call 01642 757661.
Changing Places Facility
The Riverside has a purpose-built Changing Places facility - a fully accessible toilet with a height adjustable changing bench, a hoisting system, a peninsular toilet, and additional space to accommodate a disabled person, their wheelchair and carer(s).
This facility is located in the concourse of the West Stand Lower, and our staff at the Ticket Office can advise where the best seating is for access.
Hidden Disabilities / Hidden Impairments
Not all disabilities are visible, and we’re part of two schemes to help our staff and other supporters acknowledge the challenges that a disabled person can face.
Wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is one way of discreetly indicating that a disabled person may require additional support around the Riverside.
We also offer dementia pin badges for our supporters living with the condition, which can cause confusion and distress even in familiar surroundings.
For more on this, please email rosemary.berks@mfc.co.uk or call 01642 757691.
Fan Feedback
We’re proud of our efforts to make the Riverside a welcoming place for supporters.
Below is feedback received earlier this season from a family’s first-time visit to the Riverside, showing what a difference even small gestures can make to the matchday experience.
The club we follow had an away game but we were unable to get enough disabled tickets to attend. Therefore, we decided to knock a new ground off the list and visit Middlesbrough. Our son Kieron is 23, has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is wheelchair dependent whilst the friend who came with us also has mobility issues.
From the moment we contacted the club for tickets to heading home after the game, everyone at the club was absolutely fantastic.
Having booked tickets, we were subsequently contacted by the Disability Liaison Officer who asked if we had any questions and also said they would sort a Middlesbrough goody bag for our son which was really kind.
On arrival at the ground, all the car parking staff were really kind and helpful. We have a Ford Transit motorbility car with a ramp so needed sufficient space to get the ramp out at the rear for our sons wheelchair and friends mobility scooter. The staff directed us to a safe space with plenty of room. This was a great start to the day.
Moving on, we went to the ticket office to collect to the promised goody bag. When the staff brought this out it contained a Roary the Lion cuddly toy (we collect such things when we go to new grounds so this was a great addition), Roy of the Rovers book, a couple of flags and some programmes from games earlier in the season. The smile on our son’s face when he looked in the bag said how much he appreciated it, so thank you to those who sorted that for him.
Next was heading into the ground for the game. We were sat at the front of the main stand on the tunnel side of the ground. Due to our son's complex needs, we required access to the Changing Places toilet. The stewards in that part of the ground, welcomed us to the club, helped us access the toilet and then showed us to our seats. We were very impressed with the toilet provision. In the first place it is great you have one and was a key decision in us deciding to visit. It was also great that everything worked as it should, especially the hoist (trust us, this doesn't always happen when we travel around). The stewards in this area also let us know they were there to help with anything we may need.
During the game, there were occasions when people, mainly children, stood in the way so our son could not see. The steward nearby politely as these people to move and they did so. Thanks for that, again it doesn't happen everywhere we go.
Having enjoyed a good game of football in the sunshine, we headed home to Mansfield. We had an absolutely fantastic day and just wanted to contact you to say thanks for making it so special, enjoyable and hassle free. If other clubs had the same facilities and were so kind as everyone we came into contact with either in person or over the phone at Middlesbrough, the football world would be a better place.
Andrew, Sharon and Kieron Norton, Mansfield
More Info
For more information on our provision for disabled supporters, visit the Disabled Supporters section of our website.