Rimmington Stand question

Can somebody who sits on the Ponty End tell me if there are central handrails on the stairs up to the top? I had a serious fall on Saturday coming down the ESL steps. Somebody came out on my right and knocked into me. I’m disabled with poor balance. I fell backwards and the steel corner of a seat went into my back. I’m in a lot of pain and seriously considering giving up after 71 years. A handrail would have been a big help. Thanks also to the kind folks who picked me up and helped me to the bottom.

 

I don't think there is...see if you can get a seat nearer the exit

 

Only on either side of the steps , hope you feel better soon warrior! ........sithi.

 

Unfortunately not and it’s a free for all at the gangways with folk going all directions

 

Good point that. I don’t think many clubs have handrails on the gangways, and some are quite steep.

 

I think the upper part of the stand does have a handrail between both sides but off top of my head i cant remember how far it goes up. If you google an image you will see them

 

They do! soz grandfathertyke l was thinking of the gangway stairs, off the top of my head the middle rail doesn't go all way to the top, maybe stops about 5 or 6 rows off the back of the stand( you think I'd know as I've sat 3 rows off the back for donkeys years ..........sithi.

 

I sit towards the back of ESL. I said to someone on Saturday that I’m not sure how much longer my knees will allow me to sit there.

 

Is it the walk up the seats that's the problem for you or the combination of that and the walk up the steps from the concourse to the front of the stand as well?

If it's the combination of both you could ask about entering via the disabled stand in the corner and walking along the front of the stand, a few people with limited mobility do that.

 

Turns into a right gangbang.

 

Yes. I thought I could see something over there but my eyesight aint what it used to be. The only thing left after football is my appetite for beer.

 

Have you got sticks , I’ve had to use them to get up the steps before and find if you wave them about a bit when coming out everyone moves out of the way , the Stewards will let you leave via the Pontyend as well , no further steps to negotiate when leaving

 

Well it’s a struggle for me and my mate to get up there and down. A handrail, even a thin one, would be brilliant. We’ve been going to the ground since we were 9, when it was a tanner to go in the Boys’ Entrance. Neither of us want to give up because we know everyone who sits around us and 90% of the enjoyment is social contact. That funny game they play down on the pitch is ok as well. Good times will come again! Dum spiro, spero!

 

Brilliant. That’s what I thought I’d seen. That gives me some leverage when I write to the Club about it. Thanks ever so much.

 

It’s really the last ten steps up. Coming down is really quite scary. I’m very unsteady and usually wait till everybody has gone, as I did last Saturday. The players chose to come across and people stopped. Someone pushed out past me from one side and I stepped back, caught my heel on the step behind and went down like a sequoia.

 

Honestly mate, if you direct your correspondence to John Bird (head of ticketing / fan engagement) I’m sure he would get you sorted.

Let us know how you get on.

 

Hope you're on the mend. Not sure if it would be suitable due to the stairs but the East stand upper has handrails too.

Suggestion for the club if they're reading (or the fab group). If the club removed 16 seats from gangway the sides of the steps are each end of the stand (32 in total) they could create two big areas with a handrail which would create approximately 600 more accessible seats in the east lower with very little overall loss to the capacity. I chose those sets of steps as they dont have any of the BARNSLEY FC writing in the seats near them

 

We sit on Row O in the Ponte, the row below Gangway 5, the last one before the West Stand. I'm seat 136, so if there's an available seat just before that, you'd have about 2 steps to go down tops. Not the answer you asked for, but the best idea I could think of, it'd be a shame if you decided to stop going.

 

The first entrance in grove street side is on the flat because it’s were the disable part of the stand is so if you can get a seat around there , there is no need for stairs .