Stirling Albion’s commitment…

Stirling Albion Football Club is committed to ensuring that its disabled supporters and customers have as full access as is reasonably possible to all goods, services and facilities provided or offered to the public by the Club. The Club’s Disability Discrimination policy can be accessed here.

Free admission – Wheelchair Users

The Club has a long-standing policy of allowing wheelchair users and their carers (one carer per wheelchair) free admission to all home games at Forthbank Stadium in Stirling. This is in recognition of the fact that the Club is unable to provide accommodation for wheelchair users and their carers which is fully under cover. Facilities provide only partial cover from the elements and even then the nature of the weather may render such partial cover ineffective. In the event of bad weather, we will endeavour to accommodate, on request, and subject to availability, wheelchair users and their carers in one of the hospitality suites at the back of the home stand (West Stand) overlooking the pitch.

There are spaces for wheelchairs in front of the seated spectator areas in the Home (West) stand and the Away (East) Stand. Access from the car parking areas is step-free to the accommodation areas. Access to disabled toilet facilities and snack bar serveries is also step-free. The Stirling Albion shop located adjacent to the Forthbank Leisure Centre Reception Area is step-free.

. The Club can be emailed at office@stirlingalbionfc.co.uk or by telephone at 01786 450399. Please advise name of wheelchair user and carer, make and colour of vehicle and its registration number and whether parking space is being sought in the home or away car park.

We aim to reserve space for the vehicle and to alert our stewards to conduct arrivals through the disabled access doors in the home and away stands as appropriate.

Please note that as parking spaces are at a premium, we cannot accept parking reservations for more than one game at a time. Users should contact the club at least 48 hours prior to each match. Parking spaces will be allotted on a first come-first served basis.

Admission charging – non-wheelchair users

Following advice from the Scottish Football Association and Capability Scotland as to the club’s legal obligations, we regret that it is the club’s policy to require disabled persons who are not wheelchair users, and their carers to pay normal admission prices at the turnstiles.

We also regret that it is not practical for our turnstile operators or any of our match day staff to provide receipts to carers to allow them to claim admission charges from their respective organisations/support groups. However, any carer seeking a receipt for this purpose can email the club at office@stirlingalbionfc.co.uk or contact the club office on 01786 450399 on a workday following a match and we will aim to send one to them through the post.

Car Parking

On match days the club has exclusive use of a very limited number of dedicated car parking spaces immediately in front of the Forthbank Leisure Centre at the rear of the West Stand (Home Side). This includes a small number of disabled parking spaces for the use of “Blue Badge” holders.

Anyone requiring use of one of these disabled parking spaces should contact the club at least 48 hours prior to a match and if a space is available we will aim reserve it. Contact us via email at office@stirlingalbionfc.co.uk or telephone 01786 450399 giving name, make and colour of vehicle and its registration number. We regret that we cannot accept reservations for more than one match at a time. Parking space will be allocated on a first come-first served basis.

Please note that whilst the dedicated parking area for Stirling Albion’s exclusive use is dolled-off some hours in advance of each kick-off, there have been occasions when a small number of users of the adjacent Peak Sports Centre have physically removed barriers in order to park their vehicles in our dedicated space. As a consequence, there is the possibility that on rare occasions, at little or no notice, we may not be able to provide the reserved parking space booked earlier. Regrettably, although the Club strives to tackle these outcomes, this problem is largely outside our control.

Users of the Away Side car park should note that there is no provision therein for disabled parking spaces for “Blue Badge” holders.

Travelling to Away Games – Stirling Albion Supporters

The Club is happy, on request, to provide advice and guidance to disabled supporters travelling to other clubs, particularly on such issues as parking, access and admission charges.

Feedback

Stirling Albion FC is keen to receive feedback from disabled supporters as to changes and improvements they would like to see to enhance their match day experience. Also, we are interested in receiving comments from disabled persons in the community as to what they would wish to see in place as an incentive to them to attend matches.

Please email the club at the email address given earlier or write to us at Stirling Albion FC, Forthbank Stadium, Springkerse, Stirling, FK7 7UJ.

Comments can also be directed to Alban Dickson who has been appointed by the Club as the designated person responsible for supporters with disabilities. However, please note that Alban is not freely available on match days as he undertakes the important role as stadium announcer.