UNITING DISABLED SUPPORTERS

When Manchester United Disabled Supporters' Association was formed in 1989 it became the first such association at any football club. It is without doubt that our success has been an inspiration to other disabled supporters around the country and there are now Disabled Supporters' Associations at many football clubs. There is also now a National Association of Disabled Supporters of which our Secretary was a founder member.

The very existence of these associations has raised the profile of the disabled football supporter and has highlighted the good and bad points about the facilities offered to them at football grounds around the country. This has resulted in vast improvements to the general level of facilities offered to disabled supporters at many stadia and has often been achieved through quiet co-operation between the Disabled Supporters' Associations and their respective clubs.

Since its formation MUDSA has always adopted the view that genuine progress between association and club can only be achieved by 'consensus, not confrontation' and that improvements to facilities cannot be expected to materialise overnight; the patience of all disabled supporters is therefore pivotal to developing a process of 'evolution, not revolution' and cultivating a good relationship with everyone in football.