[Albion] Quick Q: Elderly people and post match train queues

[ATFC Seagull]

Hi all, wondering if anyone has any experience and can offer any advice on this.

My elderly father in law is coming to the game this evening. He doesn't have a blue badge but is in his late 80's and it's quite clear to see from one glance he isn't very mobile and can't stand for long.

(Before any captain hindsight warriors pop up we originally thought we had someone to drop off and pick up, but this has fallen through and parking now sold out).

Is it likely that a polite word with the stewards and he might be allowed to skip the queue after the game (maybe with my wife to help him)? I've seen quite large groups do this, but not sure what the criteria is and how strict they are. Just to be clear I'll happily join the back of the queue with my son, not trying to get a whole group through.

Thanks in advance all.

(Happy to hear any other suggestions - could do P&R but I've heard you can end up in a very long queue and that Mill Rd is a bit of a nightmare, but happy to be corrected).

 

[Is it PotG?]

Just head to the bottom of the ramp and enter with others in a similar boat where the stewards are helpful.
In recent times sadly this queue has itself grown considerably, with many folk suffering from obvious mobility issues having 9 carers each.
It's a real shame for those who obviously need such assistance.

 

[Zeberdi]

Hi all, wondering if anyone has any experience and can offer any advice on this.

My elderly father in law is coming to the game this evening. He doesn't have a blue badge but is in his late 80's and it's quite clear to see from one glance he isn't very mobile and can't stand for long.

(Before any captain hindsight warriors pop up we originally thought we had someone to drop off and pick up, but this has fallen through and parking now sold out).

Is it likely that a polite word with the stewards and he might be allowed to skip the queue after the game (maybe with my wife to help him)? I've seen quite large groups do this, but not sure what the criteria is and how strict they are. Just to be clear I'll happily join the back of the queue with my son, not trying to get a whole group through.

Thanks in advance all.

(Happy to hear any other suggestions - could do P&R but I've heard you can end up in a very long queue and that Mill Rd is a bit of a nightmare, but happy to be corrected).

Hi

I know it’s not the same access from the ground as me, but I have mobility issues so have some experience of this. Ideally the Club likes disabled/mobility issue fans to register as disabled and wear the green wristband because it makes it easier when disabilities are hidden. However, my mobility issues are not hidden and I was attending games for several years requiring disabled access and assistance (and being moved to disabled seating if I was struggling) before I registered and never had any problem.

In fact the stewards in my experience have always bent over backwards to help me, going above and beyond every time - it’s discretionary and depends on whether the steward can see by looking that it would be too challenging so I would just speak to one when you come out.

(A green band doesn’t automatically entitle a fan to jump queues btw but it does help if it is obvious one has disability issues)

 

[Official Old Man]

Have you thought about going by coach?
Yes it can be a bit pricey but so much easier. There's even a lift up to the coach park.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

Hi all, wondering if anyone has any experience and can offer any advice on this.

My elderly father in law is coming to the game this evening. He doesn't have a blue badge but is in his late 80's and it's quite clear to see from one glance he isn't very mobile and can't stand for long.

(Before any captain hindsight warriors pop up we originally thought we had someone to drop off and pick up, but this has fallen through and parking now sold out).

Is it likely that a polite word with the stewards and he might be allowed to skip the queue after the game (maybe with my wife to help him)? I've seen quite large groups do this, but not sure what the criteria is and how strict they are. Just to be clear I'll happily join the back of the queue with my son, not trying to get a whole group through.

Thanks in advance all.

(Happy to hear any other suggestions - could do P&R but I've heard you can end up in a very long queue and that Mill Rd is a bit of a nightmare, but happy to be corrected).

It’s worth checking on the website today though as I have seen the odd parking ticket pop up, even on the day of the match.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

Have you thought about going by coach?
Yes it can be a bit pricey but so much easier. There's even a lift up to the coach park.

Nothing left available from my neck of the woods (apart from the £25 option!).

 

[Timbo]

Have you thought about going by coach?
Yes it can be a bit pricey but so much easier. There's even a lift up to the coach park.

Agree with this. The train station is a disorganised mess and no place for kids or the elderly. After the Southampton game the staff were trying to get the wheelchair ramp down and people were pushing past and walking up it.

 

[South Stand Bonfire]

They will also allow those with limited mobility to bypass the queues at the Racecourse park and ride pre and post match, if that is an option for you, but it’s still worth getting there early (1-2 hours before ko imo) but if you miss the first wave of buses after the game, it can still be a 20-30 minute wait.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

EDF parking is operating ( you have to book ) and the queue after is far far shorter than Mill Road.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

EDF parking is operating ( you have to book ) and the queue after is far far shorter than Mill Road.

Long sold out I believe.

 

[Zeberdi]

Nothing left available from my neck of the woods (apart from the £25 option!).

A normal bus might be an option? - The 25 goes all the way from Portslade Station to the University. Then there is a pedestrian underpass under the A27 to the Falmer Station access ramp to the concourse.

https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/brightonhove/BH/25-timetable-20241215-230c319b.pdf

And if you Dad has a bus pass, it’s free

 

[Bozza]

Keep checking the parking bit on the ticketing site as the exchange operates in the same way as it does for stadium seats - so they do become available.

You need to be lucky in a right time/right place kinda way, but you might nab one.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

A normal bus might be an option? - The 25 goes all the way from Portslade Station to the University. Then there is a pedestrian underpass under the A27 to the Falmer Station access ramp to the concourse.

https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/brightonhove/BH/25-timetable-20241215-230c319b.pdf

And if you Dad has a bus pass, it’s free

Obviously he'll have a match ticket as well.

I just assumed that the bus queues were as mental as the train ones, at least immediately after the game.

 

[jordanseagull]

They are.

Obviously he'll have a match ticket as well.

I just assumed that the bus queues were as mental as the train ones, at least immediately after the game.

 

[bluenitsuj]

Don't worry. They let everyone down the speedy ramp these days including all 25 helpers for each valid person.

 

[Zeberdi]

Don't worry. They let everyone down the speedy ramp these days including all 25 helpers for each valid person.

Actually they don’t - At least not when I’ve been using it.

Yeah you always get 2 or 3 just jumping the queue but I’ve seen them be pulled up by stewards. In fact, they seem to have got tougher with it this season.

You also get disabled people with 2 or 3 companions but that’s not really the concern here as the OP has already said he was prepared to wait in the queue.

 

[Bozza]

Obviously he'll have a match ticket as well.

I just assumed that the bus queues were as mental as the train ones, at least immediately after the game.

The queues for all transport options won't be great unless you leave early.

I know EDF doesn't look like an option for you now, but the one time I used it we missed the first run of buses, as we are in the WSU, and had to wait at least 30 minutes for them to come back for the next run.

 

[Zeberdi]

Obviously he'll have a match ticket as well.

I just assumed that the bus queues were as mental as the train ones, at least immediately after the game.

Not if you leave promptly and come straight down the Station ramp and pick up the bus on the A27 I have never seen long queues of people at that particular bus stop or masses of pedestrians exiting onto the A27 from the Falmer Station entrance at any point. Most people using that exit from the grounds are heading to the Station.

 

[ATFC Seagull]

The queues for all transport options won't be great unless you leave early.

I know EDF doesn't look like an option for you now, but the one time I used it we missed the first run of buses, as we are in the WSU, and had to wait at least 30 minutes for them to come back for the next run.

This is why I posted my initial Q, as I felt at least with the train there's the chance for him to go to the front.

 

[METALMICKY]

Hi all, wondering if anyone has any experience and can offer any advice on this.

My elderly father in law is coming to the game this evening. He doesn't have a blue badge but is in his late 80's and it's quite clear to see from one glance he isn't very mobile and can't stand for long.

(Before any captain hindsight warriors pop up we originally thought we had someone to drop off and pick up, but this has fallen through and parking now sold out).

Is it likely that a polite word with the stewards and he might be allowed to skip the queue after the game (maybe with my wife to help him)? I've seen quite large groups do this, but not sure what the criteria is and how strict they are. Just to be clear I'll happily join the back of the queue with my son, not trying to get a whole group through.

Thanks in advance all.

(Happy to hear any other suggestions - could do P&R but I've heard you can end up in a very long queue and that Mill Rd is a bit of a nightmare, but happy to be corrected).

Depends which way you are going? If you are heading East towards Lewes there is a special disability lane to access the platform. It works well but as others have mentioned it does get abused by some people. Might I suggest that your father in law doesn't need an entourage of 6 others otherwise you might get questioned.