NEWCASTLE United take great pride in the service and facilities they can offer fans with disablities.

In fact, they recently became the first club to have a Disability Discrimination Act Access Audit carried out by an independent company. A team of specialists spent six weeks looking around United's St James' Park headquarters, as well as the four NUFC club shops based in Eldon Square and the MetroCentre.

Areas such as the approach to the stadium and car parking were all looked at, as well as all doors and entrances/exits and ways in which wheelchair-bound fans move around the stadium.

Following their inspections, the team compiled a 375-page report outlining their findings and listed recommendations which would allow the club to make further improvements to disabled facilities in and around the stadium.

The club offer a total of 170 wheelchair spaces around the ground, including some in the section set aside for visiting supporters.

Each space includes room for a helper, and has easy access from ground level outside of St James' Park then up into the relevant stand.

There are also 24 places for visually impaired fans, with each seat rigged up to an infra-red commentary system which allows the fans to tune into local radio commentary of the game.

The club are also looking at ways of introducing to enhance the enjoyment of the game for supporters with impaired hearing, and the introduction of induction loops is something which is being discussed at present.

Outside of the stadium, the club have around 120 car parking spaces on offer, with plenty of disabled berths within easy access of St James' Park.

NUFC encourage fans with disabilities to inform them of their personal situations in order to allow them to make the matchday experience as comfortable as possible.

Arrangements can also be made for any fan suffering from a temporary disability (eg broken leg/ankle) which could affect their ease of access to and from the stadium.

For more information about disabled access to St James' Park, contact Newcastle United FC on 0191 201 8469 or email disabledaccess@nufc.co.uk.

If your query is regarding disabled tickets please contact the Disabled Ticket Liaison Officer in the Box Office on 0191 261 1571.