By Samantha Habgood

The start of the new season shows a third of Premier League clubs are still set to miss their own deadline to meet basic access standards for disabled fans.

Only three Premier League clubs have meet accessibility guidelines. To upgrade the facilities of the other 17 clubs it would cost £29m.

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However, with the revenue from broadcasting rights increasing over the next three years to £8.3bn, and summer transfer window where clubs spent £1.165 billion on players. Nevertheless, the richest clubs in the league have accepted they cannot reach accessibility guidelines.

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Even Liverpool FC have proudly opened their new Main Stand, spending £100m. These improvements do not reach the requirements, Liverpool FC decided not to comment.

Joyce Cook, chair of Level Playing Field, has called this delay “unacceptable”. All Level Playing Field efforts are focused on removing these barriers in all sports.

There are 12.4m disabled people in the UK, with an estimated spending power of over £60bn per annum. It is safe to say they are not getting their money’s worth, when it comes to watching football.

The match day experience for a disabled supporter can be an awkward one, as they sometimes have to sit mixed in the stands with the opposition. Steve Snelling, Wheelpower Inclusive Sport Advisor has stated “Disabled people should have the opportunity to enjoy the sport they love in the same way as anyone else”.

An accessible stadium demonstrates the commitment a club has to the whole community, whilst also inspiring disabled supporters to participate in sport themselves.