For many football fans, their first game is a rite of passage – a moment that hooks them for life. For Stephen Reside, a lifelong supporter of Motherwell Football Club, that moment came when he was just a boy. “I remember the excitement of entering Fir Park for the first time,” Stephen recalls with a smile. “The noise, the atmosphere, the sea of claret and amber – it was magical. From that day on, I was hooked.”
But being a dedicated football fan hasn’t always been easy for Stephen, who is disabled. Navigating stadiums and ensuring he could enjoy matches just like any other supporter was often a challenge. Yet, instead of letting those challenges dampen his passion, Stephen turned them into a mission: to make Fir Park, and Scottish football in general, more accessible for everyone.
Stephen’s journey with Motherwell Football Club Disabled Supporters Association (MFC DSA) began out of necessity. “I wanted to make sure that not only I, but every disabled fan, could enjoy the same matchday experience as everyone else,” he explains. “Football is for everyone, and it should be enjoyed by everyone, without barriers.”
Over the years, Stephen has become a key figure in the MFC DSA, tirelessly advocating for better facilities and services for disabled supporters. Working positively with DSA Chair Heather Horner, her partner Henry and new Club Chief, Brian Caldwell, his efforts recently culminated in a collaboration with the to produce a short, snappy video highlighting the accessibility features at Fir Park. “The video was a great way to show the progress we’ve made, but also to highlight where we can still improve,” Stephen says. “It’s important for people to see that we’re taking steps in the right direction, but it’s equally important to acknowledge that there’s still work to be done.”
The video, shot on location by the club’s media team, aims to broaden the base of new fans and visitors to Fir Park. Focusing on accessibility and facilities for home and away supporters alike, the package looks both at wheelchair access, but also the club’s free audio commentary for visually impaired fans. This is important to Stephen who stresses “Motherwell is a fully inclusive Club to people with all disabilities.”
One of Stephen’s long-term goals is to see a raised seating area installed at Fir Park for both home and away disabled supporters. “The current setup is good, but a raised area would make a world of difference,” he explains. “It would give disabled fans an even better view of the action, without any obstructions.” That and lift access to the Cooper Bar are on his agenda. “It’s something I’m really passionate about, and I’m hopeful we can make it happen in the not-too-distant future.”
Stephen’s involvement with MFC DSA is just one part of his broader commitment to Motherwell Football Club. He’s also a proud member of The Well Society. For Stephen, being part of The Well Society is about more than just supporting the team on the pitch — it’s about ensuring the club remains a community-focused organization that listens to and represents its fans. “The Well Society is crucial in giving fans a voice in how the club is run,” he says. “It’s something I’m really proud to be a part of because it shows that Motherwell is more than just a football club; it’s a community.”
Looking to the future, new Well Society Board Director, Martin Grey, asks about diversity, growing our fan base and making it reflective of the community we serve. Stephen is optimistic about what can be achieved. He sees a huge opportunity to attract an increasingly diverse community, including the disabled supporters’ base at Fir Park. “We’ve made a lot of progress, but there are still many disabled fans out there who might not think coming to a game is possible,” he notes. “We need to continue breaking down those barriers and showing that Fir Park is a place where everyone is welcome.”
•? ?Check out Stephen’s new video on Fir Park accessibility here.
•? ?Join the next meeting of the Disabled Supporters Association at 7pm on Thursday 12 September by emailing heathermfcdsa@outlook.com.
•? ?Find out more about the Disabled Supporters Association here.
•? ?Follow the Disabled Supporters Association on X at @MotherwellfcDSA.
•? ?Follow Stephen on X at @stephenreside.
•? ?Follow Martin on X at @agendascotland.