Disabled supporters?

why do we still have a 'Disabled Supporters Player of the Season' award?
Are disabled supporters perception of players any different from that of able-bodied supporters?
Time this award was discontinued.

 

BOOM! BBS in potential meltdown by 10.30pm

 

No, in fact quite the contrary, we should have more categories for voting. Here are a few off the top of my head:

Brown shoe wearing supporters player of the year.
BNP voting supporters player of the year.
Fat b'stard supporters player of the year.
From West Yorkshire supporters player of the year (obviously some players would be excluded).

 

My mum took my Granddad into the disabled supporters stand for many years before his death and I know for a fact they consider this award to be a very important matter and one that gives them recognition within the club and from the players. They always thoroughly enjoy any visit from the playing staff to the stand and enjoy being able to present this award at the end of the season. I really can't see any worthwhile reason why anyone would want it to be discontinued...

 

The implication of having a Disabled Supporters Player of The Year is that the disabled should not be able to vote with the non-disabled when they vote for Player of The year.
That is the disabled supporters are in effect being excluded from the mainstream and that goes against the current moves towards integration and inclusion.

There is no problem with groups like The London Tykes or Wombwell Reds having their own POTY. But it would be odd if there was a separate vote for disabled London Tykes or Wombwell Reds.

Gally - a pertinent question -
Do you see disabled supporters as being different to non-disabled supporters?

 

Someone seems to be looking for an argument in an empty room here. The Disabled supporters can vote in the man awards just like the other groups that have their own awards. If they didn't want it to continue they would stop doing it.


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Rather than trying to make something out of nothing by implying that the non-disabled anongst us are ostrasizing the disabled by making them vote seperately, why dont you ask the disabled why they do that? You might find that they do it because they want to.

 

You've got the wrong end of the stick. Or the wrong stick.

'We' don't have a disabled supporters player of the year. The disabled supporters have one themselves. It's not something that has been forced upon them. The club haven't organised it. The people in the old disabled stand, that was built on the kop, got together and decided they'd like to award their own player of the year. Like many supporters groups have. You appear to want to take it away from them. You appear to think you can tell them what they can and can't do. I suggest if you want it discontinued you should go and talk to them about it because it has absolutely nothing to do with us. It's theirs. You'll probably need a trip to Barnsley General after though, to have the trophy surgically removed from your arse. If you want equality, don't go around telling minority groups what they should and shouldn't do, let them decide for themselves.

 

Clearly those who do vote for the Disabled Supporters POTY do it because they want to. But should they be allowed to do it on the grounds that 'that is what they want.' Should a group be allowed to define itself on the basis that its members are disabled?
Could the continuation of a group who are happy to be defined by their disability make things harder for those who have a disability and who don't want to be thus defined to make their way in society?
The central question which no one has answered is - 'Is there a difference between a disabled supporter and a non-disabled supporter?' If there is no difference then we don't need to have a separate vote.
The London Tykes and Wombwell Reds are different inasmuch as they are inclusive, whether disabled or not they all vote together.

 

I have to say speaking as someone with a child who has a disability (albeit a very minor one) I find your comments both patronising and insulting so you've hit the jackpot there. And what do you mean 'allow' them to do it? If I wanna set up my own Jimmy Cricket Annual award I can do it ( though to be fair Andy Rammell would always win it ) and there's nowt you or anyone else can do about it. Indeed the question would be why would it be any of your beeswax.

 

You seem to be implying that a group of disabled people are somehow slighting another group of disabled people because they have a poll for POTY. I cant answer on behalf of the latter group, so I think we had better wait until one of them happens upon this thread and gives us their thoughts.

We might be waiting a while.

 

How about a Black, Asian or Polish supporters player of the year award? Might need to find a few first.

 

Are you really suggesting that any minority group should decide for themselves what they should or should not do?
What about the wishes of a minority group which is part of an already minority group - say the militant wing of an extreme political party.
Do you really think that leads to equality?

 

I've not got it wrong - I'm saying exactly the same thing as you - the London and Wombwell groups have able bodied and disabled voting together, that's fine.
Why don't you answer the question - is there a difference between a disabled and a non-disabled footballer supporter -- yes or no?

 

A very perceptive post rothred!

 

No, I think we should tell them what they should and should not do. And by 'we', I'm referring to white, affluent, heterosexual, able-bodied males. And we should start by taking away the disabled supporters player of the year award. Who do they think they are having their own award!?

Of course people should decide for themselves what they should and shouldn't do, so long as they keep within the law.

I can't believe I'm having this conversation. I think I've wandered in to the twilight zone. Anyone know the way out? Hang on a minute, I think I can see the off switch...