THE Taylor Report changed the whole aspect of football grounds, making them all-seater stadiums.

It also made clubs make provisions for wheelchair-bound supporters and, for those with great difficulty walking, for parking spaces to be sited as close as possible.

But having read the report, I cannot find a single sentence that gives clubs the right to exploit these people by making them pay for the privilege of parking near grounds.

And yet, Blackburn Rovers have seen fit to impose a charge for parking. Last year, it was £60. This season, it was increased to £80.

Given this trend, next season it could be £100.

When this charge is coupled to the cost of a season ticket - providing they don't go up too - you will be looking at a total cost of £465. It may well be that the club will discourage disabled people from being supporters through making the charges too great for them to park their cars.

If so, it doesn't say much for a club that not only portrays itself as a caring club, but also sees itself as one of the Premiership's great clubs.

B J BOOTH, Rockcliffe Street, Blackburn (Father of a wheelchair-bound supporter).

Footnote: Rovers disabled parking spokesman John Newsham, said this year's parking price increase was the first for two years. He added that disabled parking was heavily subsidised by the club, with other parking spaces costing almost double the amount.

Mr Newsham said stewarding and rent to the landowner of the disabled car park had to be paid for.

And he pointed out that Rovers have won an award for their disabled facilities, with none of the other 92 football league clubs offering as many parking spaces for the disabled as there are at Ewood.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.