I, as many other devoted fans, have observed with growing concern the decline in the quality of the stewarding in the disabled sections at Old Trafford, ever since the introduction of undertrained and cheap agency staff. We fear not just a loss in the quality of our match day experience, but also potential endangerment of the health and safety of fans.

The previous stewards at Old Trafford were more than just figures in Hi-Viz jackets. They were knowledgeable, dedicated, and an integral part of our match day experience. Many of us even considered them as friends. Their understanding of the specific needs of disabled fans was unparalleled and their replacement with untrained staff is perilously impacting the quality of steward support.

It is critical that measures are adopted to prevent the removal of such dedicated and knowledgeable stewards from the disabled fan sections at Old Trafford. The degradation in service quality compromises the safety and comfort of disabled supporters, a group for whom the match day experience is already fraught with difficulties.

Given the high regard held by football clubs worldwide for Manchester United’s commitment to its fans, this represents a step backwards. It is our appeal that the management at Manchester United Football Club acknowledges this issue and reinstate the experienced stewards to their rightful positions. We cannot allow cost-cutting measures to jeopardize the support and safety of fans.

Please join me in making Old Trafford a safe, comfortable and enjoyable space for all fans. Sign this petition to preserve high-quality stewarding for disabled fans.