My Experience Of The Wasps Sensory Room - 6th January 2018

Today I got to experience a rugby match from a different angle. The sensory room at the Ricoh Arena.

Wasps v Northampton Saints.

Here's my ticket.  Now we are off to the sensory room!

My Official Match day Programme.

Can you see the sign for the sensory room behind my head?


When there is not a match on at the Arena these rooms are hotel rooms.  So the doors and corridor are just like you would find if you are staying at a hotel.

The sensory room has two doors.  One is locked.  Shall we go through the other one to explore?

Come on in.  The first door you see on the left is a standard bathroom.

Wow!  Look at that view.

As you can see through the doors behind me.  The room is located on one of the corners of the stadium.

There are lots of comfy chairs, bean bags and cushions that you can move wherever you like.

Do you like the designs of the cushions?

There are lots of  communicate in print pictures and symbols to help you understand everything in the room and everything that is going to happen through the match.

As soon as today's team was announced I wanted to find the players pictures and put them in their positions.

Today's match is being televised.  I have the TV on watching highlights and the build up to the match.

This is the second adjoining room. 

The curtains are pulled in here and the lights are out.  So it is very calm and peaceful and you can enjoy the bubble tube, string lights, and cuddley Sting!





I spoke to Jordan (Community Development Officer) about what I liked about the Sensory room.

There is a whole box of sensory toys that you can play with including things to pull and squeeze.

This is the second bathroom in the bubble tube side of the room.

It is a bathroom big enough for a wheelchair.

  We are very lucky to have our own private bathrooms so we don't have to leave the sensory room.

Time to explore outside.  The door slides open.

Can you see the big screen behind me?

Inside or outside it's up to you?

The sensory room has it's own special rows of seats.

What a great view.

I asked Sean lots of questions about what would happen if the fire alarm went off or if somebody tried to get in the sensory room who should not be there.

There are 16 special reserved seats.

They say 'Reserved Wasps Sensory Room'.

 They are very comfy and posh!

Behind me you can see the open slide door to the sensory room.

It's very special to be able to see the stadium and all the staff getting ready for the match.

Soon this area will be filling up.

Here is a little video tour.

The players are all coming out to warm up.

The crowd are starting to take their seats.

Here is me pretending to be a sports presenter on TV.

Look who's come to see me Bernie - Northampton's mascot.

Sting (my favourite) and Bernie together.

I'm in my seat ready for the match to begin, if you want too you can sit inside instead, but I wanted to enjoy the atmosphere.

I would recommend to anybody that struggles with noise, but wants to enjoy the atmosphere to bring their own ear defenders as it can get quite noisy outside, especially as the Wasps drummers are located a couple of blocks across in the South stand to the right of you.  But remember you can go inside at anytime and still have a great view or a break from the noise.

Here is a video showing the drummers.

I love it when the players run out and the fire boxes go off.

Everybody is very excited for the match to begin.

You can stand up at the back too.  Here I am waving my Wasps flag and joining in with the Wasps chants.

Hello Sting would you like to come in the Sensory room?

Come on Wasps!

Half time score was Wasps 17 - 16 Saints.

  I enjoyed going back inside the peace and quiet of the Sensory room at half time, warming up and watching the TV interviews and listening to the pundits opinions of the first half.

What a great game.

Wasps won 27 -16.

16,215 people attended.

Watching the BT Sports pundits finishing todays live program.

The stadium is now empty again.

I've had a fantastic day, and would recommend the Sensory room to anybody who would normally struggle attending a match.  Especially Special Autistic people like me :-)

Happy New Year, Trips, Football And Netball - January 2019

We started the New Year with a trip to York.

On the way we ticked off another of my 92 stadium visits.

First stop Keepmoat Stadium home of Doncaster Rovers Football Club.

Capacity 15,231.

Pin badge purchased from the shop.

On to York.

It is still very quiet after the New Year's celebrations last night.

First stop in York the Jorvik Viking Centre.

In our ride capsule ready to experience Viking life.

 Learning about the things the Vikings made.

Here is a shopping street, selling food and clothing.

Can you see the ride capsule in-front of us just entering a Viking house?

The Vikings are very smelly, and I smelt burning wood, fish, apples, and even a man in the toilet!

  Time to explore around York more.

The Shambles the oldest street in York.

There are lots of Harry Potter shops here. 

Some people think that The Shambles is where Diagon Alley was based on in the movies.

All these shops used to be butchers and sell meat.

I definitely prefer what they sell now.

I love Yorkshire puddings!

Next stop the cathedral York Minster.

Shall we look inside?

Okay then.

That Christmas tree is so tall!

It is one of the largest cathedrals in Northern Europe.

Where to next?

The river Ouse.

Clifford's Tower, used as a mint and prison built by somebody with the same name as me William the Conqueror.

You could see for miles from up there.

Next stop Elland Road Leeds, another of my 92.

Home to Leeds United FC.

Capacity 37,890.

 Junior Sky Blues Christmas Party 2018/19.

 3rd January 2019

Today I got to attend the special party Coventry City have for junior supporters every year.

Me with the League Two play off Trophy.

Next a tour of the changing rooms.

Can you see the teddy I won on one of the many games and quizzes you could take part in?

I have been in here before when I was a mascot in 2017.

Conor Chaplin sat here last Saturday.

Jordan Willis here.

Here's the baths and showers.

The walls of the back of the changing rooms.

The last thing the players see before going out to play.

The 1987 FA cup winning team.

I wonder what they watch on the TV, normally?

Time to meet the players.

Michael Doyle Captain.

Jack Grimmer.

Dom Hyam.

Conor Chaplin.

Liam Kelly.

Junior Brown.

Abumere Ogogo.

Zain Westbrooke.

Jodi Jones.

Tom Bayliss.

Jordan Shipley.

Lee Burge.

Jonson Clarke- Harris.

Jordan Willis.

Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila.

Reise Allassani.

Liam O'Brien.

Tony Andreu.

Luke Thomas.

Dujon Sterling.

All of my signatures.

 What a fantastic party!

 Saturday 5th January 2019.

Park Run number 27 - and a new PB.

Then off to the Arena Birmingham to watch Super 10

The start of the Vitality Netball Superleague season.

First match Celtic Dragons v Team Bath.

Result 41-58.

Here's my friend Sting, getting ready for the second match.

Wasps v Loughborough Lightning.

Here come the starting team.

What a result Wasps win 72 - 42.

Rachel Dunn gets her player of the match medal.

Severn Stars v London Pulse is the next match.  Here's the Pulse mascot.

That result was a lot closer 49 - 51 to Pulse.

Next match Strathclyde Sirens v Surrey Storm.  I cannot wait to watch Cat Tuivaiti play for Sirens!

Sirens win 56 - 38.

The mascots are having a goal shooting competition.

The final match.

  Manchester Thunder v Saracens Mavericks.

Thunder won 58 -51.

All five matches were on Sky Sports Mix, here's Tamsin Greenway and Di Dougherty chatting to the TV cameras.

 A great first day of the netball superleague season.