Portsmouth football fans fund specially-adapted taxi so supporter with cerebral palsy can travel from Worthing to Fratton Park

A disabled football fan from Worthing has been left speechless after dozens of generous supporters answered his plea for help in getting to Portsmouth FC this weekend.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Ongoing train strikes over the weekend meant that lifelong Blues fan Ryan Stray would have been unable to attend the match against Bristol Rovers on Saturday (August 20) with dad, Tim.

Desperate, the 26-year-old Portsmouth season ticket holder – who has cerebral palsy and needs a wheelchair to get around – took to social media, asking for help.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He launched a GoFundMe page to help him pay for a specially-adapted taxi to travel the 38-mile journey to Fratton Park.

Ongoing train strikes over the weekend meant that lifelong Blues fan Ryan Stray would have been unable to attend Pompey's game against Bristol Rovers tomorrow with dad, Tim., rightOngoing train strikes over the weekend meant that lifelong Blues fan Ryan Stray would have been unable to attend Pompey's game against Bristol Rovers tomorrow with dad, Tim., right
Ongoing train strikes over the weekend meant that lifelong Blues fan Ryan Stray would have been unable to attend Pompey's game against Bristol Rovers tomorrow with dad, Tim., right

And Portsmouth fans from across the globe answered in their droves, donating more than £500 in a matter of hours.

Ryan, who was born in Portsmouth but now lives in Farncombe Road in Worthing, said: “I thought I would put on Twitter to see what people were doing to get to the ground.

"I had no idea it was going to blow up into something like this. It amazes me. I’m just speechless.

Ryan Stray, left, pictured with Portsmouth head coach Danny CowleyRyan Stray, left, pictured with Portsmouth head coach Danny Cowley
Ryan Stray, left, pictured with Portsmouth head coach Danny Cowley
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’ve been blown away by the generosity by the Portsmouth Football Club community. I wasn’t expecting it. I even had someone donate from New Zealand.”

Ryan said he’d been looking for alternative routes to travel – like the 700 bus from Worthing to Portsmouth – but said the service didn’t stop close enough to Fratton Park.

He added he tried to call train operator, Southern, to see if they could sort out alternative arrangements but said the firm was ‘very reluctant to help’.

“Because I can’t get out of my wheelchair, any normal person can just jump in a car with a mate and just drive them down but I can’t,” he added.

"It makes things incredibly difficult.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The trips to Fratton Park are a treasured opportunity for Ryan and his dad Tim Stray – a mechanic in Portsmouth – to bond.

“We both watch the football together. I love it,” Ryan said.

"I don’t tend to like to go unless it is with my dad because it’s our thing.”

Ryan insisted he had no animosity towards rail staff on strike and said any left over cash from his fundraiser would be kept in a ‘rainy day’ fund in case of future industrial action.

For the latest breaking news where you live in Sussex, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.