Returning to live sport, as a disabled fan, is an experience which fans featured in Level Playing Field’s ‘Unite For Access’ campaign film have opened up about.
The video is available to view above, with British Sign Language interpretation and audio description, while a full transcript is located at the bottom of this page.
The annual celebration of access and inclusion for disabled sports fans is running until March 15, with events taking place at more than 100 clubs and venues.
The 2025 ‘Unite For Access’ campaign brought together sporting communities across England and Wales. For more information, or to get involved, please get in touch.
Level Playing Field would like to give a special thanks to all of the contributors and host venues from this year’s film.
The full transcript of the video starts here:
Daniel
The first thing I thought about after I got out of hospital was, “When am I going to get back to the football?”
Laura
My first match back here I came along with my son.
Laura
I was terrified but excited.
Laura
There were just lovely people that you got talking to on the way down.
Laura
The way they’ve come around me and they come around for each other is brilliant.
Lindsay
Seeing the kiosks, seeing the stewards. It was like coming back to your family.
Sophie
It was quite nerve-wracking. I had to think about all these things I’d never thought of before – so access, support, getting off early, people standing.
Sophie
It felt awkward, when you’ve got to tap someone on the shoulder and say, “Do you mind sitting down? I can’t see.”
Sophie
So now where we sit, we’re with other disabled fans – but we’re still in the thick of it.
Daniel
I remember the stewards really helping me find my seat and I was actually really impressed with the facilities that my club had.
Daniel
I probably had a better view than I did before my accident.
Mark
Being there is part of what I am, part of what I want from football, part of what I’ve always wanted from football.
Mark
And it still makes me smile.