Sporting communities came together to focus on access and inclusion for disabled fans, throughout Level Playing Field’s ‘Unite For Access’ campaign.
Celebrations took place at more than 100 venues, with involvement across the Premier League, EFL, WSL, National League, Welsh leagues and beyond.
Level Playing Field’s Patron, Roy Hodgson, launched ‘Unite For Access’ with a film. Disability has changed the matchdays of the fans featured and their experiences are at its core.
This was followed by a surge of early activity from clubs and disabled supporters’ associations.
High levels of engagement continued, including at West Ham United, where collaboration with the disabled supporters’ association saw a series of members profiled.
Meanwhile, Brentford showed the evolution of their accessible facilities from the perspective of a supporter who had been with them throughout that journey.
Grimsby Town let everyone take a look at the friendship which developed between one of the players and a disabled supporter, while a Dagenham & Redbridge fan had the platform to share honest experiences live from the matchday environment.
At Bolton Wanderers, the opening of a new sensory room received attention and Southampton hosted a Guide Dogs visit.
Chair of Level Playing Field, Tony Taylor, said: “It has been so pleasing to see such strong engagement in this year’s campaign.
“Fans and clubs have really bought in and the widespread involvement across the Premier League and EFL, that we have gained in previous years, has been solidified with more meaningful activations in many instances.
“Beyond that, it has been particularly encouraging to see growth in the campaign across the WSL and National League.
“This year’s centralised theme for the campaign has been something which so many people have been able to get behind.
“Disability has changed my own matchday experiences and recognition of that often-misunderstood experience was important.
“Ahead of the campaign, I had spent some significant time in hospital and returned to a first game back at Middlesborough for their ‘Unite For Access’ celebrations.
“I personally felt many of the emotions expressed by supporters in the film, with all the excitement and uncertainty, and therefore know the value it will have provided to their fellow fans in similar scenarios
“There was no way I was missing that occasion however and what it meant to some of the people involved was so uplifting.
“It gives me great enthusiasm going into the rest of the year, with communities of the country having so much to build on.”
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