Joining the dots ... Disabled Fans, Disabled Players
- Stephen Reside
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 42 minutes ago
Last Thursday, many of the Disability Access Officers (DAOs) and other leading people working to help disabled football fans and para-footballers, met at St Johnstone’s McDiarmid Park to hear a number of presentations from some real experts in this field.
When the SFU set up this event, we knew there had not been anything like it for a number of years. We were slightly worried how many people would turn up. Owain Davies, CEO of Level Playing Field, and our own Jon Attenborough, told us that if we got 30 that would be great for a first attempt.
In the event, 40 people turned up. Most Premiership clubs were represented, as well as some from the Championship and the First Division, plus the SPFL Trust, the SPFL and the Scottish PFA. They heard inspirational speeches from: Ashley Reid, CEO, Scottish Para-football, Derek Allison of the Falkirk Foundation on the outstanding work they have done with Downs Syndrome footballers, Owain Davies, CEO of Level Playing Field, the major player in this area in England and Wales, and finally Keith Ferguson, DAO, Heart of Midlothian, whose entertaining presentation (who knew Hearts were top of the Premiership!?) was challenging as well as amusing. After each presentation, there were lots of questions and a huge amount of engagement between the speakers and attendees.
There was then a brief Q&A on "how can we create a level playing field for disabled fans in Scotland?" followed by a networking opportunity. Everyone took part and a lot of good connections were made, with DAOs and DSA representatives exchanging helpful information.
The afternoon finished with a presentation by Stephen Reside, Disability Lead for the SFU, of an app for disabled fans that will allow them to access tickets and other facilities at football grounds across Scotland. The presentations from the McDiarmid Park event are attached here, and there is also a link to the video which Derek Allison from the Falkirk Foundation showed (it’s brilliant and well worth a watch!).
Here's what some of those present have told us what they thought of the afternoon...
Stuart Murphy, CEO of the Scottish Football Union said, “We are delighted with the response from those present and we will be working closely with the DAOs and Hampden to continue to fight the corner for those with visible and non-visible disabilities as well as all the amazing para-footballers who deserve more support from the football authorities and fans across Scotland.”
Keith Ferguson, DAO of Hearts and the co-ordinator of Scottish football’s DAOs, said, “We were very happy with the varied and interesting presentations and also with the opportunity to network and ask questions. We look forward to working with the SFU in the future to help disabled fans at every level of Scottish football.”
Ashley Reid, CEO of Scottish Para-football and SFU Ambassador, said, “Scottish football can live in silos and the SFU is very good at coaxing us out of them, bringing together those with common interests and helping us realise that there are lots of other people who all want to help disabled people both watch and play the country’s favourite sport.”
Ashley's point sums up what the SFU is about. We exist to act as a sort of Trades Union Congress (and, crucially, a Think Tank) for all football fans groups, joining the dots between us all and helping break down barriers by using our contacts at the very top of the game in Scotland to bring the key issues to those in authority and, wherever possible seeking to work with everyone to the mutual benefit of Scottish football and its fans, whether disabled or able-bodied. If you aren't a member, please join us today: https://www.thesfu.co.uk/#join-us-1
All the presentations will be sent to those attending, as well as to those who couldn't make it but have asked to be kept in the loop. If you would like a copy or more information about the SFU's work with disabled fans and para-football, please email us at: ops@thesfu.co.uk
Stephen Reside, Lead for Disability, the SFU.
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