The Level Playing Field Podcast

On this episode of the Level Playing Field Podcast, Fan Liaison Officer Liam Bird sits down with multi-talented and passionate football fan Courtney Buchner and discusses her recent ADHD diagnosis. Courtney shares her journey of self-discovery and acceptance. She explores how attending live sports has impacted her life and delves into her experiences of being a neurodiverse female football fan. You can check out Courtney's work via her Instagram and TikTok pagesIf you would like to know more about the work we do at Level Playing Field, then please do get in contact info@levelplayingfield.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Level Playing Field Podcast is back!In this episode, we talk to Jon Attenborough, a passionate football fan and soon-to-be author of "Following Sam," which chronicles his journey visiting all 42 Scottish football league clubs with his assistance dog, Sam. Jon shares the logistics, highlights, and accessibility challenges of his travels, as well as the vital role Sam plays in his match day experience.We also discuss how clubs and fans can better support disabled supporters and touch on Jon’s nomination for the Football Content Awards.You can watch Jon Sam and SPFL completing the 42 via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq5bMGzTVvkYou can vote for Jon and Level Playing Field in the Football Content Awards via this link: https://footballcontentawards.com/voting/ Deadline to vote is October 13thIf you would like to know more about the work we do at Level Playing Field, then please do get in contact info@levelplayingfield.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we delve into the essential work of Disabled Supporters Associations (DSAs) in this special episode for Volunteers' Week.DSAs are dedicated groups formed by disabled sports fans to advocate for accessibility and inclusion within their respective clubs.Join us as we speak with Diane from Chelsea, David from Hull City, Brian and Niraj from Brighton Hove Albion, and Simone from Coventry City, who share their experiences and insights on starting and running DSAs. From the motivations behind their initiatives to the challenges and successes they’ve encountered,If you would like to know more about how to set up a DSA at your club or find out if your club has a DSA, please email info@levelplayingfield.org.uk or contact us via social media, X (Twitter), Facebook and Insta.You can find out more about the DSAs that took part in today's episode via the links or emails below.Chelsea DSA: chelseadsa@chelseasupporterstrust.comCoventry City DSA: SkyBluesDSA@Gmail.comHull City DSA: Click this link to contact the DSASeagulls DSA (Brighton Hove Albion): seagulls.dsa@gmail.com If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Level Playing Field staff members reflect on the recently concluded Unite For Access campaign, exploring its impact on disabled sports fans, match day and non-match day activities and the future of the campaign. You can watch this year's campaign video via this link or link belowhttps://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/news-item/unite-for-access-campaign-film-spotlights-non-visible-disabilities/If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Level Playing Field podcast episode, we explore the assistive technology 'Give Vision', a headset that brings the game closer to blind and partially sighted sports fans. Fan Liaison Officer Liam Bird sits down with Joanna Liddington from Give Vision to uncover the origin and impact of this innovative tech.Level Playing Field Chief Executive Owain Davies takes us to AFC Bournemouth, where supporters share their firsthand experiences using the Give Vision headsets. Owain also spoke with Hannah Powis, Head of EDI and Engagement at AFC Bournemouth, and explored the broader implications of inclusivity within football clubs.This episode is not an endorsement of the Give Vision headset. If you want to know more about Give Vision, please click this link.You can read a full transcript of this interview on the Level Playing Field website or click this link.If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, we are up in the foothills of the West Pennine Moors as we visit Bolton Wanderers at the unveiling of their Changing Places facility.In this episode, our Fans Liaison Officer, Liam, talks to two families who have been advocating for the Changing Places facility to be installed for many years at the club as well as around the country.Liam also talks to the COO at Bolton Wanderers, Phil Mason, about how the Changing Places facility came to be and the stumbling blocks in its way.If you would like to know more about the Changing Places facility, please click this linkYou can read a full transcript of this interview on the Level Playing Field website or click this link If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this captivating episode of the Level Playing Field Podcast, your host, Level Playing Field, Fans Liaison Officer, Liam, turns the spotlight onto an often misunderstood disability – Tourette's syndrome. Guiding us through this exploration is Ione, a person with firsthand experience of Tourette's. But Ione's contribution goes beyond her personal journey; as the Advocacy Lead for Tourettes Action, she's at the forefront of advancing support and research for people with Tourette's in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.Joining Ione is also Neve, who shares her experiences of navigating life with Tourette's. Joining Neve is her mother, Vicky, who also holds a post at Staffordshire FA. Lastly, we also have Ed join the conversation, shedding light on his experience living with Tourette's and communicating through British Sign Language (BSL). Ed's mother, Liz, is on hand to ensure that Ed's thoughts and feelings are accurately conveyed to our audience.If you would like to know more about the work of Touretters Action, please click this link or the link below. https://www.tourettes-action.org.uk/61-about-ta.htmlYou can read a full transcript of this interview on the Level Playing Field website or click the link belowhttps://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/news-item/tourettes-focus-for-the-level-playing-field-podcast/If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this exciting episode, Level Playing Field Fan Liaison Officer Liam Bird speaks to Sandra Bentley.Sandra is the Ambassador & Business Liaison Consultant for the highly anticipated new 'Disability Expo', scheduled for July 6th and 7th at Londons ExCeL Center. We discuss initiatives, technologies, and passionate individuals coming together to be part of the Disability Expo to make live sports and day-to-day life more accessible for all. If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Level Playing Field Podcast continues its look at the women's game alongside 30,000 fans, to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United women's teams at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While there, we spoke to several disabled supporters and personal assistants and got their views of the women's game from a disability perspective.If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the coming weeks, the Level Playing Field Podcast will focus on the state of women's football when attending as a disabled football fan.In this episode, we speak to Deborah Dilworth, the Head of Women's Football at the Football Supporters Association, also known as the FSA.If you are listening to this episode before 11.59 pm on April 7th, you can participate in the Level Playing Field women's game survey via the link below.Level Playing Field Womens Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LPFWomensGameYou can learn more about Debs and the FSA work in the women's game via the link below.Womes Game Strategy: https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/FSA-Womens-Game-Strategy-2022-24.pdfFans for Diversity x Women's Game: https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FSA-fans_for_diversity_x_womens_game.pdfFSA 2022 Women's Game Supporter Survey: https://thefsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FSA-Womens-Game-Survey-2022.pdfIf you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this special 'Unite For Access' podcast, we are in Wolverhampton, speaking to the award-winning TWS Podcast. The TWS Podcast is hosted by autistic students from the Tettenhall Wood School, and we speak to two of the presenters, Alyssa and Tom, as well as their teacher Adam.You can listen to the TWS Podcast via the link belowhttps://www.podpage.com/tws-sports-podcast/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are at Fulham vs Wolves, speaking to one-half of the new  Audio Description team at Fulham as well as Mark, a blind supporter who uses the service. This interview took place on Fulham's dedicated Unite For Access match day.If you would like to know more about attending a match day at Fulham as a disabled supporter, please visit Fulham Level Playing Field club page via the below link https://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/club/fulham/If you would like to know more about Fulham Disabled Supporters Association, you can email fulhamdsa@gmail.comFollow the Fulham  Audio Description team on Twitter via the link below.https://twitter.com/ADFulham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Cup seems like a lifetime ago... But it was only a few weeks ago, and in this episode, we speak to two supporters who made their way over to the Qatar desert.In November, Level Playing Field spoke to Walea fan Ian Thomas who was attending his first major tournament. You can listen back to Ian via this link. Ian is back to talk about his experience alongside Jo McNicol, an experienced traveller watching England and Spurs who attended the World Cup Final.  If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link. If you would like to provide feedback regarding your time in  Qatar, please visit our friends at CAFE and drop them an email at info@cafefootball.eu.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the past few weeks, Level Playing Field has been celebrating disability as part of Disability History Month. We continue our celebration down at Brighton Hove Albion. Fans Liason Officer Liam Bird takes a trip down to the south coast to meet up with Brighton super fan Ed Osborne for the first time after striking up a friendship born out of the COVID pandemic. If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wales fan Ian Thomas is going to Qatar. England fan Anthony Joy is not. We all know about the controversy regarding human rights issues at this World Cup. But are the issues that face disabled supporters being spoken about enough?Is there enough accessible information out there? What about accommodation? Are the stadiums fully accessible? Fans Liaison Officer Liam Bird asks both sets of fans all the above, plus how they decided to attend this World Cup in the desert or not. If you are in Qatar and would like to give feedback, please visit our friends at CAFE and drop them an email at info@cafefootball.eu.  If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nav Johal, a Brentford season ticket holder and Giovanni Cinque, the Campaigns Manager at Colostomy UK, join Fan Liason Officer Liam Bird on this month's podcast to talk about attending football with a Colostomy and the difficulties of having a hidden disability. You can find out more about Colostomy UK's work, including Stoma Friendly Toilets and their work with our sporting colleagues at CAFE, by clicking the relevant links.If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.       Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Pennick is the Campaigns & Comms Manager for the disability charity 'Transport For All'. She joins the Chief Executive of Level Playing Field, Owain Davies, on this month's podcast to talk about the accessibility of the UK public transport system and how it impacts disabled people daily, including on a match day.You have until midnight, October 21st, to participate in the 'Transport For All' first national survey. You can take part in the survey via this link If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.      Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this month's episode, we speak to 3 fans regarding the results of the Level Playing Field 'Away Fan Survey.' The survey highlighted that the experience for many fans was not fit for purpose. Bolton Wanderers supporters, mum and son Kayleigh & Jack, Grimsby Town supporter, Dean and Spurs supporter James all give their views on the survey and what needs to change to make sure that attending away match days improvise  If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up as a free member via this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this month's episode, we speak about the results of  the 'Away Fan Survey' A survey conducted by Level Playing Field into the away matchday experience for disabled fans, released on May 30th, The survey highlights that the experience for many fans is not fit for purpose. For disabled football fans who travel large distances at considerable cost to attend away match days in England and Wales, a significant number are not getting what they pay for.On the podcast, we have 3 members of staff from Level Playing FieldThe Chair - Tony TaylorChief Executive - Owain DaviesDaniel Townley - Development Officer If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up to be a free member via this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we are turning our attention to sports media and ask the question, is disability being spoken about in the sporting press at the same level as the other protective characteristics? (Race, sexuality, gender.) or even at all? Is it because there is a lack of disabled sports journalists, or is disabled just not a high priority in sports media?To answer these questions, we have a round table of sports journalists in Nate Williams, Jordan Jarrett Bryan and Harry De Cosemo. If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up to be a free member via this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.