The Level Playing Field Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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. 

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. 

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.