The Level Playing Field Podcast

In this episode, Liam is joined by Level Playing Field’s Chief Executive, Owain Davies, and Head of Club Relations & Development, Daniel Townley, to unpack the findings from our 2025 Annual Fan Survey – the largest of its kind for disabled sports fans in the UK.You can read the survey in full via this link or visit https://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/news-item/2025-level-playing-field-annual-fan-survey-results/More than 2,000 disabled supporters, across 173 clubs and multiple sports, shared their real matchday experiences. Together, we explore what the data is telling us about:The biggest barriers to attending live sport, from physical access to public transport and ticketingWhy demand for PA/companion tickets keeps rising – and why access to them is getting harderAccessible parking, sustainability, and whether clubs are being forced to choose between being “green” and being accessibleThe impact of staff attitudes, steward training and club culture on disabled fansIf you’re a disabled fan, work at a club, or care about access and inclusion in live sport, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Liam speaks with Jon, author and parent of a young autistic daughter, about his journey of turning personal experiences into a series of children’s books.Jon shares how his daughter Kaya inspired Lilly and Myles: The Match—a story that explores the excitement and challenges of attending football through the eyes of an autistic child.If 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 or visit levelplayingfield.org.uk

In this episode of the Level Playing Field podcast, guest host Joey Crabtree (Media and Communications Officer at Level Playing Field) heads to AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium for a conversation about disability inclusion, access, and community in rugby league. He’s joined by Leeds Rhinos' Head of Customer Experience, Sian Jones, and club legend turned Inclusion Director, Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Together, they explore the club’s journey to becoming more inclusive—from building relationships with disabled fans and creating action plans to improve accessibility, to engaging with local communities and the wider sport through the RFL Inclusion Board. Jamie shares what he’s learned since stepping into his EDI role, how his late teammate Rob Burrow continues to influence his values and work.If 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 or visit levelplayingfield.org.uk

In this episode of the Level Playing Field Podcast, we dive into the findings of the 2024/25 Level Playing Field Fan Survey, the largest to date with over 2,000 responses from fans across 156 clubs. Joining host Liam Bird are three key voices behind the survey:Daniel Townley, Development Officer and the data expert who pulled it all together.Owain Davies, Chief Executive at Level Playing FieldTony Taylor, Chair of Level Playing Field.Together, they explore the standout stats from this year’ssurvey, including rising reports of disability abuse, accessibility barrieswith public transport and parking, and how societal attitudes still act asbarriers for disabled fans. They also discuss what clubs and governing bodies need toprioritise and the actions Level Playing Field is taking to drive meaningfulchange. Whether you're a sports fan, an advocate for inclusion, or justcurious about the lived experiences of disabled supporters, this episode offersan honest and insightful look at the state of accessibility in sport today. You can read the full survey results by visiting levelplayingfield.org.uk

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

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