Level Playing Field Weeks of Action - celebrating the ‘Game Changers’

This annual initiative, now in its twelfth year, aims to celebrate access and inclusion for disabled sports fans across England and Wales. 

Disabled people constitute the largest minority group at around 15% of the population and this number is increasing year on year. 

Naturally, a large number of disabled people are football fans too and we are pleased to take this opportunity to thank our own disabled fans for their continued loyalty and dedication to this great club. 

This year, we are celebrating the ‘Game Changers’ that make a big difference to the matchday experience of our disabled fans. 

We want to shine a light on those who lead and pioneer change that improves access and inclusion, and in many cases changing the lives of disabled people.

One such fan is 19-year-old Morgan Parry. A season-ticket holder at Macron Stadium for 12 years having started coming to games when he was just seven, he shows his support for Wanderers home and away with his father Stephen. 

Currently studying BTEC for Business at Bolton College meanwhile, one of his assignments this year is to develop the idea of a new business.

Morgan’s idea meanwhile was to be a consultant for sports clubs in regards to their provisions for access for people with disabilities – not just those in wheelchairs, but across the entire spectrum.

As part of his research meanwhile, he spoke to Daniel Scott, Disabled Supporters’ Liaison Officer here at Bolton Wanderers, who was more than happy for him to supply his fellow fans in the stadium’s Duke of Lancaster Suite with questionnaires on their experiences of coming to games.

To date, he has collected over 60 responses from fans both here at Macron Stadium and also at eight different away grounds on his travels with the Trotters this season.

His efforts in his studies also led him to the door of the EFL, with Aneel Javed, Specialist Advisor for Inclusion at the Football League, being so impressed with Morgan’s work so far that he was recently asked to feature in a special documentary by the league’s governing body.

And at Wanderers’ recent home game against Bristol Rovers, his entire matchday experience was documented, right from him leaving home to watching the game, and will be shown at a special disability conference set to be held at Derby County’s iPro Stadium next month.

Morgan and Stephen have also been invited down to the conference itself, with Bolton Wanderers’ efforts for their disabled supporters set to be showcased and used as a benchmark for other organisations.

All at the football club would like to thank Morgan for his superb work so far and wish him all the best in his future studies.

This Weeks of Action campaign meanwhile, we are joining together with sports clubs, fans and organisations across England and Wales to celebrate the #GameChangers who make a difference for disabled football and to promote a message of access and inclusion for all.

For more information about Level Playing Field (LPF) and this year’s Weeks of Action, please visit www.levelplayingfield.org.uk email info@levelplayingfield.org.uk or call 0208 621 2403. 

Alternatively you may wish to send a message of support to @lpftweets on Twitter using the hashtag #GameChangers.