Ahead of Saturday's Unite For Access fixture against Wycombe Wanderers, Bolton Wanderers Disabled Supporters Association Chairman Stephen Parry has published his annual report, setting out the progress made on access and inclusion at the Toughsheet Community Stadium over the past year.
The update covers a range of improvements to the club's accessible facilities and services, reflects on key partnerships and looks ahead to the work still to come. Saturday's game will also see the official opening of our new Sensory Room, built in consultation with the BWDSA and the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Trust, and funded entirely by the Bolton Wanderers Development Association. Stephen's full report is below.
The Bolton Wanderers Disabled Supporters Association (BWDSA) has been actively involved with Bolton Wanderers and partners to promote access and inclusion for disabled fans in the past year and welcomes the chance to contribute to the Level Playing Field 2026 Unite for Access initiatives.
New facilities and services have been further developed during the past year and have received regular and very positive feedback from fans. Key improvements have included the Audio-Descriptive Commentary Service, the new Changing Places Toilet facility, Quiet Room and the Community Hub. Improvements have been made to the disabled toilet facilities throughout the stadium including additional stoma care provision.
The Association is delighted to see the latest plans for a sensory room being implemented, which officially opens on Saturday ahead of the Bolton Wanderers v Wycombe Wanderers fixture. We look forward to results of the recent Level Playing Field Audit and will work closely with the club to promote further recommended changes in the forthcoming year.
Members of the BWDSA continue to invite and receive feedback from home and away fans before and after fixtures at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Changes to the car parking arrangements for both home and away fans have been made during the season which have met with a positive response. Individual difficulties which have arisen continue to be addressed as they arise. The official away travel coaches continue to provide opportunities for disabled fans to attend away fixtures.
Disabled fans have been very positive about the flexible and responsive approach taken during the season by all the staff, including stewards on match days and the club shop and ticket office teams throughout the week. Where problems have occurred the BWDSA has found a continued willingness to address issues raised and to find solutions.
Members of the BWDSA Committee would like to thank the club and its key partners for their support and advocacy. In particular, the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Trust and the Bolton Wanderers in the Community teams have been great advocates for access and inclusion. Special thanks are also due to Gerard Howell who led the BWDSA as Chairman for more than a decade and retired during the year. He and his committee colleagues laid the foundations for the current success.
We would also like to thank Owain Davies, Chief Executive of Level Playing Field, and his team for the continued support and advice they have given through audits, guidance, the regular national and regional forum meetings and their support to address any specific cases of poor practice experienced by fans. We look forward to welcoming Owain to Saturday’s Unite for Access game against Wycombe Wanderers.
Finally, the progress we continue to make together has been made possible over the last few years because of the personal commitment of Sharon Brittan and the club’s leadership team to meet the needs of all fans. This support has also been reflected in the time which Steven Schumacher, the coaching team and players have made for disabled fans throughout the year.
Thank you.
Stephen Parry
Chairman
Bolton Wanderers Disabled Supporters’ Association
Saturday's Unite For Access fixture is part of Level Playing Field's annual campaign, running this year from 28th February to 15th March 2026.
The campaign celebrates good access and inclusion at sports venues across the country, with hundreds of clubs hosting dedicated activations during the window. 2025 was a record-breaking year for the campaign, with the strongest ever engagement from Premier League and EFL clubs.
If you want to find out more about Level Playing Field's work, or get involved in the campaign, email info@levelplayingfield.org.uk. And later this week, we will be publishing the story of James Gregory, our Community Mascot for Saturday's game, as the second of our two Unite For Access features this week.