Interview'We aim to ensure disabled fans enjoy a more inclusive matchday experience'
This year’s Level Playing Field Unite for Access 2024 campaign ran from February 24 to March 10, raising awareness and driving equality for a more inclusive matchday experience for disabled sports fans.
To mark the campaign, we spoke with Ted Morris, chair of the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association, about the work that continues to be done at Anfield for disabled supporters and why the 2022 Champions League final in Paris was a watershed moment for improving standards for disabled fans throughout Europe.
“I grew up on Scotland Road and this year is my 54th of attending Anfield, where I started off in the Boys’ Pen,” said Morris.
“I’ve also travelled the world supporting the club but for the last five years have been disabled and now use a wheelchair. This has made me appreciate that the experience is totally different for disabled fans and through my work with the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association (LDSA), I’ve decided to dedicate my life to making a difference.
“The LDSA is proud to boast a global membership of 3,000 supporters. Our youngest member is aged just four and the oldest 94. Our aim is to ensure disabled supporters – whatever their disability – can enjoy the same matchday experience as non-disabled supporters at Anfield and beyond. We also aim to give hope to our disabled children that they too can have the same dreams and aspirations as non-disabled children when supporting and following Liverpool FC.
“At Anfield we have great facilities for disabled supporters, including just over 260 wheelchair bays across the stadium, both pitchside and in elevated positions; there are two blocks in the Main Stand designed specifically with ambulant disabled fans in mind; we have a sensory room for our fellow fans who are neurodivergent; accessible toilets and more.
“There is a dedicated disability team to help with ticketing and other queries, plus we a have a great team of 35 accessibility stewards who many of us have got to know personally. Some of the team travel to domestic and European away games and seeing familiar faces game in, game out makes a huge difference to us. It is not an exaggeration to say that nothing is too much trouble for them.
“Disabled fans expect no more or no less than an equal matchday experience and I know that within the club there is no complacency and a constant desire to do just that and more.
You have to accept cookies in order to view this content on our site.
“The appalling mismanagement of the 2022 Champions League final is well documented but perhaps what isn’t so well known is how that one game transpired to be a genuine catalyst for meaningful change, not just for our disabled fans who travel across Europe but those from all clubs.
“Together with the then Spirit of Shankly chair, Joe Blott, I was humbled to be invited to the French Senate to talk about the experience of both able bodied and disabled LFC supporters.
“Little did I realise at the time just how that one appearance would galvanise UEFA to ensure positive changes to accessibility in their competitions. I was honoured that the UEFA General Secretary, Theodore Theodoridis, met with supporters groups, including the LDSA, in Liverpool in February of last year. From that meeting was an acknowledgement from UEFA that work needed to be done to improve the matchday journey for disabled spectators throughout Europe, and Theodore gave a firm commitment that work would start immediately, in time for season 2023-24.
“Shortly afterwards, I was contacted by UEFA Deputy General Secretary Giorgio Marchetti to arrange a meeting in Liverpool to set a roadmap. We met at Anfield, and after an open and honest discussion about what needs to take place to bring about change, we formulated a plan of action. UEFA established a working group – ‘facilities for spectators with disabilities’ – and the first phase concentrated on wheelchair users, as we all felt they required urgent attention.
“An achievable roadmap and list of recommendations was sent to the UEFA General Secretary, who accepted them in full, and a circular was sent to all clubs involved in UEFA competitions this season. It listed requirements that UEFA felt would ‘strengthen inclusivity and accessibility at stadiums in Europe’ and included facilitating disabled supporters’ arrival in a city, the stadium experience and departure – a complete journey. UEFA allowed clubs to improve the experience for disabled supporters on their own accord, but with the caveat that it would be made compulsory if need be.
“The majority of these recommendations were already part and parcel of the LFC matchday plan and experience, so I know the club didn’t hesitate in embracing the recommendations in full. I also know the club is proud that the LDSA are playing an integral role in ensuring real, tangible progress that benefits so many and will continue to do so far in the future.
“Our members were proud to support this year’s Unite for Access campaign and our work will continue to raise awareness and drive equality for a more inclusive matchday experience for disabled sports fans. This is not a journey that ends.”
To learn more about Level Playing Field, visit www.levelplayingfield.org.uk.
To learn more about the LDSA, visit www.liverpooldsa.co.uk.