West Ham will support the Level Playing Field campaign tonight.placeholder image
West Ham will support the Level Playing Field campaign tonight. | Getty Images
West Ham and Premier League clubs are shining a spotlight on accessibility in the sport this weekend.
Ex West Ham star Matt Jarvis has shared his support of the club’s Disabled Supporters’ Association (DSA) ahead of Saturday night’s clash with Manchester City at the London Stadium.
The Hammers will support the Level Playing Field Unite for Access campaign tonight to shine a spotlight on disability access and inclusion across live sport. This year’s campaign focuses on supporters who become disabled later in life.
West Ham first team players have sported Unite for Access shirts during training this week and the club has shared the stories of three fans who have become disabled later in life, looking at how their matchday experiences at the club have changed.
One of those is Mick Hancock, who told the club: “I'm a wheelchair user on a part-time basis and have been for the last 15 years. I think it was a surprise at the end of my 20s that I was suddenly diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which is a disease that tells my immune system to attack my nervous system, so it mainly affects my legs.
“Trying to get to Upton Park wasn't that good for a wheelchair user, so I looked at the options when we moved over to London Stadium, then applied for a seat here, and my support for the Club has really kicked off from then.
“I live down in Rochester, Kent, so for me to access the train at Ebbsfleet, it's a nine- to ten-minute journey up to London Stadium, and to find out I could get here so easily has been incredible.”
Mick is part of the DSA, and added: “I've been part of the DSA for the last three years, and we've made lots of improvements so that we're helping all of the individuals out there, and it makes you feel good that you're helping other people.
“It can be of any age. It can be a five- to six-year-old who needs help, and it could be someone as old as 70, 80 or 90 who wants some advice on how to get here and get here safely as well and be seated safely. It’s given me a lot of confidence, and it’s something I’m proud to be a part of.”
Ex West Ham star Matt Jarvis shares support of Disabled Supporters’ Association
Jarvis, who spent four years on the books at West Ham between 2012 and 2016, is now Ambassador of the DSA. He said: “I’m hugely humbled to be the DSA ambassador, my role is to raise awareness of the Disabled Supporters Association and help make everyone feel included at West Ham, whether at the London Stadium or elsewhere.
“I’ve attended meetings, fan events and accessibility campaigns to hear directly from supporters. It’s been eye-opening to see the barriers fans face and to help promote initiatives like British Sign Language on the big screen and other services that make matchdays accessible for all.”
The DSA meets regularly with West Ham’s Accessibility Team to share the thoughts of members on how the matchday experience can be improved. Cathy Bayford, Co-Chair of the West Ham United Disabled Supporters’ Association, added: “I co-chair the DSA with Trevor Bright, and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved over nine seasons.
“We represent a wide range of disabilities and ages, feeding back supporters’ experiences to the Club to improve matchday access. From accessible turnstiles and shuttle buses to lowered kiosks and radar-key toilets, we’ve helped implement many facilities. This year’s Unite for Access campaign focuses on supporters who became disabled later in life, and we’ve introduced three of our members to share how their matchday experience has been helped by ‘Enabling the Way’ with the DSA.”
In other news, Simulation predicts how West Ham, Tottenham, Forest and Leeds relegation picture will look after this week.
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