The inaugural Welsh Forum for Disabled fans was held yesterday at Rodney Parade.
Yesterday (Wednesday 6th April) Newport County AFC hosted the inaugural Welsh Forum for Disabled Football Fans; a group that the NCAFC Disabled Supporters Association has worked with Level Playing Field to bring together clubs from across the principality along with their DSA's and in some cases landlords. Representatives of Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham were joined by Welsh League members Airbus UK FC and Cardiff Metropolitan University FC along with representatives of LPF all met at Rodney Parade, hosted by Newport County AFC who were represented by their COO, Anthony Redwood and Community Team Leader, Norman Parselle.
Presentations were given on Level Playing Field, their “Working Together Project” that launched County’s DSA last year, along with a presentations by the host club and DSA about working together. In addition Steve Gilbert, Chairman of Wrexham DSA introduced the group to the Platform Project that has brought them both local and national headlines.
The forum will now meet in a year’s time, hopefully in Wrexham, to continue discussing ways to improve; sharing experiences about working between club and DSA and how successful projects have worked, along with other subjects raised. The hope is that as well as more clubs from the Welsh League attending, outfits such as Merthyr Town and Conway Bay, who have aspirations in the English League system will attend. In addition there is hope that the FAW will be represented to reinforce the movement in Wales to increase the match day experience for disabled supporters attending matched across the country.
Find out more about the Newport County DSA by following them on TWITTER.