News & Fan Stories
Watford FC Supports Unite
For Access Campaign
Watford FC is proud to support Level Playing Field’s new national campaign, ‘Unite For Access’ - a celebration of accessibility and inclusion for disabled sports fans.
Members of Watford’s Disabled Supporters Association, Watford FC Enables, were invited to meet players and enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the London Colney training ground last week, to celebrate Level Playing Field’s campaign. The Watford FC Enables group is also celebrating a relaunch with a new logo, and they are looking for new members. It is free to join, and the group provides an opportunity for regular dialogue with the club as well as a social forum for supporters. During the pandemic, Watford FC Enables was expanded to include all older supporters and those with access needs, so even if you don’t consider yourself to be disabled the group would love to hear from you. We can all Unite For Access and tackle inequality.
An estimated 22 per cent of the UK population are disabled, and many disabled sports fans feel that it isn’t possible to attend live sports due to environmental and societal barriers. The most recent Level Playing Field fan survey found that 28.5 per cent of disabled sports fans consider the attitudes of others a barrier when attending live sports. At Watford FC we believe that all people should be able to access and enjoy football, at Vicarage Road or other stadiums across the country
At Vicarage Road, our access offerings include Soccer Sight headsets with an audio commentary for supporters with visual impairments, accessible and easy access entrances, and seating and toilet facilities throughout the stadium.
There is also an award-winning Sensory Room facility for children with an autism spectrum diagnosis. If you or someone you know is struggling to access their seat or to attend matches, please contact Simona Rakovic-Irish, the club’s EDI and Disability Access Officer, at disabled.supporters@watfordfc.com to discuss your options.
You can view the Disabled Supporters section of the website, which includes our Access Statement, at www.watfordfc.com/supporters/disabled-supporters.
Two heart warming stories from the ‘The Original Family Club’.
Video link - https://www.watfordfc.com/news/sensory-room-kais-journey-to-the-vicarage-road-stands#play
Watford Football Club prides itself on being ‘The Original Family Club’ and works hard to ensure that everyone can attend matches in an environment free of discrimination, prejudice, and with equal access for all supporters.
One example of this in action is the Sensory Room, which opened in 2016. Kitted out with a state-of-the-art calming area and offering an excellent view of the match from a comfortable and accessible viewing location, the Sensory Room has been designed for autistic children who may otherwise struggle to cope in the noisy environment of a football stadium.
The main aim is to ensure autistic children feel comfortable attending football matches with their families in the Sensory Room environment, with a view to transitioning into seating in the main stadium if they feel confident enough.
One of the Sensory Room success stories is 10-year-old Kai Purvis, who started attending games at Vicarage Road in the Sensory Room, and is now a Season Ticket holder in the Sir Elton John Stand.
Kai has been able to develop a familiar matchday routine for himself, thanks to attending matches in the Sensory Room and then deciding to trial seating in the Sir Elton John Stand with ear defenders. He now enjoys watching the players warm up before kick-off and joining in with the Watford songs and chants. Kai and his mum Louise created a storyboard explaining his Sensory Room journey, which you see via the video link above.