Episode 14 is the last of the year, and in this episode, we will be focusing our time on the people in the high vis jackets—The Stewards.

The matchday steward plays a considerable part in all supporters matchday experience. Still, for some, their ability or sometimes inability to understand a person's additional requirements can be THE deciding factor regarding a positive or negative game day.

Our guests for this episode are 

• Level Playing Field Development Officer - Daniel Townley
• Disability Steward at Cardiff City Football Club - Rachel Creek
• Tottenham Hotspurs supporter and member of SpursAbilty - James Horsley. You can find out more about SpursAbility via this link.
• And farther and son Bolton Wander's fans and Level Playing Field ambassadors- Morgan and Stephen.  

If you want to keep up to date with all the work Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up to be a free member via this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

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 In episode 13 of 'The Level Playing Field Podcast,' we turn our attention inwards!

The Level Playing Field team answers your questions.

Questions such as... 

• How are Level Playing Field funded?
• Is it a mandate that all stewards be trained in disability?
• And, what is Level Playing Field doing to make attaining match day tickets more accessible?

If you would like to keep up to date with all the work that Level Playing Field is doing, why not sign up to be a free member via this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

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In episode 12 of 'The Level Playing Field Podcast,' we turn our attention to Travel.

Disabled people travel up to a third less than non-disabled people, according to disability charity Scope. This has an impact on access to social activities like attending live sporting events.

In Greater Manchester, Less than 60% of train stations have step-free access. We speak to Manchester United supporter and Accessibility rights campaigner Nathaniel Yates who is trying to change that one step-free access at a time.

You can sign Nathaniel petition via this link.

From train to buses, we also speak with Richard Field, the Vice Chairman of the Jumbulance Trust. 

Lastly, we talk to Jo and Jeff Newall, who have travelled up and down the country watching their beloved Mk Dons. They are both joined by former Disability Access Officer for Swansea's City and Swans super fan Mark Phillips to give an insight into the problems clubs can have trying to source accessible Travel for their disabled supporters. 

If you would like to keep up to date with all the work that Level Playing Field are doing, why not sign up to be a free member via this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

All links referenced in the podcast can be found below.  

•  Nathaniel  and  Andy Burnham video 
• Jumbulance
• SCOPE Transport for disabled people

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Episode 11 of ‘The Level Playing Field Podcast' focuses on what went on behind the scenes at football clubs in England to welcome back supporters at the start of a chaotic season due to COVID.

Level Playing Field Fans Liaison Officer, Liam Bird, sat down with Rachel Brophy, the Disability Liaison Officer at Middlesbrough Football Club, and Luke Cassidy, the Disability Liaison Officer at Port Vale. 

If you would like to know more about Level Playing Field's work, please click this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Please also go to rate and review on apple podcasts; it helps more people find the podcast. 

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Welcome to Episode 10 of 'The Level Playing Field Podcast'

In this episode, we look back to the distressing scenes witnessed and experienced by disabled supporters who attended the Euro 2020 final on the 11th of July at Wembley Stadium.

 Our guests on this month's episode are: 

• Graham and Tim Hiley. Both attended the game.
• Tony Taylor, Chair of Level Playing Field
• Nick Glynn Senior Program Officer, Open Society Foundation. Specialising in Policing and Justice (Nick spent 30 years in the police force)

If you would like to know more about Level Playing Field's work, please click this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Please also go to rate and review on apple podcasts; it helps more people find the podcast.

All links referenced in the podcast can be found below.  

• Metropolitan Police statement 
• The F.A statement
• UEFA statement

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Welcome to Episode 9 of 'The Level Playing Field Podcast'

Seeing as football is not coming home, we thought we would focus our attention away from football. 

 Our guests on this month’s episode are: 

• Team Brit Racing Driver, Andy Tucker. 
• Globetrotting Cricket superfan, Anthony Joy 
• Community Integrated Care's 'Director of Partnerships and Communities', John Hughes

If you would like to know more about Level Playing Field's work, please click this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Please also go to rate and review on apple podcasts; it helps more people find the podcast.

All links referenced in the podcast can be found below.  

• Team Brit
•  Community Integrated Care 

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Welcome to Episode 8 of 'The Level Playing Field Podcast'

In this episode, we focus on the very real, sometimes challenging and almost always a personal subject matter of disability abuse. 

Our guests on this month’s episode are 

• The Baroness Tanni Gray-Thompson
• Swansea City supporters Diane and Callum
• PC Stewart Bladen and PC Stuart Ward from the West Midlands Police Force Football Unit

If you would like to know more about Level Playing Field's work, please click this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Please also go to rate and review on apple podcasts; it helps more people find the podcast.

 All links referenced in the podcast can be found below.   

• What is disability hate crime? https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/hate-crime/disability-hate-crime/
•  How to report disability hate crime https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/hate-crime/
•  Online disability hate crimes soar 33% - https://www.leonardcheshire.org/about-us/our-news/press-releases/online-disability-hate-crimes-soar-33
•  Over 7,300 disability hate crimes were reported to the police across England and Wales in 2019/20, yet only 1 in 62 cases actually received a charge. - https://www.leonardcheshire.org/about-us/our-news/press-releases/reports-violent-disability-hate-crime-continue-rise-number-police

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Welcome to Episode 7 of 'The Level Playing Field Podcast'

In this episode, we bring you a round table discussion on the sometimes contentious subject matter of disability language and how it's used.

On the virtual round table, we have:

• Nicky Baker -  Level Playing Field 
• Warren Kirwan - Scope  
• Izi Robins - Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE)
• Stephen Miller - Newcastle United Disabled Supporters Association's (NUDSA)

If you would like to know more about Level Playing Field's work, please click this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Please also go rate and review on apple podcasts; it helps more people find the podcast.

All links referenced in the podcast can be found below.    

• Scope: Feeling Awkward 
• Leonard Cheshire: Words Hurt

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Welcome to Episode 6 of 'The Level Playing Field Podcast'

In this episode, we bring you a round table discussion between several football fans to discuss the possibility of COVID Passports/Certificate and what the return of fans might look like. 

We also turn our attention to this month's actions from The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to originally exclude and then strongly advise Clinically Extreamley Vulnerable people not to attend any government-led events research programs.

On the virtual round table are

• Mark Davis, the Chair of the Fulham Disabled Supporters Association Chair
• Peter Lerner, member of the Wycombe Wanderers Supporters Trust
• Amy Wilson, who is the Fans Liaison, Access and Administration Officer| Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE)
• Alan Colley, a committee member at Leeds United Disabled Organisation, also know as LUDO.
• Kristine Green, who is the Supporters Liaison Officer (SLO) at Grimsby Town as well as the chair of Grimsby Town Supporters Trust -  Mariners Trust

If you would like to know more about Level Playing Field's work, please click this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Please also go rate and review on apple podcasts; it helps more people find the podcast.

 All links referenced in the podcast can be found below.    

• Level Playing Field is very disappointed that ‘vulnerable’ people are once again exclude from attending live sport.
• Level Playing Field response to World Snooker Championship excluding ‘vulnerable’ people from attending

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 Welcome to Episode 5 of 'The Level Playing Field Podcast'

In this episode, we turn our attention to the viewpoint of non disabled supporters.

To be exact, how non-disabled supporters' trusts can support better access and inclusion for disabled supporters fans and how disability is viewed by clubs and non-disabled supporters.

 Our guests for this month's podcast are Nottingham Forest Supporters Trust board members Lindsay Knott and Paul Severn, and the creator of the Fan Engagement Index and the Fan Engagement Podcast, Kevin Rye .

If you would like to know more about Level Playing Field's work, please click this link. You can also follow the charity on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Please also go rate and review on apple podcasts, it helps more people find the podcast.

 All links referenced in the podcast can be found below.   
Kevin Rye Twitter
NFST Twitter
Iriss Digital inclusion, exclusion report

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