Level Playing Field Launching Saturday 5th March

To mark the launch of the campaign, LPF Patron Sir Trevor Brooking said “Each year the Level Playing Field weeks of action give clubs the chance to highlight the good work they are doing around access to football for disabled supporters. I am pleased to support this event and the ongoing works in striving to achieve equal access for all supporters”.

We greatly value his support, along with that from a number of other individuals and organisations others including FA Chair and LPF President David Bernstein, Danny Mills, Gordon Taylor OBE, Dame Pauline Green and a host of other, distinguished individuals shown below.  If you’d like to send us your message of support we would love to add you to the list.

‘As President of the National Association of Disabled Supporters, I am delighted to be involved in such an important organisation. This year, as the charity begins its 2 weeks of action, I am pleased to introduce you to our new trading name, Level Playing Field, which we feel better embraces the social model of disability and to also welcome you to our brand new website. We all have a responsibility in ensuring that improvements for disabled fans continue within the game and I wish every success to everyone involved with this year’s events which will celebrate good access and good business.' David Bernstein, President of Level Playing Field (registered as the National Association of Disabled Supporters).

‘I would like to wish the Level Playing Field (registered as the National Association of Disabled Supporters) great success with this year’s weeks of action. This important event strives to break down the barriers faced by disabled people when trying to attend football matches and is to be welcomed.’ Andrew Shaw, Vice President, Level Playing Field and Director, Football Conference

'The annual Level Playing Field is a great initiative which highlights the importance of improving facilities for disabled supporters. Accessibility for all fans is crucial to the ideal of a sport that appeals to everyone regardless of background or whether you are disabled or non-disabled. Kick It Out will continue to work closely with Level Playing Field to ensure that we continue the progress to equality of accessibility for all.' Lord Herman Ouseley, Chair for Kick It Out, football’s equality and inclusion campaign.

'I am delighted to give my full support to the annual Level Playing Field campaign, striving as it does to improve facilities for disabled fans. Football must ensure that it is inclusive and accessible to all, from equal access to tickets to an equality of experience whilst attending the game. I wish this year’s campaign every success.' Danny Mills, LPF Ambassador and ex-player Manchester City, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Charlton, Hull City, Derby, Norwich and England

‘On behalf of The Football Association, I wish the Level Playing Field a successful 2011 series of events. The FA is a supporter of the important works of (NADS) Level Playing Field for disabled fans and believes that their weeks of action provide a great chance to showcase some of the positive work being carried out across the game.’ Alex Horne, General Secretary, The Football Association

'Every year the Level Playing Field focuses on disabled supporters and the work carried out to improve access at professional football clubs around the country. I am delighted to give my support to such an important initiative and hope 2011 sees another successful event'. Gordon Taylor OBE, Chief Executive at the Professional Footballers Association

'The National Deaf Children’s Society wishes the Level Playing Field a successful two weeks. We have worked closely with LPF on Disability Awareness projects at football clubs in recent years and have seen firsthand what a positive impact this work has had on the children, young people and clubs involved. The Level Playing Field reminds everyone that football should be accessible to everyone'. Hayley Jarvis, Inclusive Activities Manager, National Deaf Children’s Society

‘Trailblazers fully supports this year’s Level Playing Field awareness campaign. The work highlighted by the campaign is close to our hearts at Trailblazers. We hope that as many clubs as possible will take this opportunity to show off the positive work they are doing around access to football’. David Gale, Trailblazers Ambassador

‘Together with my colleagues throughout the Football Conference, I would like to wish the Level Playing Field the greatest success in 2011. Following football can have such a positive effect on the life of a disabled person. This annual event reminds us that attending a football match should be accessible to all fans, regardless of disability.’ Brian Lee, Chairman of the Football Conference

LPF and Football Conference Vice President Lord Richard Faulkner said ‘It is through campaigns such as the Level Playing Field that equal access at stadia throughout England and Wales will be achieved. I offer my full support and wish every success to all taking part in this year’s two weeks of action to raise awareness for disabled fans.’

'Football is a game for all to enjoy and I fully support the Level Playing Field. Disabled people have as much right as non-disabled people to follow and enjoy watching their favourite sports live and with their fellow fans’ added Lord Richard Rosser, LPF and Ryman League Vice President.

'The Football League fully supports the Level Playing Field Campaign. We are delighted to be working with LPF to provide seminars for clubs on the needs of disabled supporters. The League is committed to continuing a positive relationship with the organisation as we work to improve the customer service experience of all disabled supporters'. Gavin Megaw, Director of External Affairs for The Football League

'Once again Guide Dogs would like to wish the Level Playing Field 2011 every success. We have worked closely with LPF on a few projects and fully support the work that has been done to improve access to football stadia. As a result of campaigns like the Level Playing Field football can only continue to become more accessible to all'. David Cowdrey, Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager at Guide Dogs

'I am passionate about football. Everyone should be able to support their team by going to games. Football should be open to everyone. I support the Level Playing Field as it helps clubs and fans achieve this'. Leroy Binns, Campaigns Assistant, Mencap

'Whizz-Kidz is right behind The Level Playing Field campaign because we believe the nation’s favourite game should be accessible to all. As young people many of us are huge football fans; following our teams and travelling to see them play around the country. Sport brings families and communities together, so it’s important we get access for disabled fans right. We’ll be doing our bit to level the playing field for everybody to enjoy football - together'. Rebecca Farren, co-chair person of Kidz Board, Whizz Kidz

'Here's wishing our LPF colleagues well, with their annual Level Playing Field campaign. To many in the community and certainly those of us in the Football Supporters Federation, it seems disrespectful that there remain football clubs whose accessibility for disabled fans remains below par. We trust that a few consciences may be pricked by your latest efforts to publicise the problems, with the desired improvements as a result.  If needs little imagination to realise what an enormous effort it often takes for disabled suporters to make it to the game. The minimum expected - and earned - is that they should share the same consideration awarded to fellow supporters, especially now that there is much help and expertise willingly offered by LPF, when new-builds and improved older stadia are being planned'. Monica Hartland, President FSF 

I’m so pleased to be able to send our best wishes to Level Playing Field and their members around the country as they launch their annual weeks of action.  Supporters Direct is committed to inclusion and equality of opportunity for all fans. It is a matter of regret that we still have many sporting venues that are not accessible and this is just not good enough in the 21st Century.  The weeks of action give football clubs at every level a very real and tangible opportunity to show how they have progressed and, indeed, there are some excellent and positive stories to tell. Level Playing Field can take pride in being actively involved in promoting these improvements and the skills that they bring to their Accessibility Audits do make such an important contribution to the facilities offered for all fans.  We know that many of our members at Supporters Direct will be actively involved in the Level Playing Field campaign and this brings the football family together to demonstrate all that is good in the game when it is under so much scrutiny – and rightly so – in other areas.  In an ideal world, there would be no need for this sort of campaign, but we wish everyone involved the very best of luck.  Dame Pauline Green, Chair, Supporters Direct 

'The Football Licensing Authority welcomes this seasons Level Playing Field campaign, as it forms part of the many excellent works already undertaken by NADS. We are delighted to hear that NADS is also changing its name trading name to Level Playing Field which makes good sense. On behalf of all of us at the FLA, I would like to wish everyone involved a very successful 2 weeks of action in further raising disability and access awareness.’ Paul Darling, Chairman, Football Licensing Authority

Ruth Shaw, Chief Executive at Football Licensing Authority said “The Football Licensing Authority has enjoyed excellent relationships with the National Association of Disabled Supporters, working together to publish Accessible Stadia in the interest of delivering better access not just at football grounds but at all sporting venues. I warmly welcome Level Playing Field – both the fortnight of action and the new name, and look forward to our continued collaboration.”

"We would like to wish every success to this year's Level Playing Field. This important campaign strives to break down the barriers faced by disabled people when trying to attend football matches and other sporting events and is to be welcomed and celebrated." Paul Elliott and Garth Crooks, Football's Equality Ambassadors

“As an ex-player and disabled man, I believe that football has a positive role to play in bringing everyone together from all communities. It should therefore be fully accessible. I am proud to be an Ambassador of this important charity and wish the Level Playing Field every success during this season’s weeks of action.” Danny Wallace, LPF Ambassador.

I just wanted to personally and on behalf of the Football Safety Officers Association wish you continued success as you rename and rebrand NADS. Although the name of your tremendous association has changed some things will never change namely your ongoing comitment to improving the facilities, amenities, service and respect for all disabled people who visit our football grounds. I wish you every success with this excellent initiative when the name Level Playing Field sums up all you constantly strive to encourage and achieve in ensuring disabled people are seen as and regarded as an integral part of the wider football community. Again may this initiative take you from strength to strength since it is what you truly deserve. Best wishes. Jim Chalmers, President, Football Safety Officers Association.