Preston North End were delighted to support the 2016 Level Playing Field Weeks of Action, with the game against MK Dons specifically designated to celebrate the campaign.
As part of this, the Club provided a number of new initiatives which aimed to improve the overall experience for disabled supporters on a match day.
For example, after listening to feedback from supporters, alongside PNE’s exclusive club caterer, The Villa at North End, they have introduced a new waiter service for disabled fans in the Alan Kelly Town End.
The service now allows disabled supporters in the stand to have drinks brought to them without having to miss any action on the pitch.
The initiative, which has already received rousing approval so far from fans, follows on from the success of PNE’s wireless matchday service. Here, North End have given access to partially sighted fans to listen to live audio commentary through the Club’s premium content service, PNEPlayerHD.
For the MK Dons game, the Club also welcomed six disabled youngsters from their official charity partner, Rainbow House as mascots for the game.
The mascots emerged from the tunnel with the Preston players and onto the pitch before cheering the boys on from the terraces.
The Championship outfit also invited disabled supporters to send in their favourite memory of supporting North End, with the best stories featuring in the matchday programme.
The schemes accompany a number of facilities already in place at Deepdale; such as a changing place facility for disabled supporters, seating areas where assistance dogs and owners can access at pitch level and dropped ticket windows to accommodate all disabled supporters for ticket purchases.
As well as this, the club are now offering disabled supporters the opportunity to experience a working day at PNE. All fans need to do is write to them explaining why they’d like to work at PNE for the day with the best applicants experiencing what it’s like to work behind the scenes of a professional football club.
Level Playing Field wish to thank PNE for supporting Weeks of Action
22.04.16