On Wednesday 30 January 2008, Nick Saunders and Colin Atkins from the ECDSA travelled to Wembley for the latest Disability Equality Seminar. Here's their report:

Disability Equality Seminar
The Seminar was held at Wembley Stadium and was jointly funded by The FA and Wembley Stadium Ltd on behalf of the Premier League, Football League and Football Conference in partnership with NADS - The National Association of Disabled Supporters.

BBC's Ray Stubbs hosted the day and the speakers included Sir Trevor Brooking - The FA Head of Football Development, Joyce Cook - Chair of NADS and Eleanor Ellison from RNIB.

The seminar was a great opportunity for all those involved in disability equality in the professional clubs to have a chance to meet and share examples of best practices and to identify ways in which disabled people can be supported by clubs and the authorities in the future. The audience was mainly made up of Club Disability Liaison Officers, NADS members and representatives from the various Disabled Supporters Associations around the country, myself and Colin Atkins - ECDSA vice-chairman were there to represent Exeter City Football Club and Exeter City Disabled Supporters Association.

During the day NADS launched their level playing field campaign for 2008 which this year will be focusing on sensory impairments and their 2007 state of the game report, we also heard from Eleanor Ellison of the RNIB on their Soccer Sight project and within her presentation she told everyone about the fantastic work being done at Exeter City FC which was mainly being run by volunteers and of the great work the club was doing to help all disabled supporters and that the Soccer Sight project was being launched soon at Exeter City FC.

A number of clubs shared their best practices which included Liverpool, Wycombe Wanderers and the best practices came from Manchester City which was presented by Peter Bradshaw - Manager of Social Responsibility about them working to ensure that their club works with and for the community, promoting issues of mutual interest for all people, helping to make Manchester a better place to live, work and play. Manchester City positively works to represent its community, stakeholders, supporters and staff and to encourage future investment.

Delegates were able to highlight areas of ongoing concerns, which fell into two broad categories. First it was evident that there is often a disparity in ticket allocation between disabled and able bodied fans. The second area was that of the inequality of facilities that are on offer at football grounds across the country.

We urge all those with experiences of any disability issues within football, good or bad to continue the debate by contacting us at disability@exetercityfc.co.uk with your views..

Finally, it was a very worthwhile day and it's great that Exeter City FC are being respected by other clubs, this is all down to the fantastic work all our volunteers and staff do and it's what everyone fully deserves.

Nick Saunders: ECDSA Chairman, ECFC Disability Liaison Officer & ECSC Disabled Supporters Representative
& Colin Atkins: ECDSA Vice Chairman

Waterproof Jackets

Les Knight, one of the ECDSA committee members, arranged with local specialist clothing supplier, Lindsey & Sons (Sidwell Street), sets of waterproofs for disabled fans sitting in the as yet uncovered Big Bank. They are pictured below at the recent Oxford game when the big handover was made!

James Gould

In asscoiation with the James Gould Trust, the ECDSA arranged a collection at the Oxford, half of which was passed to the James Gould Trust. City fan, James Gould, was recently paralysed in an accident and his father and many of his friends and family have rallied round in support of him and the ECDSA were pleased to be able to contribute their efforts too. Ian, James' dad, was presented with a cheque for £200 by the ECDSA at the Stevenage game (pictured here too) and both organisations thank City fans for their generosity.

If you'd like to know more about the ECDSA, contact Nick Saunders (Chairman) at disability@exetercityfc.co.uk or write to him at the club.