New service this season for visually impaired supporters
An exciting new service for supporters with visual impairments will be launched at the Checkatrade.com Stadium in time for the new season.
Through the club’s Disabled Supporters Association and Alan March Sport Ltd., a brand new audio description commentary service will be available this season to supporters who need it, kicking off with the first home Sky Bet League Two game against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, August 15.
The service, which is also used at Wembley Stadium, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest, will give visually impaired fans the best possible matchday experience.
Unlike traditional radio broadcasts, Alan March Sport audio describers are trained to keep up with play to the second and focus on the action - if something happens in the match the listener will know exactly what happened, where it occurred and how it transpired.
After a series of training sessions held at the Checkatrade.com Stadium in April, where the AMS team put budding commentators through their paces, the squad to provide this service was chosen.
Providing the blow-by-blow accounts at all the Reds’ home matches will be Ben Adams, Harry Maynard, Adam Inker and Richard Fox.
Alan March, MD of Alan March Sport Ltd., said “It’s brilliant news for us to add another club to our roster of teams provided with Audio Description.
"But, more importantly, it means that it’s another step towards having complete accessibility for all followers of football. It’s something we feel very passionately about, and it’s fantastic that Crawley Town share that philosophy.”
Thanks to the help of the club’s Disabled Supporters Association, the service will be FREE to use for Reds supporters and visiting fans, who can listen to the action using specialist receivers (and headsets if required) that can be collected from the directors and players entrance at the stadium. Those supporters wishing to use their own headphones with the receivers will be able to do so.
All fans, home & away, will be required to have pre-registered their details at least one week before the first game they attend - you can download a registration form here.
You’ll need to sign the equipment out on arrival at the ground and return it at the end of the match.
The equipment is available for collection from an hour and a half before kick-off, right up until 15 minutes before the game begins. It must then be returned to the same point anytime from the 75th minute of the match.
For further information on AMS and Audio Descriptive Commentary, please visit www.alanmarchsport.com or contact Barbara Robinson at barbararobinson@crawleytownfc.com
