Our fixture against Woking on Tuesday is dedicated to Level Playing Field and their work in representing disabled football fans.
Level Playing Field are the leading charity in England and Wales which acts on behalf of disabled sports fans.
Tomorrow, we will be using this dedicated matchday to participate in a new national campaign, 'Unite For Access'. A celebration of disabled fans, accessibility, and inclusion at sports venues.
With an estimated 22% of the UK population being disabled, it’s very likely that you, or someone you know, is disabled.
Level Playing Field conducted a survey last year which found that nearly 29% of disabled fans considered the 'attitudes of others' to be a barrier when attending live sports.
We appreciate that talking about disability can be daunting sometimes, it's a complex subject matter.
Back in the summer, seven Oldham fans came together with the aim to give a platform to disabled Latics supporters a voice to express how they can ensure that Boundary Park is accessible on a matchday.
The group was initially formed with the help and support of Oldham Athletic Supporters Foundation, and now proudly have a seat on the fan council.
Founder, Aaron Diskin said: “Having Cerebral Palsy and being a wheelchair user myself, I know how truly different the matchday experience can be for those supporters with disabilities or impairments.
“This is why OADID believes it’s vitally important to be in a position to act as a voice and representatives of the disabled supporters in this wonderful fanbase.
“We can’t thank the club and the board enough for being so open to the idea of working alongside us to make sure the needs of disabled supporters within Boundary park are met.
“We have meetings and discussions with people like Frank Rothwell, Darren Royle and the Community Trust to ensure we are constantly working towards making sure football can be enjoyed by everyone.”