Saints will be inclusive
St Johnstone FC is again taking part in the CAFE Week of Action and will host a fully inclusive matchday this Saturday.
The club will be welcoming disabled athletes and members from local sports clubs and organisations to McDiarmid Park as guests for the Scottish Premiership fixture against Livingston.
Many of the guests will be assisting in matchday operational roles, including ball attendants, team-line announcers, programme sellers and more.
“We are also looking forward to welcoming five guide dogs and their handlers from Guide Dogs Scotland,”said Saints’supporters liaison officer Beverley Mayer.
“They will be assisting us in raising awareness of the services and facilities we provide for disabled supporters here at McDiarmid Park.”
The CAFE Week of Action is football’s largest initiative aimed at promoting the varying roles disabled people can play at all levels of the game.
Beverley added:“Saturday’s match programme includes an easy read translation of our CAFE event introductionand also an interview with one of our wheelchair season ticket holders focusing mainly on what it is like to attend live football matches as a disabled supporter, and the challenges that may come with it.
“We have had our CAFE intro translated into British sign language for use on social media and will be posting a short interview with one of our audio descriptive commentary providers next week to mark the 30th anniversary of the service provision at McDiarmid Park.”
Saints will also be using the event to launch the club’s membership of the Sunflower Lanyard Hidden Disabilities scheme.
“I’m delighted to announce our initial set-up costs were covered by a very kind donation from local Saints supporters’club The Cherrybank Blues,”Beverley concluded.