Celtic Football Club is proud to announce a special programme of match day activity this Saturday at Celtic Park, as the club celebrates inclusion and accessibility – reaffirming that Football is for All. As the newly-crowned Scottish Premiership Champions return home for the first time since securing the title, the club will use this celebratory occasion to spotlight the experiences of fans with disabilities and demonstrate its ongoing commitment to removing any barriers – physical or sensory– that may prevent supporters from enjoying the match day experience. This special day also sees Celtic further its involvement in the UEFA ‘Accessiball’ project – a pioneering initiative designed to promote and embed accessibility and inclusion across European football. Accessiball seeks to create a consistent standard of inclusive practices across clubs, ensuring that disabled supporters are not only welcomed but empowered to participate fully in the beautiful game. Celtic is proud to be part of this movement, building on its deep-rooted ethos of community and equality. The day’s events will begin before kick-off, as players from Celtic and Hibernian will be accompanied on the pitch by a young mascot with a disability. These mascots include wheelchair users, those with mobility challenges, sensory impairments such as visual or hearing loss, and neurodiverse children, including those living with autism. Among the special guests will be Zander, a guide dog puppy in training, showcasing the vital role service animals play in supporting fans with disabilities to access live football safely and independently. At half-time, the celebration continues as four young adults from the Celtic FC Foundation’s Ability Counts projects, along with two young fans with sensory impairments, will take part in a 10-second challenge on the hallowed turf and hopefully score a goal in front of a sell-out Celtic Park support. To round off the day, all mascots and half-time challengers will meet their Celtic heroes at full-time for photos and autographs – creating lifelong memories and moments of true connection between the players and these inspiring young fans. Disabled Support Liaison Officer, Alexis Dobbin, shared her pride in the Club’s efforts: “At Celtic, we believe Football is for All. It’s vital that we continue to remove both physical and sensory barriers to ensure everyone – regardless of their ability – can experience the magic of a live match at Celtic Park. “Saturday is about visibility, celebration and commitment – and we’re proud to shine a light on our incredible fans with disabilities.” Celtic captain Callum McGregor added: “Returning to Celtic Park as Champions is always special – but sharing that moment with these inspirational children makes it even more meaningful. “Their courage and love for the game remind us all why football is such a powerful force for good. We’re proud to stand with them today.” The matchday activity compliments several existing measures Celtic has implemented to support disabled fans including: British Sign Language (BSL) match day interpreters Sensory packs for children with autism Introduction of Invisible Disability lanyards Audio descriptive commentary that includes match notes from the manager A Changing Places toilet and a fully-equipped sensory room ‘Touching the Trophy’ sessions for blind and partially-sighted fans Two wheelchair-accessible viewing platforms Welcoming guide and assistance dogs, with trained staff support Upcoming FixturesCeltic Vs. Hibernian – Wed, May 5th 2025, 19:00
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