Wrexham AFC will be supporting Level Playing Field’s Weeks of Action campaign at tonight’s home game against Boreham Wood.
Level Playing Field are celebrating their 18th Weeks of Action campaign, which is an annual period of inspiration and celebration of good access and inclusion at sports venues.
And Wrexham AFC players will show their support by wearing Level Playing Field t-shirts to warm up ahead of the game, following the Wrexham AFC Women and Wrexham AFC Powerchair teams who have also marked the celebration this week.
As part of our Level Playing Field Weeks of Action events, supporters in our autism-friendly quiet zone – block PG1 of the Macron Stand – also met club captain Ben Tozer and first-team captain Luke Young over Zoom this week.
Supporters were able to ask questions of Tozer and Young, asking about their pre-match superstitions, their love of Wrexham AFC and their lives outside of football among others.
The two players also listened as supporters joined DLO Kerry Evans and friendly-face steward Nicola to explain more about how much the quiet zone means to them.
One Dad, Nick Bradshaw, said: “It’s actually taken us 11 years to get eldest son Jack to come with me to the football.
“It’s literally only thanks to this group that we’ve been able to get him to come. He only likes areas with six or less people, that’s just his go-to thing, and the fact we get to get him into a stadium with 8,000+ people is unheard of.
“We luckily get him in every week, and while we have to bribe him with the steak pies he does like coming!”
Wrexham AFC were the first Club in Wales to be awarded Autism Friendly status, with block PG1 of the Macron Stand our dedicated quiet zone.
Supporters in the quiet zone can use the sensory hub under the Macron Stand, and our friendly face stewards help support those using the area too.
Ian Jones, who takes sons Noah and Sammy to the quiet zone, also said of it: “Ninety minutes in an environment a child knows is safe, with familiar faces supporting and an environment to express without fear or concern builds confidence that is not only tangible but socially long-lasting and reassuring.
“From being scared to enter a football stadium to now attending Premier League matches and a season ticket holder at the Racecourse Ground, none of this progress would have been possible without the confidence and comfort Wrexham AFC and the quiet zone has helped to nurture and grow.”
Wrexham AFC also offers autism-friendly football sessions in half-term, which again proved popular in the most recent holidays, and quiet walkabout sessions.
Alongside leading the way in Autism Friendly football at the Racecourse Ground, for Level Playing Field’s Weeks of Action we are also championing our Powerchair Football team.
Wrexham again became the first Club in Wales to offer Powerchair Football when it launched in October 2021, and the sessions have grown in popularity ever since.
Powerchair Football takes place at the Wrexham Glyndwr University sports centre every Friday, and are now split into two sessions following the early popularity.
Children aged 6-16 should arrive at 5pm for a 5.15pm start, and adults arrive at 6.15pm for a 6.30pm start.
For more information on Powerchair Football, or Autism-Friendly football at the Racecourse Ground, please contact our Disability Liaison Officer, Kerry Evans, at kerry.evans@wrexhamafc.co.uk, and look out for the players in their Level Playing Field t-shirts during the warm-up tonight.
