Disabled Supporters Groups

Aberdeen FC Disabled Supporters Club (Scotland)

Aberdeen FC Disabled Supporters Club was form in 1998 and is supported by the Pittodrie based club. The Dons have more than 300 registered disabled followers who regularly games both home and away. Recently, they joined with other clubs in forming the Scottish Disabled Supporters Association.

BBAG - Bundesbehinddertenfanarbeitsgemeinschaft (Germany)

The Bundesbehindertenfanarbeitsgemeinschaft (BBAG) is the German association of disabled football supporters and disability officers within the clubs. The BBAG started its activities in 1999 and was founded as a charity organization in 2003. Its main purpose is to advise the two organizations of German football, Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB) and Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), in all issues concerning disabled people. The BBAG is also lobbying on national level towards the relevant stakeholders in German politics. Furthermore its aim is to support German football clubs, both professionals and non-professionals, to improve their services for disabled supporters and to design their stadia accessible.

Blue Army On Wheels (Belgium)

Blue Army on Wheels was started on June 17, 2000. We were the first supporters club in Belgium for people with disabilities. The main purpose of this club is to ensure that wheelchair users and other disabled people can fully participate in the soccer event without worrying that they can go to a football match, both in Genk and away. We do this in good agreement with KRC Genk and the Umbrella Supporters Association KRC Genk (OSV), where the Blue Army on Wheels has a spokeswoman for people with disabilities.

The club can also count on the support of Genk and the province of Limburg. Blue Army on Wheels currently has 200 members.

Our contact person is Bielen Maurice m.bielen@bluearmyonwheels.be

CLAN - Club Links for Additional Needs (Scotland)

Our name is CLAN - Club Link for Additional Needs. Our DSA is made up of fans of Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. Since we were formed in 2010 we have had regular meetings, party discos for fund raising and other social events. We have hired a bus with access for wheelchairs for three successful trips to away matches and hope to do this more often in the future. Fund raising is supplemented with raffles at Inverness Caley Thistle Supporters Club and bucket collections at our Stadium. We are also looked after by the ICT Supporters Trust. The Chairman of the football club attended a recent meeting and will continue to assist us in the future. Ryan Esson, one of our favourite players, has agreed to be an Honourary Member.

Anybody interested in contacting the CLAN should email Brian Duncan at brianbarn@hotmail.com

Celtic Disabled Supporters Association (Scotland)

Celtic Disabled Supporters Association was formed in 2011. The Association was formed to promote disabled supporters attending football matches both at Celtic Park and at away venues. They are fully recognised and supported by the football club, and work closely with them on issues such as future ticketing, access issues and any general issues that members may have. For further information, please email disabledcelts@gmail.com

Chelsea Disabled Supporters' Association (England)

Chelsea Disabled Supporters' Association (CDSA) is a committee of 6 disabled fans of Chelsea FC and 3 Club Officials. It was formed in March 2006 and has as its aim the maintenance and advancement of good relations between Chelsea Football Club and its disabled supporters, the improvement of amenities for such supporters and any other objective, which the committee deems appropriate.

Dolphins (Ukraine)

The disabled fans group of FC Sevastopol (Ukraine) was formally created in 2010 when the reconstructed stadium of FC Sevastopol was opened and offered improved facilities for disabled supporters. Today the group consists of 40 members who attend almost every home match with their families and friends.
In 2012 the groups called themselves Dolphins and created a blue logo which resembles the colors of the football club and bears the marine theme.

Dundee FC Disabled Supporters Club (Scotland)

Dundee FC Disabled Supporters Club was formed in year 2010 to help disabled supporters & Dundee FC work together to make a better football experience for all disabled fans. We are recognised by the club now with the full backing of the DFC board of directors. We have achieved getting more disabled parking for home and away fans and have managed to get disabled wheelchair ramps for the lounges which have steps. But this is mainly the Andy Penman lounge which all away fans are welcome. We are now also members of the Dundee Supporters Society (Fans Group).

If you wish to contact us, please contact, Secretary, Cheryl Adam by Mobile 07857749871 or email cheryl_adam_119@msn.com

Dundee United Disabled Supporters Club (Scotland)

The group was originally formed in 2010 with the support of CAFE. Later it stopped operated once Ken Lowrie, who originally took the lead, returned to Northern Ireland. The club continued to be represented at the SDSA meetings however in October 2015 it was decided to revive the group.

The club now needs support to move forward. Any Dundee United disabled fan and/or their personal assistant who is interested in supporting this group should contact Alan Mills T: 07561227576 Email: dufcdsc@yahoo.com .

Dunfermline Athletic Disabled Supporters Club (Scotland)

Dunfermline Athletic Disabled Supporters Club was set up in 2007 with a few aims. the first was to give the clubs disabled support a forum in which they could discuss the problems they faced at East End park and other grounds in Scottish football. Through this we can push for improvements in facilities. It gave us a united voice with which to speak to DAFC. This in turn gave the Football Club had an organisation they could turn to when formulating Disabled policy. Our other aim was to organising transport to selected away games during the season. We hire specially adapted buses which has enabled fans who have difficulty with normal public transport to travel to away games.

We're affiliated to the Official Supporters Clubs. If you wish to contact us, please email Peter Lockhart lockhartpaa@gmail.com

Dynamo Kiev DSA (Ukraine)

The Dynamo Kiev DSA was created on the 14th of November 2014.

The association consists of approximately 150 disabled members.

This includes wheelchair users, partially sighted and blind supporters as well as hard of hearing and deaf fans.

Everton Disabled Supporters Association

Information to follow

Falkirk Disabled Supporters Club (Scotland)

FDSC was created to help achieve certain aims for every disabled supporter visiting Falkirk Football Club. These aims include being a voice for supporters of all disability groups, improving facilities and welfare of all disabled supporters, enriching lives of disabled people through football and raising disability awareness.

Fundacja Otwarte Ramię Białej Gwiazdy (FORBG - Poland)

Open Arms of the White Star Fundation was created to help people with disabilities to participate in sporting events at home and abroad. Therefore with a view to activate, integrate and help to prove that if you really want something, it's really possible. The Foundation was created by the club Wisla Krakow.

"Open Arm" is for all disabled fans wheelchair users, partially sighted and blind as well as heard of hearing and others.

Glentoran DSG (Northern Ireland)

Glentoran DSG was formed in September 2011. Our aim now that we have formed a disabled supporters group is to work closely with our own supporters and any away supporters to make their trip to The Oval more enjoyable, and as stress-free as we can for an enjoyable day out. We are so pleased that CAFE have been there to advise us and appreciate all their help.

We can be found on Facebook Glentoran DSG or email glentorandsg@hotmail.co.uk

Handi Supporters (France)

Handi Supporters is an organisation, created as per the 1901 law, to support disabled fans.

Handi Supporters aims to provide all disabled people with the opportunity to experience their passion for Saint Etienne Football Club, to make people aware of and acknowledge disabled supporters and to strive towards greater integration for disabled people. We reserve seats at the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium on match days, we accompany people to the stadium if they so desire, we organise trips and we remain closely aligned to both Saint Etienne Football Club and to its disabled supporters.

Handi-Sup-OL (France)

The Handi-Sup-OL association was created in July 2005. The key aims of the group were to improve the accessibility of Lyon's Stade Gerland stadium, as well as enabling supporters to travel around stadiums for away matches. This has been particularly helpful for disabled supporters watching Lyon play in such competitions as the UEFA Champions League, which they regularly perform well in.

The association currently has in excess of 100 members and continues to grow.

Handifan Club OM (France)

Handifan Club OM was created in 2004. The objective of Handifan Club OM is to facilitate access and provide support for all disabled supporters without discrimination, so they can support Olympique de Marseille and access all stadia in Europe.

Handifan Club OM is proud of being amongst the largest disabled supporters group in Europe, with some 511 season ticket holders. We have 32 volunteers who provide support for our disabled supporters and carers at every home match providing stewarding services in the car park, helping with travelling from the car park to the stadium, distributing and checking tickets, placing the supporters in their designated areas and providing refreshments.

We also organise trips to away matches, both in France and across Europe.

Hapoel Tel Aviv's DSA (Israel)

Hapoel Tel Aviv`s Disabled Supporters Association has a few active members who all have some sort of disability: wheelchair users, partially sighted and blind people and also people with walking difficulties. We stay in touch during the Football season and get together once in a while to talk about different aspects of the disabled supporters' experiences. We also started a radio commentary initiative for the visually impaired in Hapoel basketball club and soon we will do the same for the football club.

If you wish to contact us, please email Asaf de Vries. asafdvr@zahav.net.il

Heart of Midlothian Disabled Supporters Club (Scotland)

The HDSC has been in place for nearly 20 years and has over 60 members. Membership includes fans with different disabilities, family members, friends and personal assistants. The club has a strong relationship with Heart of Midlothian F.C. who recognize the HDSC as the main spokesperson for disabled supporters. The HDSC has a small group of members who travel to all away matches throughout Scotland and it is an active member of the newly formed Scottish Disabled Supporters Association.

If you wish to contact us, please contact HDSC Secretaries, Heather and Mark Jackson by email at hdsc1874@gmail.com

Hibernian Disabled Supporters Association (Scotland)

Hibernian FC Disabled Supporters Association was founded in May 2011. They utilise the skills and expertise of disabled supporters in assisting Hibernian Football Club to enhance the facilities and experience of supporting the club for disabled people. Their aims are to improve facilities and services, promote the interests of members and establish a first class working relationship with the club. Hibernian DSA are also interested in co-operating with other similar groups, and you can contact them by emailing the HDSA at info@hiberniandisabledsupporters.org.uk or the HDSA mobile 07784069122

Hibernian Disabled Supporters Association became one of the first DSA's to be twinned with another, The Rolly Side, at the CAFE Conference in September 2011. To read more about this, please visit http://www.cafefootball.eu/en/news/cafe-promotes-dsa-twinning

Inclusive Supporters Association (Northern Ireland)

The ISA – NI was launched in November 2010. Membership is open to representatives from all football clubs who are recognised as the spokesperson for disabled supporters. In addition disabled supporters of the Northern Ireland international team are also represented. Regular meetings have been taking place and the association has a strong relationship with the Irish Football Association including involvement in the redevelopment of Windsor Park.

If you wish to contact us, please email the following officer bearers of whom one will get back to you as soon as possible:- aubsni@btopenworld.com; hdundask@hotmail.com; Rosemary.Ruberry@dfpni.gov.uk; Michael@adairandmilliken.co.uk

Inside (Belgium)

A new national disabled supporters association was launched towards the end of 2011 in Belgium. This is now called INSIDE (Toegankelijk Voetbal België/Football Accessible Belgique) and is open to all disabled supporters groups in Belgium. Regular meetings have been taking place and in the future will take be held at various stadiums around the country.

INSIDE is supported by the KBVB. If you wish to contact INSIDE please email Geert Thomas at geert.thomas@student.kuleuven.be

Kilmarnock Football Club Disabled Supporters Association (Scotland)

The club KFCDSA (Kilmarnock Football Club Disabled Supporters Association) was formed in 1992 with the full backing of the then KFC board of directors, who in turn asked if we would form a committee and take over the day to day running of attending to Home and Away disabled supporters who wanted to watch football at Rugby Park, a meeting with all concerned was held,and voted on a working committee. Since then we have steadily built up our fan base, we know have 21 wheelchair & Carer season ticket holders -130 Ambulant plus Carers for those that require them.

If you need to contact us feel free to email Peter, our Chairman peterorr45@yahoo.co.uk

Klub Kibicow Niepelnosprawnych (KKN, Poland)

Klub Kibiców Niepełnosprawnych has been created on 28 October 2008 in Wrocław, Poland. This is the first Disabled Supporters Club in Poland. The main aim of the club is to empower disabled supporters to take active part in sport events and assure accessibility and equality on their stadium.

There is a significant group of active supporters which support Slask Wroclaw at home and away games.

Legia Warszawa Supporters’ Association (SKLW, Poland) – Disabled Supporters’ Group

Legia Disabled supporters have been travelling to Legia away matches since a long time. Up to 2006 they had to travel on their own. In March 2006 disabled and other supporters travelled together to away match for the first time. Since then disabled supporters have also been travelling to all Legia league matches across Poland and Europe, e.g. they travelled to European Cup matches in Donetsk, Vienna or Vilnius. During those trips all supporters follow one rule – „Legia always together.” It means that disabled supporters appear only on those stadia where the main Legia Supporters’ Group sits.

According to this principle, in December 2010 disabled supporters established Disabled Supporters’ Club within SKLW. Operating in one association also emphasizes equality of all Legia supporters and it means that all disabled supporters can count on any assistance provided by people engaged in Legia Supporters’ Association.

If you need to contact us feel free to email Bartek bartosz.pawlisiak@gmail.com

Level Playing Field (LPF, England and Wales)

Level Playing Field is the new trading name for The National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS). LPF changed their name in March 2011 because they feel it better embraces the social model of disability. LPF/NADS was established in 1998 and is the only national registered charity for England and Wales representing disabled fans of all sports together with their personal assistant’s and advocates. Its key objectives are to promote an inclusive agenda, raise disability awareness through sport and ensure an equality of experiences for all fans.

On the LPF website you'll find information on disabled facilities at clubs and stadia, along with useful football and disability reports, guides and general disabled supporter information.

Lierse Rollerboys (Belgium)

Lierse Rollerboys were founded in 2000 as an unofficial group of SK Lierse in Belgium. Since 2006, the group has been supported by the club and recognised by the union of supporters groups. Lierse Rollerboys try to improve the accessibility of the stadium and bring disabled SK Lierse supporters together. For more information on the group, please contact Bert van Dyck via email at bert.vandyck@pjkcomputers.be

MetalHearts DSA (Ukraine)

The Disabled supporters association (DSA) of football club Metalist (Kharkiv) was created on the 6th of March 2013. The DSA got its official name through the supporters' vote– MetalHearts. The association consists of approximately 600 disabled members. This includes wheelchair users, partially sighted and blind supporters as well as hard of hearing and deaf fans.

Motherwell Disabled Supporters Club (Scotland)

Motherwell Disabled Supporters Club was set up in 2010 to help disabled supporters & Motherwell FC work together to make a better football experience for all disabled fans. If you need to contact us feel free to call our Secretary Sharon McCaskie on mobile 07809417208 or by email sharon.mccaskie@sky.com.

Parafan-club Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)

Shakhtar Donetsk launched the Parafan-club disabled supporters association as a social project in August 2009. A significant number of wheelchair users and companions attend Shakhtar's matches at the Donbass Arena, with a number of accessible seating areas in the third tier.

Parafan-club has more than 1000 disabled fans as members. They can help disabled fans to attend matches and other events held by Shakhtar Donetsk at the stadium.

You can contact Parafan-club by calling +38 (062) 388 88 83

RSCA Purple Wheels (Belgium)

RSCA Purple Wheels is the official recognized disabled supporters group of R.S.C. Anderlecht football club and was formed in 2009. Since that time, we were able to build strong relationships with the football club. Our main objective is to defend the meanings of all disabilities fans, their families and their friends in order to create a better football experience. Therefore RSCA Purple Wheels is proud on his achievements together with R.S.C. Anderlecht football club, such as new accessible stadium seats, improved parking facilities etc. For the benefit of visually impaired or blind supporters, we also use an Audio Description System during all home games. Last but not least: RSCA Purple Wheels aims to create networks with several organizations and supporters groups.

If you wish to contact us, please feel free to email Geert Thomas, chairman g.thomas@purplewheels.be

Rangers Disabled Supporters Club (Scotland)

In the early sixties a group of fans got together and formed the Rangers Disabled Supporters Club.Our main objective was to gain access to away grounds. The club continued in its orginal form until Rangers redeveloped the stadium, at which point Rangers F.C. approached the RDSA with a view to forming a new organisation recognised officially by the club. As a result Club was re-launched in 1980 and at that time we had 42 members however the number of wheelchair spaces at Ibrox was limited to 26 wheelchairs.

This situation continued until the West Enclosure was redeveloped and there are now 65 wheelchair spaces and our current membership is about the same number.

After the recent financial problems at the club the group has risen up again and is now aiming to be a pan-disability group.

If you are interested in joining or find out more information please contact Peter Dunbar Secretary (on 07588633076 or lanarkshirepeter@gmail.com) or Billy Paterson Chairperson on 07952685773 or porthendry@aol.com

SFCB On Wheels (Belgium)

The associated federation of fans from Club Brugge VZW has kicked off a permanent new fan club for people with disabilities. In collaboration with Club Brugge KV and Allemaol Thope we want to make football as a whole more accessible and adapted to the fans. The main purpose of this fan club is to ensure that wheelchair users and disabled people can fully participate in the football event, without worrying that they can go to a football game, both at Club Brugge and visiting other clubs.

This requires that a number of preconditions have to be created. These include the accommodation within the stadiums, car parks, rest rooms, access to food and drinks, ticketing, accompanying the disabled person to and from the stadiums, the safety of the wheelchair inside the stadiums, etc. This way we hope our fanclub can contribute to the identification of disabled people and wheelchair users as full blue and black supporters.

For all information you can contact us by email: Corey.verstraete@skynet.beor visit our website at www.sfcbonwheels.be

Scottish Disabled Supporters Association (Scotland)

The SDSA was launched in October 2010. Membership is open to club DSA's at all levels and individuals from some of the smaller football clubs where the number of disabled supporters is low. Regular meetings have been taking place and a strong constitution is now in place. The association has a strong relationship with the Scottish Football Association, the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League.

If you wish to contact us, please click on http://scottishdsa.co.uk/contact-us/ or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117116208321105#!/groups/250402131683413

The Football Association of Ireland's Inclusive Supporters Club (FAIISC, Republic of Ireland)

The Football Association of Ireland's Inclusive Supporters Club ( FAIISC) was formed in 2010 coinciding with the opening of the new Aviva Stadium on the old Lansdowne Road site. With the new state of the art stadium providing people with disabilities with quality viewing points, lift access throughout and aids for both visually and hearing impaired, the FAIISC aims to bring the football experience to all and especially to those with a disability who may have yet to experience attending a football match.

The current committee consists of people with disabilities and representatives from many of the main organisations that work in the disability area. The membership continues to grow.

The Rollerside (Netherlands)

The official and independent supporter association Vitesse Arnhem was founded in 1992. The supporter association looks after the interests of all Vitesse supporters and includes various commissions. The commission of the Rollerside looks after the interests of disabled supporters. We try to ensure that as much as possible our disabled supporters can visit the away matches of Vitesse. The transport to away matches is organised and combined with the other Vitesse supporters. We travel in an adapted coach with special wheelchair places.

Rollerside contacts the away club in advance and ensures accompaniment by Vitesse stewards. These all are volunteers, but well trained and official certified stewards. During home matches we offer our supporters very good facilities on the Rollerside Stand in our stadium, GelreDome Arnhem.

Anybody interested in contacting the Rollerside should email Dick Cochius at Dick.Cochius@Vitesse.org

The Rolly-Side (Netherlands)

The Rolly-Side is one of the disabled supporters club at FC Groningen. The Rolly-Side is working with the club to create an accessible stand directly opposite the grandstand which would be a total for 60 wheelchair spaces and their companions. The Rolly-Side on March 8, 2006 and currently we have currently we have over 100 members. The objective of Rolly-Side is to represent the interests of its members and cooperate with the club. Please contact us if you have questions regarding ticketing, transportation or parking, we will always try to our best to help. The Rolly-Side is more than just a fan club also the social aspect is very important to the Rolly-Side. Moreover the Rolly-Side has regular meetings with the management of FC Groningen and also we have representative on the board of FC Groningen.

The Rolly Side became one of the first DSA's to be twinned with another, Hibernian Disabled Supporters Association, at the CAFE Conference in September 2011.
To read more about this, please visit http://www.cafefootball.eu/en/news/cafe-promotes-dsa-twinning

Traplifters (FC Utrecht, Netherlands)

We are the Traplifters, a group of disabled supporters of FC Utrecht. F.C. Utrecht stadium in the Netherlands has a nice place for our disabled supporters high up in the stands. We sit in the South Stand of the Stadium the Galgenwaard. Our members are increasingly uniting as a small yet strong group to work with such a large organisation as FC Utrecht. We invented the name Traplifters in 2000 and it is derived from the stair lift in the old stadium.

We have around 40 members and some of the some of the family and friends of the disabled supporters who are personal assistants are also supporters of the Traplifters.

Yellow and Red Army on Wheels (Belgium)

YRAW were founded to assist all disabled supporters of Belgian club KV Mechelen. The purpose of the association was to work on getting equal treatment to non-disabled supporters and to also have a vote in the management of the club. YRAW were presented in 2003 prior to a match against RC Genk, who at the time were the only club-based DSA in Belgium. YRAW discussed some ideas with the RC Genk representatives and grew from there. Initially there were 37 members of the association, however this has now exceeded 70 and continues to expand.

YRAW meet every two weeks for two hours to discuss ways of creating a perfect matchday environment for their members.

Zolte Waragem OP Wieltjes (Belgium)

Zolte Waragem OP Wieltjes was formed in year 2009 to help disabled supporters & S.V. Zolte Waregem work together to make a better football experience for all disabiled fans. We are recognised by the club with the full backing of the organisation. We were successful in working with the club to create a new wheelchair area under cover for our members.

If you wish to contact us please contact Bram Naessens on +32(0497/580493) or by email at naessensb@skynet.be