ARSENAL Football Club have been recognised for their efforts to promote disability access in football stadiums.

The club was awarded the People of the Year Award by Radar, the Royal Association for Disability and Rights. Disability liaison officer Alun Francis, praised the club for consistently going “above and beyond the call of duty to promote disability access, providing other clubs with an example to follow”.

The Emirates Stadium has designated spaces for up to 241 wheelchair users and 98 further spaces for visually impaired and disabled season ticket holders. The Club also runs coaching sessions for the disabled.

visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing young people, adults with learning difficulties and mental health service users through its Disability Sports Programme.

Liz Sayce, Chief Executive of Radar, said: “We are celebrating organisations and individuals who are, quite simply, changing Britain. By making organisations from football clubs to financial institutions inclusive for everyone, they are tapping into all the available talent, welcoming more customers and promoting everyone’s right to full participation. At present people living with disability or health conditions experience needless inequality and injustice – but these winners are changing that.”