Arsenal v Lyon: A blind fan’s UWCL semi-final experience

I’ve come to document my football match experiences on my blog, so I’m adding to that growing collection today. Not only is it nice to look back on, I think it’s extremely important to shine the spotlight on accessibility in football. As a women’s football fan, the prevalence of accessibility in the women’s game is very important to me.

This one is a little different as rather than a match in the regular domestic season, it was the first of a two-legged tie for a European competition, in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Although it was a home fixture, it was my first time attending a match in a European competition. Something felt different. I was excited!

Given that Arsenal famously won the Women’s Champions League last year, there was even more momentum this time. I couldn’t wait to be part of that.

 

Booking tickets

I’ve booked accessible tickets with Arsenal’s disability team a couple of times now, and this time was as easy as ever.

As soon as the kick-off time had been confirmed, I was on the phone to the disability team first thing the following morning.

Once again, it was a breeze. The seamless process of booking tickets and friendly staff are something I love the most about Arsenal’s accessibility.

The person went through the options of tickets with me, took payment and reserved my headset for the audio descriptive commentary.

That was all done in five minutes. Impressive or what?

 

The match

After a busy few weeks, Sunday 26 April was here in a flash. Mind, I’d been counting down to the match two weeks prior.

After a few public transport delays, we arrived in London on a warm Sunday afternoon and made our way to Emirates Stadium.

We found the entrance we needed, and like always, the stewards were very helpful. We were taken through the accessible gates, and once inside we found the block where our seats were located.

We made a steward aware that I’d reserved an audio descriptive commentary headset, which was brought to my seat a few minutes later.

We arrived just in time to see the players warming up.

After that, there was a special presentation for Arsenal legend Katie McCabe to celebrate over 300 appearances for the club. I was really pleased we’d arrived to watch that.

There was initially a problem with my audio descriptive commentary headset, so I didn’t have the delight of the commentary for the presentation unfortunately. My dad thankfully managed to get it working before kick-off. Again, staff were helpful and offered to get a replacement should we have needed it.

Arsenal’s anthem, North London Forever rang round the stadium with fans holding their scarves aloft. The audio describers told me of the spectacle. The Women’s Champions League theme tune was then played, with red and white smoke filling the stadium. The describers letting me know what was happening visually.

It was then time for kick-off!

Arsenal had a bright start when Alessia Russo picked up pace and found Emily Fox, who’s cross found Caitlin Foord, who took a shot which was just wide. All of this was relayed back to me through the audio descriptive commentary.

Out of nowhere, Lyon took the lead in the 18^th minute, with Jule Brand carrying the ball past Arsenal’s captain Kim Little and firing it into the bottom left. My audio descriptive commentary saying it was almost like a penalty, and there was nothing our goalkeeper could do.

Arsenal countered quickly, with Mariona Caldentey curling one high and wide from distance. It was explained back to me the exact distance of the curler which unfortunately couldn’t find its way into the net.

I was told of every free kick, throw-in and essential deliveries for the Gunners. Katie McCabe’s 33rd-minute free kick was headed anxiously wide by Lotte Wubben-Moy, exclaimed by the audio describers.

Another McCabe cross reached Foord who headed it back across goal but saw the ball trickle wide of the post. Again, this was explained to me in great detail, with the stadium’s reaction echoing back.

It was soon half-time.

 

The second half was underway before we knew it, and Arsenal had renewed energy. So did the fans! What an incredible atmosphere.

That was clearly felt on the pitch too, as Emily Fox rushed forward, finding Olivia Smith who found the side netting.

Soon after, Little charged into the 18-yard box and won Arsenal a penalty after a foul from Lyon’s Wendie Renard – or so we thought. Chants from the fans and also my audio description telling me it was indeed a penalty. The on field decision was overturned after a VAR check. Throughout the check I was told of the facial expressions from the players, how Lyon players were running over to the screen, and the shake of the head from the referee to confirm the decision.

Arsenal wasn’t done yet though. Foord crossed for Smith, who shot straight at the Lyon goalkeeper, Christiane Endler.

Lyon came close to doubling their lead at the other end, although missed the target. That was described as “a let-off for Arsenal.”

The fans and players alike knew that Arsenal could find a way back into the game. And that’s exactly what they did!

Caldentey’s free-kick was spilled by the Lyon goalkeeper, and was safely slotted into the bottom right. It wasn’t without a lengthy VAR check though, where it was confirmed the goal would stand. During that time the goal was explained back to me, being said to be a “training ground exercise.”

I think everyone thought it’d be classed as an Arsenal goal, although it went down as a Lyon own goal.

Yet another Caldentey free kick was headed onto the roof of the net by Wubben-Moy, before Lyon came dangerously close to restoring their lead. The nerves were real from me, the rest of the crowd, and the audio describers.

All of the substitutions were relayed back to me in sync with the stadium announcer, with Lyon making a sub first.

It was then time for an Arsenal substitution, as Leah Williamson made way for Taylor Hinds.

Hinds quickly found her way into the game, where Caitlin Foord had a shot on goal from a tight angle. It was another shot that wasn’t meant to be for our Foordy, with yet another attempt in quick succession after that.

Moments after that second attempt, Olivia Smith capitalised on a Lyon defensive error and made it 2-1! The audio describers exclaiming she’d just slotted it into an empty net.

It was then time for a double Arsenal substitution, with Frida Maanum and Victoria Pelova coming on the field.

There were a couple more chances for Arsenal, and yet more set pieces for them too, all of which were described to me.

Six minutes were added on the clock, with Arsenal bringing on Laia Codina and Smila Holmberg to help see out the victory.

They did just that, and overturned their record of never beating Lyon at home.

 

The audio descriptive commentary

I’m no stranger to Arsenal’s audio descriptive commentary by now. It’s no secret that their offering of the service and the overall accessibility is one of the reasons I love the club.

The audio descriptive commentary, which is provided by Alan March Sport lived up to the hype and intensity of it being a European competition fixture.

Every pass, set piece, attempt on goal and all of the VAR decisions were described in such detail. I was also told of the facial expressions of the players – from frustration to goal celebrations, and the body language from the referee during VAR checks.

They also let me know about the colour of the kits and some of the hairstyles from the players, such as a Lyon player who had her hair braided

It really came into its own when Olivia Smith’s goal sealed the victory. The stadium erupted into a moment of euphoria. It was an element of inclusion I wouldn’t have had without the audio descriptive commentary.

That may have been one of my favourite moments from any match I’ve attended. Being up on my feet, joining in on the celebrations meant so much.

North London Forever ended the match to celebrate the win. For me, it was also a celebration of inclusion.

 

A 2-1 win, incredible atmosphere and overturning a home record against the French side was a perfect way to mark my first European women’s football fixture.

 

If you’re a blind or visually impaired sports fan and have stories to share, I’d love to hear them in the comments.

Holly x