While Motherwell’s routine 3-0 SPL victory over Livingston may not have been of huge significance to those other than the 5,683 present – it is a match which Jon Attenborough will never forget.
The 36-year-old, who is visually impaired, was able to see the action for the first time in his life thanks to an innovative headset.
Jon, who uses a guide dog, was loaned a GiveVision device, which allows users to set brightness to their own needs and comes with a handheld control so they can zoom in and out should they wish to do so.
Using state-of-the-art technology, it sends real-time, magnified footage directly to the working part of the retina and proved to be a gamechanger.
‘I’ve been going to football all my life,’ Jon told Inside Sport. ‘Probably 3-400 games, and it’s the first time I’ve been able to see what was happening, read the players names and numbers, see the goals. I could even see the facial expressions on the fans on the other side of the stadium. It’s difficult to put the experience into words. It was amazing and emotional. I was in complete awe.’
Jon, a Dundee United supporter who has written a book on his experiences visiting all 42 Scottish grounds, is hoping to use the headset to see his own side for the first time when they host Motherwell on Saturday.
South of the border, Crystal Palace provide the headsets for games at Selhurst Park. It is to be hoped that others follow the Eagles’ lead.
Hammers party is off after dismal season so far
Staff at West Ham United have decided against holding a Christmas Party after what has not been the best of years at the London Stadium. Given the club’s current position in the Premier League relegation zone, the view was taken that a mass celebration would not be appropriate. It is understood West Ham will instead be handing out gift vouchers to staff.
At Blackburn, it never rains but it pours
The EFL board is looking into the second abandoned match of the season at Blackburn Rovers. The home side’s game against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday was brought to an early conclusion thanks to torrential rain at Ewood Park.
However, sections of the club’s fanbase have pointed the finger at owners the Venkys for a perceived lack of investment, pointing out that other games in the region played out to a conclusion.
Blackburn were leading Ipswich 1-0 with 80 minutes gone in October when the match was stopped. The ‘replay’ ended 1-1. On 62 minutes, with Rovers again 1-0 up against Wednesday, play was halted. Should clubs fail to meet requirements, they could be hit with a misconduct charge under EFL rules.
Hopes of more loo roll go down the toilet at United
Last weekend, Inside Sport highlighted a number of ongoing issues at WSL matches, which included a lack of toilet roll for press at Manchester United games held at Leigh Sports Village. Inside Sport is sad to report the solution was not rectified for the Red Devils clash with West Ham United at the Wigan council-operated venue yesterday.
FIFA can’t keep World Cup complaints at Bay…
It is safe to say there have been varying reactions to the venue placements following the World Cup draw. For some, such as Dallas, it has proven to be a bonanza, with England and Lionel Messi’s Argentina (twice) coming to town.
On the east coast, Boston gets Brazil, England and Erling Haaland’s Norway while New York, which hosts the final, will welcome France, Germany and Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions.
However, spare a thought for fans in the Bay Area, who have been handed an underwhelming itinerary which sees Algeria, Jordan, Qatar, Austria, Australia, Paraguay and Switzerland due In Santa Clara.
‘Even Kansas City gets better games than us,’ one punter complained, while local website SFGate bluntly reacted to the schedule with the headline: ‘FIFA totally screwed the Bay Area.’
A fair pricing model: Pay after you know the result!
Watch first, pay later – that is the unique policy being rolled out in Germany. Regional league outfit 1. FC Phönix Lübeck have launched a ‘Fair Pay’ campaign, which sees fans make their payment after the game, instead of before.
The categories are loosely translated into ‘Was okay’ (€5.00), ‘Solid game’ (€10.00), ‘Was fun!’ (€15.00) and ‘Really strong!’ (€20.00). While an admirable move, Inside Sport struggles to see such a method catching on in England.
F1 champ Lando avoids the Sky Sports News curse
New artwork has gone up at the entrance to Sky Sports News in the past fortnight and some had been wondering if it was carrying its own curse.
Mo Salah, who appears to have suffered a rapid fall from grace at Liverpool in recent weeks, features along with Ben Stokes, whose undercooked England team have endured instant Ashes misery Down Under.
There were, however, sighs of relief in Isleworth on Sunday when Lando Norris, who also appears, managed to swerve one of the biggest turnarounds in Formula One history with a third place in Qatar that just about held off the challenge of Max Verstappen to win the World Drivers’ Championship for the first time.
Others on the artwork include Lauren James and Rory McIlroy.
Read more
- Will fans react as BBC limits World Cup coverage to Salford until the crucial quarter-finals stage?
- Who shared the stage with England’s Lionesses during their victory celebrations and showed support in Basel, Switzerland, amidst historic football fever?
- Why are England’s football heroines urging fans to brace for sky-high prices in Switzerland?
- Could fan-favorite Premier League matches soon be whisked away to American cities, breaking local hearts?
- How are England’s Euro 2025 squad navigating sky-high Swiss expenses to ensure family can cheer them on?
