‘We’re a family’: my experience as a disabled Arsenal fan – video

Thomas Clements is as big an Arsenal fan as anybody. He follows his team home and away and is even named after Mickey Thomas, scorer of Arsenal’s decisive second goal against Liverpool in their 1989 title win. However, whereas the majority of match-goers might take for granted the seemingly small things like travel, the journey to the stadium, entering and exiting the ground – for disabled supporters such as Clements, careful thought and planning goes into arrangements.

Thomas was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that impacts his movement and posture, and requires assistance to be able to attend match days. All of this is facilitated by Arsenal, who, like many Premier League clubs, are striving for inclusivity.

‘Arsenal and the disability liaison team is great at facilitating my needs,’ says Clements. ‘Without them it wouldn’t be possible’