12:14pm Thursday 16th October 2008
COMMENTATORS are being sought for a new match-day service at Hereford United Football Club.
The new service will allow blind and partially sighted football fans to follow the action at Edgar Street.
Commentators will provide a quality and descriptive match-day commentary service for visually impaired fans in the crowd.
RNIB Soccer Sight is working with a host of professional football clubs, including Hereford United.
Kalle Hogh, RNIB national volunteer development officer, said: “It’s a dedicated commentary service for people inside the ground. We have blind and visually impaired people at football matches who want to be able to cheer with the rest of the crowd and even shout at the referee like everyone else.
“It’s an important service because fans who use it will be able to go to the pub afterwards and talk, with confidence, about the match. The equipment is donated to the club and the fans can listen to the commentary anywhere in the ground.”
The service is being launched at Hereford’s League 1 home match with Northampton Town on November 22.
A free commentary workshop, organised by RNIB Soccer Sight in conjunction with the BBC, is taking place at Derby County’s Pride Park home on Sunday.
Soccer Sight will help with the travelling expenses of people from the Hereford area.
Hogh added: “We haven’t got any commentators yet from Hereford,so we will need some. But five people who started with Soccer Sight commentary have actually gone on to make a career out of commentating.
“We work very closely with the BBC and Soccer Sight commentating is viewed very highly by the BBC. It’s an excellent place for a young and aspiring commentator to start.”
Soccer Sight is supported by the youth volunteering charity v, HBOS Found-ation and The Football Foundation.
Soccer Sight also needs to recruit Matchday Buddies, who are trained volunteers that will look after blind and partially sighted fans at the matches.
The commentary and buddies roles are voluntary positions. More details are available from Kalle Hogh on 07908 527476 or by e-mailing: kalle.hogh@rnib.org.uk
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.herefordtimes.com