Southampton will wear a one-off kit this weekend in a bid to raise awareness of disability inequality.
Saturday’s Premier League match against Leicester will see Mark Hughes’ side wear shirts emblazoned with the logo of the charity, Scope, in order to promote their fantastic ‘Disability Gamechanger’ campaign.
Saints’ regular shirt sponsors, Virgin Media, previously allowed Scope to feature on the team’s jerseys for a game between Southampton and Manchester United in May 2017.
All set for the weekend with @scope and @virginmedia! 📸 #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/hnnSl4lGun
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 23, 2018
Southampton’s commercial director, David Thomas, said: “We are extremely proud to be able to stand with Virgin Media and Scope again this season, by wearing a one-off kit for the Leicester City game.
“Equality and opportunity are key in driving everything we do here at the football club, and it means a lot to us that our commercial partners share and support these values so openly.
“We are committed to ensuring disabled fans get the same opportunities as everyone else so they can enjoy the sport that we all love.”
#SaintsFC's players will wear the @scope logo on their shirts this weekend, after @virginmedia kindly donated its sponsorship to the charity! #DisabilityGamechanger pic.twitter.com/kT38UFtKLR
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 23, 2018
According to the Independent, a giant version of the jersey will be brought on to the pitch before kick-off with the goal of raising awareness of the difficulties experienced by disabled people in the UK.
Jeff Dodds, Managing Director of Consumer at Virgin Media, said: “We’re proudly standing united with Scope and Southampton FC to support disabled people by putting disability equality at the heart of this weekend’s game at St Mary’s.”
Southampton have already dedicated plenty of resources to improving access at St. Mary’s. Only last year, Virgin Media funded the establishment of a sensory room at the stadium with the aim of offering fans with sensory differences a more enjoyable experience.