Celtic to mark #TotalAccess Week of Action with special matchday activity | OneFootball

Celtic will mark the 14th annual #TotalAccess Week of Action with a series of special pre-match activities ahead of Saturday’s home game against Motherwell.

The club aims to shine a light on the experiences of supporters with disabilities and highlight its continued commitment to tackling the physical or sensory barriers which may prevent fans from fully enjoying the matchday experience.

As part of the pre-match activity, pupils from St Roch’s Secondary School Hearing Impairment Unit in Glasgow will sign the Celtic starting XI and substitutes on the stadium’s big screen, helping to celebrate inclusion and accessibility within the game.

Both Celtic and Motherwell players will also be accompanied on to the pitch by mascots, including children with a range of additional needs. These include mobility challenges, sensory impairments such as visual and hearing loss, as well as neurodiverse young people, including those with autism.

Among those taking part will be guide dog mascot Harry, helping to showcase the vital role that service animals play in assisting supporters with disabilities to attend and enjoy football safely and independently.

Clare Byrne, Chair of the Celtic Disabled Supporters’ Association said: “The Celtic Disabled Supporters’ Association are delighted to be involved in the 2026 AccessiBall Week of Action.

“Our members embody a broad spectrum of disabilities, physical and sensory in nature, and their inclusion in the events means so much to the individuals involved and to the organisation as a whole.

“We strive to improve and enhance the match day experience for all disabled supporters. Awareness raising among the general support is always positive, and the use of BSL on the stadium screens, thanks to the pupils from St Roch's, will be particularly effective.”

The matchday activity on Saturday forms part of the 14th annual #TotalAccess Week of Action, delivered by AccessibAll, which begins on Friday, March 13 and runs until March 29.

Disabled people make up between 20 and 25 per cent of the global population, representing more than one billion people worldwide. Football has the power to positively impact so many lives, and initiatives such as the #TotalAccess Week of Action provide an opportunity for the game to reaffirm its commitment to inclusion.

Saturday’s activity also highlights a number of measures already in place at Celtic Park to support disabled supporters, including British Sign Language (BSL) matchday interpreters, sensory packs for children with autism, Invisible Disability lanyards, audio descriptive commentary featuring match notes from the manager, a fully-equipped sensory room, ‘Touching the Trophy’ sessions for blind and partially-sighted fans and two wheelchair-accessible viewing platforms.

In 2018, Celtic was the proud recipient of a Special Collaboration Award from the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE), recognising the club’s commitment to promoting football for all. 

Through continued liaison with our disabled supporters and through the wider work of our Foundation, across the club we will continue to strive to ensure the needs of our disabled supporters are being met.

Speaking ahead of the match, Celtic’s Disability Access Officer, Alexis Dobbin, said: “The #TotalAccess Week of Action is an important opportunity to highlight the experiences of disabled supporters and to celebrate the progress football continues to make in becoming a more inclusive game.

“At Celtic, we are committed to ensuring that every supporter feels welcome and able to enjoy the matchday experience.

“It is fantastic to have the pupils from St Roch’s Secondary School involved in signing the team line-up, as well as welcoming our mascots who represent such a wide range of abilities.

“Moments like these help demonstrate that football truly is a game for everyone, and we are proud to support the #TotalAccess campaign once again.”