Audio Description Commentary is a service that has been offered to visually impaired supporters at Pompey since the 2015 season.

Using trained volunteers, the Pompey AD service provides instantaneous live matchday commentary using an approach designed to give as accurate and immediate description of the footballing action as possible.

The service was set up in 2015 by the Pompey Disabled Supporters Association, who paid for the radio transmitter, handsets and selection and training of the first Pompey AD commentators. Originally the service was run in partnership with a specialist sports media company, Alan March Sports Limited.

The service is straight forward. A small UHF transmitter broadcasts the commentary to supporters who are lent a small radio receiver and headphones (although some fans choose to bring their own headsets). The AD commentary is then sent direct and immediately to the fans instantaneously, without any broadcast delay, as happens with local public radio stations.

The AD commentators have been trained to concentrate on all the match action as it happens. The aim is to give the clearest description of what is happening on the pitch without missing anything. Working in teams of at least two per game, the AD commentators’ first rule is to ensure listeners know where the ball is on the pitch at all times. This is so the fans in the ground who cannot see the game follow every kick, header, pass and goal live.

Comments about tactics and opinions are only given when the ball is out of play. Unlike radio commentary elsewhere, the Pompey AD team are focused on describing the match action, not talking about the game in general.

Getting up to speed to give accurate and entertaining commentary in this way is a real challenge and the Pompey AD team work hard to maintain the highest quality service. This professional attitude is appreciated by the fans who listen in and they rate the quality of commentary highly. Fans from visiting clubs are always welcome to listen to the AD Commentary and Plymouth Argyle supporters have been particularly impressed by the accuracy and quality of AD commentary at Fratton Park.

The first Pompey AD commentators were James Richardson, Niall McCaughan, Dan Shaw and Chris Perry. Niall is now working full-time in sports journalism, also hosting The Football Hour on Express FM. Dan Shaw’s talents as a match day commentator have also been recognised and he has also been heard on the local commercial radio station giving his thoughts on how Pompey and opponents play.

Dan Shaw and Chris Perry have also provided AD commentary at Crawley Town FC, where Chris helped train two new recruits for the 2017/18 season. Chris is returning to the Pompey AD rota for 2018/19.

The team has evolved since 2015 and is now coordinated by Danny Parkinson, who began AD Commentary in the 2016/17 season with Dan Casey and Mark Alloway. There will be new voices to listen out for during the 2018/19 season to ensure every Pompey home game is fully covered by AD Commentary.

The club is supportive of this volunteer team and has taken on funding the service from the Pompey Disabled Supporters Association. The club is keen to extend access to the AD Commentary service for fans with visual impairment. Enquiries about how to use the service can be made via the Pompey ticket office.

More information about accessibility for fans with disability can be found on the Portsmouth FC official website.

CLP 30/07/2018