As a passionate fan following AFC Wimbledon, Kirk Pritchard – who is on the autism spectrum – knows too well of the challenges that other fans with autism face as part of the matchday experience. He hopes that AFC Autism can have a positive impact on making football more accessible to neurodiverse fans.
Kirk founded AFC Autism in 2020, along with ex-professional footballer Anwar Uddin, child psychologist Dr Bebhinn Hoyne, Glebe FC order Grace McMillan, and his mum Kas Pritchard to increase inclusiveness and awareness of autism within the sport. He admits that the unfortunate timing, launching just as the Covid-19 pandemic forced the country into lockdown, has delayed the group’s work – but the desire for improvement burns strong.
Kirk told Fen Regis Trophies: “We founded the group a month or two before lockdown came in. Unfortunately, it was bad timing but there was no way of knowing that [at the time].
“What I want to see is more help for people with autism to travel to the stadium and to feel more confident and independent.
“It would be nice for some [stadiums] to have a sensory room. What I would like to see is for people to have more options (as part of the matchday experience).”
Autism and Football
Autism and football probably aren’t two subjects that you would associate with one another, but with one in 100 people in the UK being on the autism spectrum the two regularly meet. At Kirk’s beloved AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane, which has a capacity of 9,215, that would mean nearly 100 autistic fans based on that statistic.
There are around 700,000 children and adults on the autism spectrum in the UK, many of which will be keen football fans. Those with autism can find it difficult to interact with others and feel anxious at social events and in unfamiliar situations and/or environments. People with autism can also be highly sensitive to loud noises and bright lights – all of this can make the usual matchday experience difficult for someone with autism to enjoy.
“Attending the game is not that difficult today as I know the area and where I’m going,” said Kirk. “At first, it is about getting used to the environment and the crowd, knowing where you are going etc…
“The more you go the more you are aware of where you are heading to. It can be a bit confusing at times.
“It wasn’t too stressful for me in the past. The most challenging thing is trying to get to the stadium, with delays such as traffic and trains.”
Kirk has been watching The Dons since 2005 when the club were playing their games at Kingsmeadow, ground sharing with Kingstonian in Kingston upon Thames, until May 2020 before moving into Plough Lane in November 2020. Luckily for Kirk, he had already gotten used to the area long before a ball had ever been kicked having seen the stadium’s construction from 2016 to its completion as a build photographer.
Away Days
Attending a game as a home supporter, when you are accustomed to your surroundings, is one thing but an away day is an altogether different experience. The uncertainty of travelling to a ground you have never been to before can be daunting and that is only heighted for someone on the autism spectrum.
Kirk recalled an experience of travelling to The Valley to watch AFC Wimbledon play Charlton Athletic: “When you are a home fan it’s no problem because you get the steward who knows you. You get the same stewards who work out the stadium.
“For away fans, that’s completely different. Take, for example, we go to Charlton and the stewards check your bags, check your pockets – all that – that will be stressful for some people and nerve-racking not knowing what to expect.
“It would be nice to see stewards more aware of hidden disabilities and offering more options on how they want to be searched to avoid feelings of nervousness and stress.”
Calls for an FA Additional Needs Coordinator
As well as being one of the founding members of AFC Autism, Anwar Uddin is a diversity campaign manager working for both the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) and Kick it Out. He has played a key role in working to make football more inclusive and is also an FA National Council Member.
The former defender, most noted for his six-year spell at Dagenham & Redbridge, was at the pub with both Kirk and Grace when the initial idea for AFC Autism came to fruition. Despite the work of the group, and having a fellow founding member in Anwar Uddin with his roles in the FSA and Kick it Out, Kirk believes that an additional needs coordinator is a role the FA should invest in.
“I think that an additional needs coordinator at the FA would be beneficial for many.
“We had an idea to make football more aware of people with autism and to help them to go to the match and enjoy the game more comfortably and less stressfully.
“I always try to help people to understand about autism and raise awareness.”
In the meantime, Kirk will be continuing the charge with AFC Autism, with the group due to launch their new website shortly and expand on their work to create a more inclusive and welcoming game for all.
If you would like any information or support regarding autism, you can contact the National Autistic Society by calling 0207 833 2299 or head over to autism.org.uk.