BLIND and partially-sighted Rovers fans are now fully sharing the excitement at the Keepmoat Stadium thanks to a groundbreaking scheme. Saturday's 2-2 clash with Swansea was the first game to be described to blind supporters in the stands by a special commentator in the ground.
The commentary - via radio headsets - was provided as part of the 'Soccer Sight' programme launched by the club and charities Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Football Foundation,
Rovers' Football in the Community Officer Richard Bailey said ten fans had used the headsets to enjoy the commentary. It was provided by Alan March who was among winners of a national BBC-backed contest to find and specially train new commentators.
He said: "We were absolutely delighted with how things went considering it was the first game the service had been introduced at."
Among supporters who enjoyed the commentary were young blind or partially-sighted football players who played against visiting teams from Swansea before the Rovers match.
Doncaster is one of seven clubs to receive the service, although the scheme - also backed by Halifax Bank of Scotland - is expanding.
Bill Alker, spokesman for the RNIB, said: "A lot of people who are blind or partially sighted will not always have been without their sight and it could well be that going to a live football game is a treat that's been taken away from them. We hope this scheme will make it possible for supporters to come back and enjoy a game and the numbers attracted by this scheme could well be high."
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