Neale Ormston, a Crystal Palace supporter with diabetic retinopathy, has made history as the first visually impaired fan to commentate live on a Premier League game, using a groundbreaking GiveVision headset.

The 53-year-old had contemplated giving up his season ticket after struggling to follow the action at Selhurst Park due to his eye condition. Ormston explained that attending matches had become a challenge, and he was no longer getting enjoyment from football.

Technology Restores Passion

Thanks to GiveVision, a vision enhancement system that uses a headset to transmit images directly to the retina, Ormston can now see the game in real time, zoom in, adjust contrast, and even switch to normal vision to enjoy the atmosphere alongside other fans.

“I’m actually at more of an advantage now than everyone else,” Ormston said. “My friends around me ask when there is VAR because I get replays so I can tell them when to cheer and not to cheer.”

He provided live commentary for fellow visually impaired fans during Crystal Palace’s match against Manchester City, alongside colleagues Roger Dickson, Andy Bull, and Chris Winter. Palace has long offered audio commentary services, but the GiveVision headsets—available to eligible fans since last season—represent a major step forward in inclusivity.

Impact on Fans

The system has transformed the matchday experience for supporters with sight loss. Eight fans used the headsets during Sunday’s game, including Susan Vernon, 80, who has followed the club for 56 years.

“It is a revelation,” she said. “Without it, I wouldn’t be coming to matches now or even have renewed my season ticket. I want to go to every match!”

Charlotte Woodward, chair of Crystal Palace’s Disabled Supporters’ Association, highlighted the wider importance:
“You can’t put a price on sight. It doesn’t discriminate against age, gender, race, or background. At Palace, we invest in fans, and this shows the club’s dedication to them being the 12th man.”

Barriers and Future Plans

Founder of GiveVision, Stan Karpenko, told BBC Sport that most clubs lack awareness of their visually impaired supporters. The main hurdle is not cost but ensuring clubs recognize that fans exist who are excluded without proper facilities.

Currently, Palace is the only club offering the system, and headsets cannot be used at away Premier League games due to infrastructure limitations. Ormston, however, has already used the headset for Palace’s Conference League victory over Shelbourne in Dublin.

“There are so many clubs that don’t even have the audio commentary option,” he said. “So how many visually impaired people are there out there who don’t go but want to go?”

Inclusivity in Football

One in 30 people in the UK experience some degree of sight loss, yet 73% of sports fans with visual impairments do not attend matches due to lack of accessibility. By providing GiveVision headsets, Crystal Palace is setting a new standard for inclusivity in football, empowering fans to enjoy the game as never before.

“It gives me that passion again,” Ormston added. “Now I can be part of the match, commentate, and enjoy football like everyone else.”