Chelsea Football Club and the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust are pleased and proud to announce the re-establishing of an independent Chelsea Disabled Supporters Association (CDSA). To mark this initiative, events will be held before and after the match against Brighton at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Fruitful discussions and an open meeting took place last year and have led to Saturday’s launch of the CDSA, which will take place in the Tea Bar at the south end of the stadium between 1.30pm and 2.30pm. All Chelsea supporters are warmly welcome to visit during those times and the launch will be joined by a special guest.

The aim of the CDSA is to empower disabled supporters and amplify voices, to break down barriers, to enable a positive matchday experience, and to unite all supporters by encouraging awareness and education for those who are not disabled.

'This is a very exciting opportunity for the club to work closer with our disabled supporters on key policy issues and updating facilities,' says Chelsea FC's disabled access officer Hannah Travers. 'Having this link will allow us to target projects specifically to our supporters' needs and work towards improving fan experiences.'

After the final whistle against Brighton, there will be a meet-and-greet in the Tea Bar between 5pm and 6pm with the CDSA committee, a representative from the campaigning and advisory organisation Level Playing Field, Hannah Travers, Chelsea's disabled access officer, and Michael Cornall, Chelsea’s head of supporter relations.

We look forward to seeing as many fans as possible at both events, where there will be the opportunity to sign up to be members of the new CDSA.

Also, ahead of Saturday’s game in the Tea Bar, as is the case for all home Premier League matches, there is a chance to meet members of the club’s Fan Advisory Board. They will be there between 1pm and 2.30pm to discuss matters affecting supporters and share feedback. This also provides fans with an opportunity to have an informed conversation on the remit of the FAB and how it serves as a representative.