Sophia Goodman, a Year 7 pupil from Hall School Wimbledon, took to BBC News to discuss how tech is changing her life and love for football.

For young football fans, nothing beats the thrill of watching their team play live. But for visually impaired supporters, experiencing the game from the stands has often been a challenge. That’s where technology is changing the game, and for Sofia, it has made a world of difference.

Experiencing Football Through New Technology

Sofia, a Crystal Palace fan, has bi-macular atrophy, a rare eye condition that affects both eyes and makes it difficult to see details. “My retina is damaged, and it stops me from seeing the detail... it’s very blurry for me, and I can’t really see the players kicking the ball,” she explains.

Last season, Crystal Palace introduced special headsets developed by tech company GiveVision with the support of Shared Access. These devices allow visually impaired fans to zoom in and out of the game, providing a close-up view of the action alongside a live TV feed of the match.

Sofia says the headset has completely transformed her experience:

“Before I felt disconnected, but now I feel like I’m part of the crowd.”

A Special Moment with a Football Star

While testing the headset, Sofia received a surprise visit from one of her favourite players, Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi. The pair shared a moment on the stands, and Guehi praised the technology:

“Giving children the opportunity to experience things to the fullest is something everyone should have access to.”

Sofia is no stranger to on field experiences; she has previously appeared as the club’s first visually impaired mascot, and now, thanks to the headset, she can feel fully immersed in every match she attends.