Meet the DSA Board

The DSA Board represents the voice of disabled West Ham United supporters, working closely with the Club to improve accessibility, create positive change, and ensure every supporter has the best possible matchday experience.

Our Journey

The Disabled Supporters’ Board (DSB) evolved from the original Supporters Advisory Board, where it became clear from the outset that accessibility issues required a dedicated focus. Working alongside West Ham United, the DSB has helped lead initiatives and support facility improvements at the stadium, contributing towards an improved matchday experience for disabled supporters.

Established in 2016, the DSB provides a platform for meaningful engagement between disabled supporters and the West Ham United Board. Acting as a key link between accessibility supporters and the Club, the Board works collaboratively to consult, discuss challenges, and agree actions that help create the best possible experience for disabled supporters across all areas.

Since its first meeting in December 2016, the DSB has continued to meet regularly with the Club, maintaining a positive and productive relationship with the Accessibility Team. Through regular communication, meetings, and discussions, the Board is able to raise issues affecting disabled fans and work together towards practical solutions.

Representing Disabled Supporters

The DSA Board remains committed to staying at the forefront of accessible stadium guidance, government expectations, and Premier League regulations. Members actively contribute to wider accessibility discussions, including involvement with the Premier League Disabled Advisory Group.

The Board also ensures that the voice of disabled supporters is represented across the Club, with members contributing to supporter groups and forums to help ensure accessibility remains an important part of decision-making.

Building a Stronger Community

The DSA Board continues to meet regularly to discuss how best to support, assist, and represent disabled supporters. Through the creation of the West Ham United Disabled Supporters Association, we aim to connect with more fans and create a community that extends beyond matchdays at the London Stadium.

Together, we are committed to ensuring disabled supporters feel represented, valued, and included as part of the West Ham United family.

Meet the Team

Meet the people who help represent the voices and experiences of disabled West Ham United supporters.

Cathy Bayford

Co-Chair & FAB DSA Rep

I am Co Chair and Co Founder of the Disabled Supporters Board alongside Trevor Bright. Together we sit on the Premier League Supporters Advisory Group and I represent the DSB on West Ham’s Independent Supporters Committee (ISC) .

Hubby & I have been Season Ticket holders for 20+ years, attending games regularly at the Boleyn, the London Stadium and various away matches through the seasons.

I am fiercely proud of my Forces background having served 21 years in the RAF before an injury forced an early retirement. I went on to work in a management position in a Further Education College. Both career paths thrived through a mindset of teamwork, an ethos I believe I have carried forward when working with the Club.

I am hoping that the formation of the full DSA will continue to grow the feeling of community for our accessibility supporters and we can continue to further improve the matchday experience for all our disabled fans.

Trevor Bright

Co-Chair, Communications Sub Committee & Womens Supporters Board Member

I am Co-Chair of the Disabled Supporter’s Association alongside Cathy and I also sit on the WHU Womens Supporters Board, attending the home games in the WSL.

I’m a ex continental lorry driver until a accident changed my life and now I have a different perspective on disabilities in life, as I now use a mobility scooter or wheelchair .

I have been a season ticket holder since the Club’s move to London stadium, however I have been a Hammer’s fan since the 1960’s.

My aim is to produce a better matchday experience for everyone with or without a disability.

Mick Hancock

Campaign Secretary

I’m a part-time manual wheelchair user with Primary Progressive MS.

I work for a Community Alarm/Lifeline company, monitoring Emergency Response right across the UK.

I stay active, am a season ticket holder, and travel from Rochester.

I enjoy a great family life and hold a section one firearms license to help with team motivation if needed!

Sheryl MacRae

DSA Charity Liaison Lead

I have supported West Ham for as long as I can remember.

I have Elhers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and am a full-time wheelchair user. I also have Osteoperosis & Neurodiversity, Arthritis, Carpel Tunnel, Ulnar Tunnel, Fibromyalgia and Asthma.

I applied to join the DSB after a number of negative experiences attending games, and this will give me a voice to feedback to the Club, for myself and all disabled fans.

I am an avid volunteer in the grassroots footballing community. Over the last 30 years I have hold & have held the Secretary, Asst. Secretary, Chair and Treasurer roles at a number of local grassroots Clubs & Leagues.

I am also a Director at Essex County Football Association and sit on disciplinary panels at County level.

On becoming a full-time wheelchair user since 2019, I started thinking about how I could use my experience to show that anyone can get involved in football, whether playing or administratively.

The opportunity then arose to join the Adult Essex Soccability League as their Secretary. This offers football for all aspects of disability for over 16s & Youth Essex Soccability League as the Chair, growing disability football in Essex, both competitively and for fun. This is a league that we aim to grow and expand in the near future.

Bradley Donovan

Stewarding Sub & Committee Rep

I’m a wheelchair supporter and I have been a season ticket holder since the move to the London Stadium.

I joined DSA Board to ensure people of any ability enjoys there match day experience as much as possible.

Don Lennon

Board Member

My name is Don, I have been a life long Hammer and season ticket holder.

I used to watch from the old chicken run, I can remember being able to reach out and touch the players when throw ins were being taken.

I attended the 1980 FA cup final and can still remember the whole day like it was yesterday. I joined the board in December, I was diagnosed with MS in 2024, but that doesn’t stop me attending games.

My aim is to highlight invisible disabilities as well as the visible ones.

David Puckett

Shuttle Bus Advisor

I love to help people and I take pride in being a part of the DSB.

I consider myself an approachable member of the West Ham United fan base, and like nothing more than speaking to my fellow supporters about their concerns.

Kevin Wooton

Board Member

My son, Nathan (pictured on the right, with Kevin) is an autistic season ticket holder, The club already do a great deal to help disabled supporters and I joined the board as I wanted to help where possible make the West Ham experience even better for our disabled fans.

A lot of our disabled fans have difficult and challenging lives so if we can help in any way in making their match day experience a comfortable and enjoyable experience then I know that this would be greatly appreciated.

Joe Seigel

Board Member

I am a season ticket holder in the Bobby Moore lower and I am committed to making the match day experience better for supporters such as myself with non visible disabilities like autism and asbergers to name but a few.

I work in film and tv production currently and love spending my weekends watching West Ham and spending time with family and friends.

I travel in from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire by train to watch the mighty hammers. COYI ⚒️⚒️

Robbie Cahill

Board Member

I am a season ticket holder, and regularly go to away matches, I was lucky enough to go to all European games last season.

My learning disability means that I need support to access the matches.

I like to attend the meetings to improve the match experience for everyone and I appreciate all the work the club is doing.

Keighley Miles

DSA Advisor for
Deaf & Hard of Hearing

As a deaf West Ham Supporter with a deaf son, I applied to be a Board Member as I am passionate about making sure football is accessible to all the deaf and hard of hearing fans and want to ensure attending the Stadium to support our team is fully accessible for the next generation of deaf West Ham fans.

I come from a big West Ham family. I remember as a child going to games with my Grandad. It was amazing to take my son to his first game with my Grandad and share that experience.

I look forward to working with the Board to make the club and games more inclusive for all the deaf Hammers!

Gary Wenlock

Board Member

I am season ticket holder since the club moved to the London stadium and have been a Hammers fan since the 1960s.

In 2024, I had a stroke which left me blind in one eye, partially sighted in the other eye and damaged nerves in my legs and feet.

I have joined the board as I want to help everybody to have the best match day experience.

Terry Edwards

DSA Adviser for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

I have been a passionate West Ham United supporter since 1964 and have been a season ticket holder ever since.

Professionally, I am a British Sign Language (BSL) teacher and assessor. I continue to work on a freelance basis across a variety of roles, including education, television acting, and stand-up comedy for the Deaf community.

In my role as a DSA Adviser, I hope to encourage staff to develop greater Deaf awareness and learn some basic British Sign Language. I also monitor the big TV screen featuring the in-vision signer.

My most memorable West Ham moment was winning the FA Cup against Preston North End on my 14th birthday in 1964.

As a teenager, I had an unforgettable experience when Tina Moore told me I could meet my idol, Bobby Moore, at his home. One day, I cycled to his house carrying a large scrapbook filled with newspaper cuttings and articles about Bobby. As he looked through my scrapbook, I couldn’t help but admire his trophy cabinet. It remains one of my most treasured memories.

Nick Pace

Parkinsons Walking Football Lead & Board Member

I am a season ticket holder and attend matches with my daughters, brother, niece and nephew and come from a West Ham family, my Grandad was at Wembley for the 1965 European Cup Winners Cup final against TSV Munich and various members of my family have and still work for the club.

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in October 2019 at the age of 46. I am now the Parkinson’s UK, physical activity champion for Essex, having been medically retired after 35 years working in financial services across Essex and East London.

I have joined the board as I want to help everybody have the very best match day experience at the very best football club.

Tom Bolger

Board Member

I have been a West Ham supporter since 1961 and a season ticket holder since 1997.

I was a nurse for more than 50 years working in hospitals in Essex and East London before taking up a career in nursing education, followed by a senior role in my union, the Royal College of Nursing.

I then a spent a few years managing prisoners’ health services in HM Prison Service followed by consultancy work for the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health.

A couple of years ago my eyesight started to fail due to macular degeneration. This has had a big impact on my life, including when going to and from matches and watching games.

West Ham’s free audio-descriptive commentary service via headset has made a big difference to me.

I applied to join the Board of the Disabled Supporters Association to help add the voice of those with visual impairment to the association’s work.

The organisation does some great work and I look forward to playing my part.

Jonad Dhrami

Website & Digital Coordinator

To be completed…