BLIND supporters of Preston North End may not be able to watch the game but from next season they should be able to hear all the action.

Thanks to the Disabled Supporters Association, a hi-tec audio system is to be set up with a running commentary of Deepdale matches.

Blind and disabled supporters of all ages and abilities will be able to listen to or watch the match from the comfort of their own executive box.

And if they can raise enough money for a minibus, they may even be able to travel to away matches in style.

The group, which formed only this month, is holding regular meetings at Deepdale Labour Club in Skeffington Road. Their main priority is to obtain a minibus before the start of next season.

Chairman of the group Carl Swarbrick who suffers from muscular dystrophy, explained what spurred him on: "I have only been disabled since 1991 after an accident at work, but I've always been a North End fanatic.

"I found it hard to accept how difficult it is to get into in shops and things like that.

"The club has been marvellous. They have given us our own executive box and are getting us a charity number. They even cordoned off a big section for us at the front of the Harris Museum for the recent civic reception."

Anyone who wants to help the group with fund-raising, or anyone who has a minibus they don't need that could be converted, can write to them at: Preston North End Disabled Supporters Club, c/o Carl Swarbrick, Executive Box 15, PNE FC, Lowthorpe Road, Deepdale.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.