THEY may not have been there in person but Saturday’s match carried the spirit of the Pars’ disabled fans in a landmark first.

The Dunfermline Athletic Disabled Supporters Club (DADSC), which was first formed in 2007, for the first time, sponsored the clash with Morton alongside the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE).

CAFE, a social responsibility associate partner of UEFA, strives to ensure fans with a disability have total access to all facilities and services a football club offers, and the sponsorship is part of its annual ‘Week of Action’ celebration across the continent of those with a disability and their important roles across the game.

Athletic are among clubs from more than 20 countries taking part to raise awareness and seek #TotalAccess, and showed pre-match interviews with those involved in delivering services to disabled fans on Pars TV, while DADSC members had the chance to vote for the man of the match on social media.

All sponsorship money will go towards improving facilities for disabled fans at East End and DADSC secretary, John Simpson, told Press Sport: “It’s good to work with CAFE in sponsoring the match and we’re grateful to the DAFC board and the 1885 Business Club for making it possible.

“#TotalAccess is what every football club should be aspiring to achieve and it is a goal shared by DAFC, who value the loyalty and continuing support of disabled fans. We all want East End Park to be a welcoming place and we’ll do all we can to cater for every need.

"Our Disability Access Officer (Graham Ross) will help with anything relating to disabled access for home or away fans, just contact him at dao@dafc.co.uk. Our volunteer Match Buddies make the matchday experience a better one for wheelchair users and ambulant disabled fans, with fleece blankets and a refreshment ordering service.

"We have a free audio commentary for any fan with vision problems, while hearing loop systems are in place at the ticket office and in hospitality lounges. We even have dedicated places for guide dogs!

"All these facilities are available to home and away fans alike, and we’re working with the DAFC Board to provide further improvements for disabled fans.

"And, during lockdown, we hold a weekly catch-up via Zoom, so that nobody need feel alone or forgotten about. Everyone benefits when we remove barriers to #TotalAccess."

To find out more about DADSC, visit their website at http://dadsc.fife.net or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DADisabledSupportersClub.

Despite missing a first half penalty, Dunfermline won the match 1-0 thanks to Craig Wighton's header before half-time.