Jon Attenborough has been following Dundee United for almost two decades, but due to a visual impairment had never actually seen the team with his own eyes.
Now a special headset has made it happen – an “incredible experience” according to the 36-year-old from Perth.
Jon got his first-ever view of the stadium and players at Saturday’s home match against Motherwell thanks to the vision-boosting technology.
He said watching the game at Tannadice Park had been “a wee bit emotional”. Jon has been going to matches at Tannadice for 17 years and usually tunes into the commentary for visually-impaired supporters.
He told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast: “It was absolutely amazing.
“The one thing that really stands out to me is just being able to see my own team walk out of the tunnel for the first time and line up at the start of the game.
“I’ve seen it on television, but it’s not the same as being in the ground and amongst the atmosphere, beside your friends you’ve been going to the games with for so long.
“Just that moment when the music hits and the teams walk out the tunnel, I’ll never forget that.”
Jon has no sight in his right eye and limited sight in his left.
He said: “I’ve got a tiny little bit of central vision in my left eye.
“The way I describe it is I can’t really see anything further than maybe an arm’s length in front of me.”
The GiveVision headset has cameras on the front and lenses inside.
Jon can zoom in or out, thanks to a handheld controller, as well as changing the brightness or colour contrast.
He said: “I was sitting in the George Fox Stand in the back row of the lower tier and I could zoom right in and read the players’ names on the back of the shirts for the first time.
“I could see what the manager was doing on the touchline at the other side of the pitch, which I’ve never ever experienced before, it was unbelievable.”
After a trial run using the device at last week’s match between Motherwell and Livingston at Fir Park, Jon was ready to see his team’s stadium for the first time.
He said: “I’ve seen pictures and video clips when I’ve been able to hold the screen up close, so I had a sort of rough idea what Tannadice looked like.
“But I think anybody who’s been to any football stadium would tell you that nothing actually compares to seeing it in person with your your own eyes.
“And it was just the most incredible experience.”
Jon usually tunes in to Dundee United’s audio-descriptive commentary when attending home matches.
He said: “It’s an amazing service which lots of clubs provide, and I always assumed that within my lifetime, that was going to be the extent of my football experience.
“But having experienced that at Tannadice on Saturday and at Fir Park the week before, it’s just made my mind race and wonder where could this technology go?
“It’s opened up a whole new world to me.”
Last year Jon and his previous guide dog Sam became the first pair to visit all 42 Scottish league grounds.
Jon and Sam started their challenge at a Dundee v Dundee United match at Dens Park in February 2022.
Jon said the new headset is on loan until the new year, allowing him to see his first-ever Dundee derby.
He said: “They send it out just for people to trial and give their feedback, so they can further develop the next models.”
Sadly, Jon did not get to see his team score a goal as Saturday’s game finished goalless.
He said: “We came close once or twice in the second half, so it did get a wee bit exciting but sadly we didn’t get that goal.
“That would have just been the icing on the cake.”
Source: BBC
