Matchday Sensory Guide launched by Northampton Town in collaboration with Spautism

Northampton Town Football Club and Spautism have collaborated to produce a sensory guide for autistic football fans attending matchdays at Sixfields Stadium next season.

The sensory guides that Spautism produce help enable autistic people to anticipate and navigate the environment at a particular sports event, creating the opportunity for more enjoyment and continued engagement.

Please click here to view the guide.

While some autistic fans might struggle with noise, others may enjoy the atmosphere but struggle with queues. Autistic adults, or parents/carers of autistic children, can use the guide to read and visualise the sensory stimuli they may encounter at the stadium, allowing them to manage potential triggers that could impact their day.

Northampton Town published the Sensory Guide ahead of their final EFL League One home game of the year against Wigan Athletic on Saturday 3rd May, ready for its debut season in the 2025/26 campaign.

Ygor Santos, Fan Engagement Officer at Northampton Town FC Community Trust, said: “The guide is so powerful. It’s very visual; the pictures are very informative, and the content around them brings it all to life.

“When I first saw the finished product, it was definitely a wow moment. I felt proud looking at it and I wanted the whole club to see.

“The process has been amazing and just as important as the finished product. From an internal club perspective, it was provoking thoughts and questions that are not necessarily spoken about.

“Wherever I go, Spautism is definitely an organisation that I’d reach out to because I believe that this should be across the board in all sports. The guide doesn’t just have to be exclusive for people with sensory needs, this is helpful for everyone.”