Tom Davies joined a group of young fans from the Everton Disabled Supporters' Association (EDSA) for a virtual Q&A recently as part of the Club's Level Playing Field Weeks of Action celebrations.

The event for junior members of EDSA took place over Zoom and allowed the young fans and their siblings to pose their questions to the Everton and England Under-21 midfielder.

The specially arranged Q&A rounded-off Everton and EDSA’s support for Level Playing Field’s #WeeksofAction, which promotes inclusivity and accessibility in football.

With Davies in the hotseat, the young Evertonians asked a range of questions from what it's like to play for Everton and what Davies has missed during the pandemic, to how he's finding working under Carlo Ancelotti and why his support of Everton in the Community and local projects tackling homelessness is so important to him. 

Everton Academy graduate Davies also took the opportunity to engage with the young supporters to find out a bit more about them, especially how lockdown has been for them and their families and how much they miss going to the game.

“It was great to speak to the young supporters and their families,” Davies said after the call. “I remember how I used to be just like them as a young fan and excited about anything and everything football and Everton. 

"I enjoyed answering their questions and having the time to be able to chat to them, get to know more about what EDSA does, and see how much love they all have for the Blues.”

EDSA, which formed in 1994, works alongside the Club to improve facilities for disabled fans at Goodison Park, ensuring they have a positive matchday experience by providing constant feedback to the Club.

The group has also played a vital role in advising the Club on accessibility in plans for the proposed new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Working alongside the Club, EDSA have helped to ensure Everton’s proposals make the new stadium the most inclusive in the Premier League, with the most wheelchair spaces in the country, at least one Changing Places facility in every stand, and a sensory room.

Mark Dyer, Secretary of the EDSA Committee, said: “It was fantastic for some of our junior members to spend some time with one of their heroes. Everton is a very inclusive club and events like this show how much they value our input as a supporters' association and their support for Level Playing Field’s ‘Weeks of Action’.”

This year's Level Playing Field’s Weeks of Action campaign has been shining a light on what Disabled Supporters’ Associations, fans and other organisations have been doing to support disabled fans who have been shielding or isolated and to ensure continued access and inclusion.

Everton's 1-0 win over Southampton on 1 March was designated as the Club's Level Playing Field fixture, and EDSA were the virtual mascots for the match - the first time that a group of supporters, rather than an individual, has taken part in the activity.

Ahead of kick-off, EDSA members joined a Zoom call with Mason Holgate and experienced the matchday build-up via a tablet as the defender stepped out onto the famous Goodison turf. EDSA was also the designated Supporters' Club of the Match for the fixture.

Ben Godfrey joined Garmon, an inspirational young fan, to talk about his football journey, Alex Iwobi checked in on players from Everton's disability teams who were part of this season's third kit launch and former Everton midfielder Peter Reid and film director Rob Sloman became patrons of EDSA.