5 Questions With… Callum McFadden, Blind Commentator and Sports Journalist

Like you, we love sport.

No matter the level – whether it’s the World Athletic Championships to jumpers for goalposts at the park – we’re hooked as soon as we start watching, because we love sport.

Our new ‘5 Questions with…’ series aims to shine a spotlight on people working in the wider sporting world with an interesting story to tell, and we are kicking off with getting to know a ‘blind commentator’…

NAME:

Callum McFadden

What do you do?

I’m a commentator for the blind and visually impaired at Celtic Park, I am also a freelance sports journalist.

Tell us how you became a commentator for blind / visually impaired at Parkhead?

I had been covering football across the globe via my own website before moving to a publisher in World Football Index. 

I received a call from the club asking me if I would join the commentary team and I agreed immediately. It was a dream come true. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I would say commentating on the treble team last season under the now-Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou. The football that was played, also known as Ange-Ball, was unbelievable and to win all three domestic trophies was amazing. 

Commentating on a match against the iconic Real Madrid was very special too. 

If you weren’t in the media then what would you be doing?

I would be attending games as a fan every week. Saturday 3pm following your club is the best place to be. 

Tell us about the hotel you will never forget? Both positive and negative…

Hotel Football in Manchester is one hotel that I will never forget. The whole experience was amazing. Our room had a view of Old Trafford and the food was brilliant. 

I could not fault it at all.

What is your top packing tip when traveling for covering a match?

My top packing tip would be to pack a few different types of clothes i.e. a jumper and a heavier jacket because you just never know what the weather is going to be like especially when covering games in the U.K.

To find out more…

• Read Callum’s work here: https://worldfootballindex.com/author/callummcfadden/

• Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Callum7McFadden

• You can access the audio description service at Celtic Park by contacting the Supporters Liaison Officer (SLO) or Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) at the club to request a headset and a radio set for the game to enjoy full match commentary without any added cost.