Wellcome Collection

Making football accessible: 1920s edition ⚽

In 1921, this fan followed a match using a tactile football board to track the position of the players. Now, over a century later, blind supporters at the World Cup will be able to experience matches using haptic technology.

The tech has changed but the idea remains: football is for everyone.

Alt text: This black-and-white photo from 1921 shows a blind football fan in the stands smiling as he follows the game on a board representing the pitch. He's guided by the board's inventor, who moves pieces around to show the movements of the players.

Credit: A blind man at a football match in London, following the game using a board representing a pitch and players, assisted by the board's inventor. Photograph, ca. 1921. Wellcome Collection.

Mordechai Zilberman was born in 1934. Here, he's photographed wearing the clothes of the man he loved for 60 years.

When his partner was hospitalised with dementia, the couple hid their relationship, fearing homophobia would affect the care they received.

This extraordinary portrait by Oded Wagenstein features in our new exhibition The Coming of Age.

Credit: Mordechai Zilberman, 2019, by Oded Wagenstein.

Alt text: This photograph shows Mordechai with closed eyes against a background of floral wallpaper. The hand of a caregiver enters the frame from the left, holding a brush to Mordechai's hair. Mordechai wears a mustard-coloured jumper with the sleeves slightly rolled, and a white collar.