Free period products are now available at the University of Bolton Stadium.
In a joint initiative between Bolton Wanderers Football Club and its charitable arm Bolton Wanderers in the Community (BWitC), pads and tampons are now available in every female and accessible toilet in the stadium concourses.
Fans will simply have to push the buttons labelled "Pad" or "Tampon" at the base of the machines to dispense a product, free of charge.
It is hoped that the initiative will reassure female fans that the products are freely available on site should they require them, and thus remove potential barriers preventing women from attending fixtures.
The club has opted for are plastic-free Aunt Flow period products, made from 100 per cent organic cotton - no synthetics, chemicals or dyes - and designed to use minimum packaging.
The vending machines were installed by Ben Godridge of Citron Hygiene - a former BWitC participant and a lifelong Bolton Wanderers fan.
Phil Mason, chief executive officer BWitC, said: “We want our stadium to be an open and welcoming place for our female fans and our aim is to break down any barriers that may prevent them from attending games at Bolton Wanderers.
“As the club’s official charity, it is also our mission to create a Bolton free from disadvantage and we are all too aware that period poverty – the struggle to afford period products – is an issue for many in our community and we want to play our part in tackling that inequality.
“We hope the installation of the machines in our concourses is a welcome addition to the University of Bolton Stadium and another way we can encourage more female fans into the stadium.
“In the coming weeks, we will also be making the products available in all hospitality areas and in our staff toilets.”
The period product initiative launched the on Saturday September 3 as Wanderers ran out 3-1 winners against Charlton Athletic. The club was also celebrating the "Her Game Too" campaign.
Her Game Too is a female fan-led movement that aims to foster an ethos of respect and inclusivity for women across the game.
Emily Parker, Her Game Too ambassador and BWFC fan, has spent time with the club’s hierarchy, advising them on how to make the club more inclusive for women and girls.
She said: "It shows that the club are inclusive and support women and want them to come to games and feel comfortable in the environment.
“I am pleased that the club are responsive in my views as Her Game Too ambassador, and this shows they believe Her Game Too is an important initiative and want to support the ideas of the football community.”
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