Bobby Allain joins CAFE as Ambassador
Allain shares in CAFE’s passion for equal access and the inclusion of disabled fans across football, empowering them to take their place at the heart of live sport.
Born in France to a French father and a Scottish mother who were both born deaf, Allain is fluent in sign language and is involved with the French National Deaf Team as a coach.
Allain’s playing career has already seen him travel across Europe, turning out for Dijon FC in the French Ligue 1 and Olympiacos in Greece where he won the Super League and national cup in the 2019/20 season.
It was also during his time with Olympiacos that Allain played in the UEFA Europa League, reaching the Round of 16 knockout phase.
The 29-year-old joined Orebro SK in December 2020 who play in Sweden’s top division, Allsvenskan. Playing as the club’s number 1 goalkeeper, Allain has started all of Orebro’s competitive fixtures this season.
Yet to play at international level, Allain is eligible to represent both France and Scotland and has previously mentioned his affection for the latter which he describes as his second home.
Speaking about joining CAFE, Allain said: “I am delighted to become CAFE’s new Ambassador. Their work is crucial in ensuring that disabled people can enjoy live sport alongside their fellow fans, and I hope to be able to support them in our shared goal of total access”.
“Equal treatment and access to football is something I feel very strongly about. Having been involved with the French Deaf National Team in the past, I was excited to be able to help CAFE raise awareness across Europe.”
CAFE Managing Director, Joanna Deagle added, “We are very happy to welcome Bobby as our newest Ambassador. Bobby shares our belief in improving access and inclusion for all and given his experience and passion to support deaf and hard of hearing people in particular within the game, we knew it would be a perfect match”.
“We are excited to work with Bobby, and to see how he can help us influence positive change across the sporting industry”.
Allain joins CAFE ahead of this summer’s UEFA EURO 2020 tournament, which will take place from 11 June to 11 July 2021 across 11 host cities.
CAFE is working closely with UEFA to ensure the competition’s accessibility and will be sharing important access information before and during the tournament.
About CAFE
The Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE), established in 2009, is a charity with a purpose to achieve equal access to football. Our vision is a world where disabled people are a key part of the global sporting landscape, as fans, employees, volunteers and leaders, so that everyone has equal opportunities to contribute in an accessible, inclusive and welcoming environment. We provide industry-leading, innovative guidance for fans and sports organisations. Our 'Access for all' guide is the international blueprint for creating inclusive and accessible experiences at stadiums. All of our work is driven by evidence-based research and user-led feedback, combined with years of expertise in accessibility at sports stadiums.
To keep up to date with all of CAFE’s latest news and EURO 2020 updates, visit our website and follow our accounts on twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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