News | Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFÉ) 11th annual Week of Action

This weekend sees DAFC again join forces with clubs from over 20 countries across Europe in supporting UEFA`s Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFÉ) in their 11th annual Week of Action.

The purpose of the week is to promote both the health and social benefits of participation in football, to hopeful remove perceived barriers and to encourage inclusion for those with disabilities, whether that is as spectators or participants.

This year the club are marking the event by hosting an exhibition match between Scotlands National Cerebral Palsy team and a Pars Legends Select. The match will take place on Saturday 18th March 2023 at the KDM Group at East End Park during the half time interval of the Pars clash with Edinburgh City FC. As well as promoting the CAFÉ week this also gives the Pars faithful an opportunity to celebrate the success of the countries national team as well as seeing some legends of the club grace East End Park once again as the clubs Disability Access Officer, Graham Ross explains-

`As a club we always strive to put our community at the heart of everything we do therefore every year we embrace CAFÉ`s week of action as it gives us an opportunity to really encourage inclusion within our fanbase and to help promote the opportunities that are out there, not just for our regular supporters but the wider community. Not only do we want to support fans and give them the confidence to attend matches but we are keen that they themselves give sport a try as the benefits are massive, not only in terms of physical health but mental health too.

This year we are absolutely thrilled to welcome our National Cerebral Palsy team along to the KDM at East End Park for what I am sure will be a memorable afternoons football. The National team have gone from strength to strength in the last 10 years and join us on the back of taking part in the World Championships in Sardinia in October where they competed against Italy, South Korea and Chile.

After progressing through the group stages Scotland made it all the way to final where they finished in 2nd place to winners Columbia. This year in May they are on their travels once again where Scotland travel back to Italy to compete in the Euro Championships against some of the best teams in the world such as no1 seeds Ukraine, along with the likes of England Holland Germany and Ireland. Scotland have previously been ranked as highly as 6th in the World which is a phenomenal achievement.

As well as marveling at a successful Scotland team this event also gives us a chance to catch up with some familiar faces from the clubs past who amassed well over 1000 appearances between them over three decades with former stars such as John Watson, Hamish French, Nipper Thomson and Andy Tod rolling back the years to take to the field.

On behalf of the club I have to say a huge thanks to National Head Coach Greig Taylor for agreeing to help us promote this years CAFÉ event. Greig and his team (of whom former Par Graeme Robertson is a member) share our values and are eager to encourage as many of our fans to participate in football as possible having seen at first hand the real difference this makes to, not only their lives but those of their families too. Testament to that is the fact that in November 2022 open training sessions were put on by the coaches for fans of all ages and abilities which were very well received and attended`

The National CP team is made up of players, not only with Cerebral Palsy but who have also suffered from the effects of a stroke or other acquired brain injury. You can follow the team and find out more about how to become involved via Facebook and Twitter.

For those with any forms of disability who are seeking get involved in football e`mail admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or call on 01313171130.

To find out more about how DAFC can assist fans attending matches please contact Graham at Dao@dafc.co.uk and for more information on CAFÉ`s initiative visit www.cafefootball.eu