About us CAFE team Staff Joanna DeagleManaging Director Having originally joined CAFE in November 2014, Joanna was appointed as Managing Director two years later. Joanna’s role at CAFE includes overseeing the growth and development of the organisation, working closely with UEFA and other external stakeholders to deliver CAFE’s works across Europe and beyond. Joanna has a proven track record of working with football’s governing bodies to ensure that major tournaments and finals are accessible, inclusive and welcoming for a range of disabled spectators. Under Joanna’s stewardship, CAFE has overseen the organisation’s largest International Conference in Bilbao, the development of the Disability Access Officer role, and the most accessible FIFA World Cup to date. Prior to joining CAFE, Joanna worked and volunteered for a number of organisations such as Emmaüs France, and their partner organisation in Burkina Faso, the Brazilian Paralympic Team and ReachOut. Joanna also sits as an observer on the UEFA Football and Social Responsibility Committee, and is a Trustee of Level Playing Field. Follow Joanna on LinkedIn. Michael RiceMedia and Communications Manager Michael joined CAFE in August 2011, and became the organisation’s first Media and Communications Manager in early 2015. Throughout his time at CAFE Michael has managed CAFE’s website, social networks and news stories, helping to promote the CAFE message of Total Football #TotalAccess far and wide. Michael also manages CAFE’s Audio-descriptive Commentary Network and training programme, and the ever-growing CAFE Week of Action – celebrated in a record 35 countries in 2019. As the current longest serving member of the CAFE team, Michael has supported on planning and hosting International Conferences, the creation of publications such as the Disability Access Officer handbook, and promoting CAFE’s wider works around major tournaments and Finals. He also works with partners and external stakeholders on sharing and promoting news stories, events and activities. Michael has previous experience working with an English Premier League academy, and is a former Director of a non-league football club. Follow Michael on LinkedIn. Amy WilsonFans Liaison, Access and Administration Officer Amy joined CAFE in February 2016 as our Administration and Project Support Officer, before taking on her current role later that year. As part of her role, Amy leads on our fan-based projects, including our disabled fans surveys and matchday feedback. Amy is often the first point of contact with disabled fans, and works with supporters on projects such as #MyMatchday. Amy has carried out a number of stadium access appraisals across Europe, making recommendations to stadiums, clubs and national associations on how they can improve access. She is also the main point of contact for disabled fans and disabled supporters associations to share their matchday experiences, or to seek access information at a particular stadium. Ahead of each season's UEFA competition Finals, Amy prepares our Disabled Spectators' Guides for host venues and cities. Amy is also supporting UEFA with preparations for UEFA EURO 2020. Amy is a long-standing member of an English Premier League club's DSA, and has vast experience of attending live matches across Europe as a disabled fan. Follow Amy on LinkedIn. Isobel RobinsResearch Officer Isobel joined the CAFE team in June 2019 as a Research Intern, and became our full-time Research Officer in October 2019. Isobel's role includes researching best practice in technical accessibility requirements, including inclusive employment regulations, and leading on our research into inclusive solutions for non-visibly disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. She also carries out research into disability terminology and statistics to better inform our works, and advises on commonly accepted and used proofs of disability from across the world. Isobel graduated from the University of Manchester with a first-class degree in 2019, and is an avid rugby union player and fan. Before joining CAFE, Isobel has previously worked as a coach and support worker for differently disabled people. She also has experience working on research projects about access to healthcare, refugees, female sexuality in sports, and discrimination. Follow Isobel on LinkedIn. Merve KüçükoğluInternational Sports Event Assistant Merve joined CAFE in July 2022 as an International Sports Event Assistant, primarily focusing on our works ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Merve is a graduate of Koc University in Turkey, and has completed a Master’s degree on Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology at King’s College London. Prior to joining CAFE, Merve has worked for the Besiktas Football Academy as an assistant sport psychologist and was in charge of organisations at the Besiktas Football Schools. She has also worked for mental health charities, working to create wider awareness of mental health issues faced by parents. In her role at CAFE, Merve has focused largely on verifying proofs of eligibility submitted in support of accessibility ticket applications for major tournaments. She has also supported with identifying differing proofs of disability commonly accepted across the globe. Follow Merve on LinkedIn. Dagan RobertsInternational Sports Event Assistant Dagan joined CAFE in July 2022 as an International Sports Event Assistant, primarily focusing on our works ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Dagan previously worked as a Football Performance Analyst for OPTA Sports, as well as a physical education learning support assistant in a school. In his role, Dagan has focused largely on varying proofs of eligibility submitted in support of accessibility ticket applications for major tournaments. He has also supported with collating information and creating disabled fans guides for major events, and liaising with accessibility monitors for the UEFA Super Cup in Helsinki. A keen football fan, Dagan has travelled nationally and internationally following his side, including witnessing UEFA Champions League Final and FIFA Club World Cup victories. Dagan has also experienced major tournaments including the 2010 FIFA World Cup and both the 2016 and 2020 UEFA European Championships, bringing a vast experience of a disabled fan’s matchday experiences to the team. Follow Dagan on LinkedIn.