DJ superstar and lifelong Albion fan Norman Cook was today announced as the patron of Coaching For Hope, the project that uses football as a force for good in West Africa.
Cook, AKA Fatboy Slim, was unveiled to the media at a press conference at the Metropole Hotel this afternoon.
Coaching For Hope is run by overseas development charity International Service with the backing of the Albion.
Brighton coaches, along with coaches from QPR and Hull City, have been to Burkina Faso on three occasions to teach locals new coaching methods, and to promote AIDS awareness to African children.
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Dick Knight and Norman Cook at the launch |
As part of his role, Cook will accompany Albion's coaches on their next mission to Mali in September, and has made it his goal to convince other football clubs to become involved in the project.
Cook said, "As patron I'm hoping to shame all the other clubs in the League into getting involved.
"If we can do it, then so can all the other clubs - even if it's just donating some boots, strips or coaches."
Albion chairman Dick Knight was also at the launch, and admitted he was proud for the Albion to be involved in such a worthwhile initiative.
He added, "Our football club recognised some time ago that the power of football for good is tremendous.
"We've applied that in Sussex and now reach over 14,000 people every year with the community services we provide.
"When we were first approached by Coaching For Hope to help them in Africa, we just leapt at the chance. I'm really proud that we are leading the way with this.
"Some people might think 'why don't we concentrate all our efforts on the team?' The answer is, the team is the focus for everything.
"What we do on the pitch enables us to be a power for good in all sorts of other ways in the community."
