When Harry Kane’s Words Became Braille

Some collaborations are exciting.

Others redefine what you believe is possible.

This project did exactly that.

When The Football Association and EE approached me to create a bespoke artwork celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EE Disability FA Cup, I knew this wasn’t just another commission. It was an opportunity to become part of the story of English football.

The brief was beautifully simple: create a tactile artwork inspired by the official EE Disability FA Cup identity. My response was a stylised interpretation of the iconic cup, recreated entirely through braille.

But the most powerful part of this piece wasn’t created by me.

It was created by England captain Harry Kane.

Hidden within the artwork are Harry’s words of encouragement to every player stepping onto the pitch:

“Today, the home of English football is your stage. Play with pride. Play with passion. Most of all, play with belief in yourself and in each other…” (www.thefa.com)

For me, this commission was about much more than translating words into braille.

It was about translating inspiration into accessibility.

For the first time, Harry Kane’s message could be experienced not only by reading it with your eyes, but by feeling it with your fingertips. Blind and sighted audiences were invited to experience the same message in different ways, with a braille key allowing everyone to decode the artwork together. (www.thefa.com)

As someone who was told years ago that losing my sight would turn my career into a hobby, standing alongside a commission created for the FA, supported by EE, and carrying the words of England’s captain was almost impossible to comprehend.

This wasn’t simply a football artwork.

It was a statement that accessibility deserves a place at the heart of our biggest sporting occasions.

Art became the bridge.

Braille became the language.

Football became the connection.

Looking back, I realise something profound.

I may have created the dots.

But Harry Kane supplied the words.

The FA provided the stage.

EE championed inclusion.

Together, we connected them all.

And that’s exactly what Connecting Dots is all about.