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Rekindle fond football memories every Friday at Broadhurst Park starting on 2nd September.

Rekindle fond football memories every Friday at Broadhurst Park starting on 2nd September. FC United is delighted to be working in partnership with Sporting Memories Network on a ground breaking project for older people living in our local community that all supporters can get involved in, taking place every Friday afternoon at Broadhurst Park.

FC United of Manchester is delighted to be working in partnership with Sporting Memories Network on a ground breaking project for older people living in our local community that all supporters can get involved in, taking place every Friday afternoon at Broadhurst Park.

Tapping in to the rich history and heritage of the beautiful game, the project will help rekindle fond memories of watching or playing football and spark many debates and conversations of great victories, legendary players, magical moments in matches and of the course those occasional moments of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory that every football fan knows only too well!

The sessions will be held:

Every Friday 1.30pm – 3pm
(The first session starts on Friday 2nd September.)
at Broadhurst Park, 310 Lightbowne Road, Manchester, M40 0FJ

FREE to attend, refreshments provided.

The sessions are open to any sports fans over 50 years old (and open to fans of any football team).

Andy Cheshire, Community & Education Manager at FC United, states “We have a very strong community mandate at FC United and are an inclusive club that aims to work with all demographics. As such, we believe that this project is a perfect example of an inclusive community activity, focused on engaging older adults by using sport to recall forgotten memories.???

Jason White, Sporting Memories NetworkArea Project Coordinator (Greater Manchester) recently spoke to Ben Hughes from FCUM Radio to tell us a bit more about the project and the plans for the launch at the Darlington home match on Monday 29th August, which has been designated a ‘Memories Match’.

The interview begins on 41 minutes of the latest ‘This Club is My Club’ Podcast.



Share your sporting memories and memorabilia

One of the ways to trigger memories and conversations is by using other peoples recollections of sport. If you can spare five or ten minutes (or longer!) to jot down or record some of your favourite moments of life as a football fan, you can add them to the project using their free Replay Sporting Memories app which is available via www.sportingmemoriesnetwork.com or email them through to Jason White at Jason.white@sportingmemoriesnetwork.com

Alternatively if you have any videos, DVDs, books, programmes and other sports memorabilia that you would like to share with the group please get in touch with Jason White on 07514 698879 or email Jason.white@sportingmemoriesnetwork.com



Lend a hand

For those of you who fancy putting your knowledge & passion for sport to good use, we’re looking for volunteers (of any age) to come along and help out at the weekly group at Broadhurst Park.

It’s all good fun and light hearted, but can make a real difference to older people in our community. The sessions will be open to any sports fans over 50 and can help those who may be struggling with memory problems & dementia or those who are lonely or isolated to have fun and make a few new friends too.

Do you know someone who would enjoy attending the group?

If so, please get in touch with Jason White on 07514 698879 or email: Jason.white@sportingmemoriesnetwork.com or tweet Sporting Memories Network on @SMN_Manchester.

Or maybe you know someone like Bill.



About Sporting Memories Network

Sporting Memories Network CIC is a social enterprise established to develop reminiscence activities that improve the mental and physical well-being of older people (50+) and those living with dementia through tapping into the passion, knowledge and love of sport.

Their innovative projects are multi-faceted and provide opportunities for inter-generational and cross community projects that utilise the power of sport to unite people, communities and regions and build social capital and mental resilience.

In addition to FC United, other project partners who are involved in helping to roll out this new approach to helping older sports fans across Greater Manchester include Lancashire County Cricket Club; Greater Sport; and Manchester County Football Association. Sporting Memories Network are also working with the National Football Museum as part of the #Memoriesof66 exhibition and project currently taking place in the museum.

The FC United of Manchester group will also link in with the network’s work with the National Football Museum on the #MemoriesOf66 project and exhibition, celebrating the 50th anniversary of England’s World Cup triumph in 1966.



First Posted ~ 15:37 Tue 23 Aug 2016
News ID ~ 6995
Last Updated ~ 16:00 Fri 19 Feb 2021