Every Friday afternoon starting at the beginning of September 2016, there has been a FC United of Manchester Sporting Memories Group for Manchester United supporters to meet and bring stories of football from the past. These stories go back as far as the Second World War and also discuss the wider social changes at the particular time. The group members also bring photographs and memorabilia of football matches such as the 1968 European Cup Final. The group is open to anyone and it's aim is to address health issues such as dementia, depression, and loneliness and isolation. It is a fun community activity that helps to build connections between people.
In other Sporting Memories groups, the benefits have been to increase confidence and to enable independence, and to be part of a fun, relaxed activity. Volunteers facilitate the groups and there have been training session for volunteers, which have increased their skills. As well as the group based at FC United of Manchester's ground in Broadhurst Park, Moston, there is also a current group in Salford.
Sporting Memories believe in the power of stories to reignite connections between generations and combat the effects of dementia, depression and loneliness in communities. Jason White, Area Project Co-ordinator for Sporting Memories said, “Sporting Memories groups are a great way for people to come together to talk about something that they are immensely passionate about: sport, but don’t always have the opportunity to do so. Last week, we had a very good friend of Nobby Stiles attend and he delighted us all with his own stories, including one about how Nobby got George and his friend into the European Cup Final in 1968. To see the passion and energy in their discussions is a beautiful thing and we are delighted with the way our new group at FC United of Manchester is taking shape.”
