The power of Toon Sporting Memories
NEW NOSTALGIA CARDS CAN HELP THOSE WITH DEMENTIA
IT will be worth tuning into BBC1 TV on Sunday night. The documentary, Alan Shearer: Dementia, football and me, which screens at 10.30pm addresses important issues.
The challenges of older folk living with dementia, depression and loneliness apply right across society, and not just to former footballers.
The Sporting Memories Foundation - the world’s first charity devoted to sports reminiscence - has found that when people facing these issues talk about past sporting events and cultures, it can be beneficial.
It can help give individuals their identity back and reconnect them to the people and generations around them.
Now, the Foundation is launching a brand new nostalgia range featuring the greatest Newcastle United players and managers from the period 1945 to 1985.
Consisting of 48 ‘Replay Cards’, the Toon legends pack will trigger debates on who hasn’t made the final cut, and who would make the final NUFC XI.
Designed to help bring back some magical memories of watching the Magpies, on one side of the card is a full-size action image, and on the reverse some key information and two lines of achievements and interesting facts.
The images come from the extensive picture archive of Newcastle Chronicle and Journal and our parent company, Trinity Mirror.
Integral to the project has been long-time Newcastle United fan, Alan Golightly.
The retired 65-year-old Northumbria Water employee, who lives in the Newcastle area, painstakingly checked the details and suggested improvements to the cards during the production process.
Alan, who attended his first Newcastle United match in 1959 and is a season ticket holder, runs the popular Twitter account ‘Old Toon Fan’. (Give him a follow if you’re on Twitter at @old_toon)
He said: “I work as a volunteer for Sporting Memories at Dementia Care in Brunswick, and the Anchor Trust in Kingston Park.
“It’s very rewarding and reaps positive results, but we would really welcome more volunteers.”
Tony Jameson-Allen is co-founder and director of the award-winning Sporting Memories Foundation.
He said: “We aim to tackle dementia, depression and isolation through the power of sport by bringing older sports fans together in a safe, welcoming environment where they can share memories and make new friends.
“A vital part of this process is developing specialised reminiscence products that use a combination of old images and information about great sporting personalities, teams and events to trigger those memories and encourage conversation.
“Over the past two years, with the support of Comic Relief, the Sporting Memories Foundation has been working in the Newcastle, North Tyneside and Gateshead areas setting-up Sporting Memories groups in libraries, day centres, care homes and NHS Dementia wards.”
The Replay Cards are also a great way for younger fans to learn about the legends of the club with older relatives.
Profits from the sale of the cards will go towards supporting the Foundation’s work with older fans and former players.
You can also get access to an online training suite to learn different ways of using the cards. ■■To buy the cards, visit www. sportingmemoriesnetwork.com/ store
The packs cost £19.99 plus p&p, and the first 100 include limited edition bonus cards of legends Alan Shearer and Paul Gascoigne. ■■If you’re interested in becoming a Sporting Memories volunteer in the North East, visit www. sportingmemoriesnetwork.com