Memories of Telford football sought for campaign
A group of Shropshire football supporters are appealing for fans of their club to dig out their old programmes, photos and memorabilia as part of a project to raise awareness about dementia.
For more than 100 years supporters have flocked to Wellington Town, Telford United and now AFC Telford United.
The club is now asking fans to donate any items which might invoke memories of past glories to be used by the community to start conversations between friends, family and carers who look after people with dementia.
The project will be launched on March 30 to coincide with the club's Blue Square Bet Premier home game against Nuneaton Town. The match will be sponsored by Peter Reynolds, of Aruba Projects, on behalf of the Alzheimer's Society.
A 'pop-up museum' will be created in the learning centre at the ground where people will be able to put their memorabilia on display.
Rob Corbett, a historian from Dawley and lifelong supporter, said: "Football generates all sorts of passions, emotions and stories.
"The project aims to capture these through our individual and collective memories."
Nigel Neat, who is involved in the project and who has family members who suffer from dementia, said: "There are many people in Telford who have a family member or neighbour with dementia and it can be difficult to know how to help them stave off the disease.
"This project is a great way to provide some simple resources that help people to have conversations that stimulate memories that are locked away in the back of the brain."
Mr Reynolds said: "My company Aruba Projects is proud to be associated with this great initiative and as well as raising funds for the Alzheimer's Society to do research into this terrible disease."
Pete Jackson from AFC Telford United Supporters Trust, which owns the club, said: "We know there are some great stories out there waiting to be told and we are really looking forward to hearing them."
Contact p.jackson@tust.co.uk or tweet using #BucksFM
