Past and present Football players from Tottenham FC support elderly people with dementia

Current Tottenham FC midfielder Harry Winks and former captain Gary Mabbutt attended a Sporting Memories event at Bridgewood House on Thursday (January 30), a care home located around the corner from the Club’s Training Centre in Enfield.

Sporting Memories is a programme run in partnership with The Sporting Memories Foundation – a national charity that helps tackle dementia, depression and loneliness

It uses sport-themed activities and games to help those suffering from dementia or social isolation to recall memories and connect with their past.

During the workshop, Mabutt and Winks spent time looking through pieces of Spurs memorabilia with care home residents.

They also exchanged personal memories of their best moments in Spurs and wider sporting history.

As part of the session, staff from the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation facilitated a series of football-themed games, designed to help participants try to recall memories of watching or playing football.

Winks, who joined the Spurs Academy aged six and grew up a Spurs fan, said: “It has been a pleasure spending time with the residents at what can be a difficult time of year, especially for those suffering from loneliness.

“The Spurs fans in the room shared some interesting memories from watching the Club growing up and many of them still watch us today. It was great for me to share some of my own experiences too and tell them about playing in the new stadium.”

Mabbutt, whose parents were both diagnosed with dementia, added: “With my mum and dad, I experienced first-hand the importance of keeping the brain active and staying connected to the people around you.

“Sport is a powerful tool for bringing people together and stirring positive feelings that may otherwise remain hidden away. What starts with a discussion about an old match programme can end in someone remembering the first time they visited a football ground. This is what makes the project so special.”