Euro 2020 legacy boost for dementia battle

Dundee FC’s Community Trust has received a boost to its resources for the Football Memories project in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Scotland. The specially devised European Legends cards will be used in the Football Memories sessions, which support those with dementia, memory loss, poor mental health or social isolation.

As a result of Glasgow being a UEFA EURO 2020 host city, legacy packs were created to provide key resources to more than 250 Football Memories groups across Scotland, including Dundee FC’s Community Trust group.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the European Championship, the 60 special cards, including players and managers who participated in the tournament from 1960-1990, can be used by Football Memories groups to stimulate memories and aid discussions of the international greats of European football.

The deck includes two former Scotland internationals, the 55-times capped Denis Law, who remains the country’s joint-top goalscorer with 30 goals, and Danny McGrain, the Celtic legend who earned 62 caps during his playing career. Other famous names featured include the likes of Johann Cruyff, Michel Platini, Lothar Matthäus and Sir Bobby Charlton.

Dundee FC’s Football Memories group is just one of the clubs to benefit from this legacy project and have used the cards to create a personalised Hall of Fame, select a ‘Legends XI’ team and simply reminisce about a golden age of football.

Formed in 2017, the Dundee group usually meet in person twice a month but due to the pandemic, these meetings have been moved online. The Community Trust provided participants with devices and internet free of charge to ensure participants could still find a way to connect and celebrate the EUROs together.

We've been hearing from, Greg Fenton, Community Manager at Dundee FC’s Community Trust.