A football loving resident from Wickmeads care home in Tuckton near Christchurch was recently presented with a very special gift from the team at Care South – an AFC Bournemouth signed football shirt mounted display.
Stan played professional football in the 1940s and 1950s for clubs including Brockenhurst FC and Sway FC, with his Sway FC teammates winning the cup in 1947/48.
In 2022, Stan celebrated his 100th birthday with a VIP visit to AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium with Assistant Club Secretary and Club Historian, Neil Vacher. During the Second World War, Stan was lucky enough to meet Dame Vera Lynn whilst serving out in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and exchanged communication with her and her family in later years. Wickmeads Activities Coordinator, Hudson, who helped arrange the 100th birthday celebrations for Stan, was pleased to present him with a mounted display featuring the letters, as well as a newspaper clipping of Dame Vera’s visit to the troops and photos of her, which really brought a tear to his eye.
Residents at Care South’s Alexandra House, Dorset House, Castle Dene, Wickmeads, Fairlawn, Elizabeth House and St Ives House care homes along with clients from Care South at Home Bournemouth, enjoyed a visit in December to AFC Bournemouth’s (AFCB) Vitality Stadium for its annual Christmas coffee morning where Stan was in attendance and enjoyed a morning of tea, coffee, cakes, mince pies and festive entertainment provided by carol singers with plenty of singing and dancing.
Tracey Walker, Home Manager at Wickmeads, said: “What a wonderful few months it has been for Stan. He thoroughly enjoys the visits from the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust team and visiting the AFC Bournemouth Vitality Stadium for various events. Stan was delighted with his gift which meant a lot to him considering his background in the football industry. It has been proudly displayed in his bedroom.”
Resident, Stan at Wickmeads was extremely overwhelmed with the gift on Christmas Day and thanked the staff at the home for their kindness between his tears of happiness.
The ongoing partnership between AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust and Care South began in 2014. The partnership allows residents, home care clients and staff to get involved in a variety of activities, including meeting players, coffee mornings, walking football and visits to the Vitality Stadium.
To see Stan’s trip to the Vitality Stadium and how Care South residents benefit from the partnership with AFC Bournemouth visit www.care-south.co.uk/videos/
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