St Ives House residents enjoy winning day of football and friendship at Ringwood Community Hub
Care home residents enjoyed a morning of sport, friendship and fun after joining a walking football session at Ringwood Community Hub.
Residents from St Ives House, on Horton Road, were invited to watch and join in with AFC Bournemouth’s Women’s Walking Football team as they took to the pitch at the facility on Long Lane. Several residents from the care home, which is run by not-for-profit care provider, Care South, embraced the opportunity to get involved with one resident, John, scoring two goals during the match.
Afterwards everyone headed inside the hub for some fun seated football games led by the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust team. The morning was rounded off with a buffet lunch and cream tea which enabled the residents to sit down for a chat with some of the walking football team players.
John, who lives in St Ives House, said: “It was brilliant. It has been many years since I last played football in the Army. It was the first time I had been to Ringwood Community Hub and I scored two goals. They were a great team. It was excellent.”
Pauline, who also lives in the home, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I loved the friendship and everybody was friendly. It was really nice.”
Care South has enjoyed a partnership with AFC Bournemouth for the past 11 years which sees the Community Sports Trust host weekly seated football sessions in the Dorset-based care homes. The residents also get the chance to meet the players and have VIP stadium visits.
Steve Cuss, Head of AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust, said: “It was our pleasure to welcome the St Ives House residents to join one of our walking football sessions. It was wonderful to see John get back on the pitch and then all of the residents enjoy the games afterwards. We like to help them to stay active while having fun, which is good for their health and wellbeing.”
Natalie Graham, Deputy Manager at St Ives House, said: “Our residents had a fantastic time meeting the AFC Bournemouth Women’s Walking Football team and got very competitive during the fun games, which paid off as they won against the other two teams. We are so grateful to Steve and the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust team for inviting our residents to be part of such a lovely event. They are already looking forward to defending their winning title in the new year.”
