A 91-year-old Weymouth football fan has fulfilled a long-held with with a pitch-perfect outing
Weymouth FC Football Events Leisure People Sport Weymouth A 91-year-old Weymouth football fan has fulfilled a long-held dream of watching a live match. When the team at Care UK’s Anning House, on Cross Road, heard that football fan David Allen had never been able to experience a match in person, they set to work. David had always dreamt of being in the stands, however, living alone, he didn’t want to go to a match on his own. The 91-year-old’s passion for football still burns strong and is a topic he often talks about with fellow residents and the care home team. On his special trip, David and his friends were treated to front-row seats by Weymouth FC at the Bob Lucas Stadium to watch the club take on Chertsey Town, which he enjoyed with a cold beer. To make the day even more unforgettable, the match finished with the home team winning 5-1 thanks to hat-trick from striker Brandon Goodship and goals from Euan Pollock and Calvin Brooks. 91-year-old football fan David Allen enjoying his first game watching Weymouth (Image: Supplied) David said: “It was absolutely fantastic to be there and to watch the match from such a close standpoint. It was better than I could have imagined.” David’s experience was made possible thanks to Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, which encourages residents to suggest ideas for new hobbies they’d like to try, places they’d like to visit or even activities linked to past careers. From skiing trips to a fish and chip supper, the programme is designed to help residents lead fulfilling lives. Heidi Williams, Home Manager at Anning House, said: “We are always looking for ways to make residents’ wishes come true, so when David expressed his desire to attend his first-ever football match, we knew we had to make it a reality. “Football is a language that translates across generations and countries, and seeing the smile on David’s face throughout the trip was truly priceless. It was a special day filled with joy and excitement – he couldn’t stop talking about it for the rest of the week. “A big thank you to the club for helping to facilitate this bucket list wish and the wonderful team at Anning House for making the day so memorable. It was fantastic to be part of it.” Anning House provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The home incorporates space for leisure activities and hobbies, and has its own cinema, hair and beauty salon and pub.
