Derry City and SEEDS to take supporters ‘Down Memory Lane’
Derry City Football Club will host a 'Down Memory Lane' event in partnership with local community organisation Health for Life's SEEDS project at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Thursday, September 17.
‘Down Memory Lane’ will bring together a special exhibition exploring the club’s history through photos and video, old match shirts and news reports from over the decades, helping to bring back memories and experiences from different times in people’s lives.
The SEEDS project works with people living with dementia and their families across the city and the first session of the Down Memory Lane event - from 11am to 1pm - will be open for members of that group, before opening to the public at 2pm.
Sinead Devine, SEEDS Co-Ordinator at Health for Life, said football can be a powerful way of opening up memories and conversations.
She said: “Football is part of the lives of so many people in this city and can hold very strong memories for them.
“It might be a particular player or shirt, a trophy win, who you watched football with or even what was happening in your own life at that time.
“For people living with dementia, those memories and that sense of connection can be really important. Something familiar can open up a conversation, bring people together and help them reconnect with different times in their lives.
“Down Memory Lane is about creating the space for those conversations and giving people living with dementia a really enjoyable day out at the Brandywell stadium.
“We’re delighted that SEEDS and Derry City are working together on the event to create a positive experience for people living with dementia and their families.”
The second part of the event - starting at 2pm - will be open to all, although admission is by (free) ticket only via www.derrycityfc.net. Tickets are limited to 2 per person on a first come, first served basis.
The exhibition will include a selection of Derry City kits since the club returned to League of Ireland football in 1985, alongside archive video, photographs and newspaper coverage documenting the years since.
Guest speakers and familiar faces will also take part on the day, sharing memories from different aspects of the club’s history.
Derry City FC Football Social Responsibility Officer Lawrence Moore said the club was delighted to host this community-based event.
He said: “There is such an important history around Derry City and the Brandywell and so many people across the city have their own memories connected to the club.
"Our journey into League of Ireland football is a really important part of that history, but there have been so many players, matches and moments, before and after, that people will immediately recognise.
“We’ll have old footage, photographs and newspaper reports to look through, as well as a display of the club’s kits from down the years, alongside other memorabilia.
“We hope it gives people the chance to enjoy the history, have a chat, share memories and maybe even stir up some wonderful stories from those early days.
“We’re delighted to be working with Health for Life and SEEDS and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.”
For information on the special morning session, please contact Health for Life at the Healthy Living Centre, Central Drive, Creggan.