A number of men and women who attend and participate in the Football Memories Project run by the Hibernian Historical Trust are in for a special treat next week.
The project caters for people in the early stages of dementia and the group meet on the first Monday of each month within the West Stand at Easter Road Stadium.
The national project was launched five years ago and trains volunteers to spend time with people with dementia who have an interest in football, talking about teams and matches from the past and working with images and memorabilia to stimulate memories.
On Monday morning, a bus, organised by the Trust, will leave Easter Road and travel to the National Stadium at Hampden Park where thousands of objects are on display in the Scottish Football Museum tracing the history of football in Scotland as well as film footage highlighting some of the most memorable games and some of the great players.
The group will be able to sit in what was the original dressing room from the old Hampden and listen to Craig Brown addressing his Scotland team, enter through one of the old turnstiles and watch Archie Gemmill score one of the top ten World Cup goals of all time against Holland.
They will also see original Scottish Cup, the world’s oldest national trophy and visit the Scottish Football Hall of Fame which features the greatest players this country has ever produced, including the Hibs’ Famous Five, Pat Stanton, Denis Law, Jim Baxter, Kenny Dalglish.
The Museum was also the first in Glasgow to be awarded the prestigious Five Star stamp of approval from VisitScotland making it one of the top visitor attractions in Scotland.
Volunteer John Hislop told the Edinburgh Reporter: “Up to twenty five people regularly come to our meetings where they are shown specially prepared cards with photographs of football players from the fifties onwards. These photographs stimulate conversation and members are encouraged to share their memories.
“The club kindly allows us to use the facilities in the Gallery, Captain’s Lounge and Players’ Lounge and provide refreshments.
“In addition, the Historical Trust has numerous articles which are of interest to everyone such as old jerseys, boots, medals and trophies. A few weeks ago everyone who wanted got their photograph taken with the Skol Cup.
“We also have the capability to show old videos of games from the past and sometimes we pick our greatest ever Hibs team or Scotland team which usually generates a lively discussion amongst the group.
“Sometimes we have a quiz and occasionally a former player will turn up and and answer questions about his career.
“New members are also given a tour of the stadium, including the boardroom, the home and away dressing rooms and a walk down the tunnel to pitch side.
“Most of those who attend are Hibs’ fans but anyone is welcome and we have St Johnstone fans, Rangers fans and even the occasional Hearts fans attending.
“Our only stipulation is that our members must be able to make their own way to the stadium either on their own or with the help or a relative or friend as we are unable to provide transport although I would like to thank Jim Murray who has his own private hire cab and kindly agrees to give a lift home to a couple who attend without payment.”
The project is a partnership between Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Football Museum, and is supported by the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and BUPA Care Homes.
Anyone interested in joining the group at the Memories Meetings should email curator@hibshistoricaltrust.org.uk for further details.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
