Sale care home makes football fan’s dream come true

A resident at a care home in Sale has had his long-held wish fulfilled with a pitch-perfect outing to watch his favourite football team play.  

When the team at Care UK’s Oakfield Croft, on Washway Road, heard about Geoff Stafford’s desire to cheer on his beloved Norwich City from the stands once again, they set about giving him the full fan experience.

Geoff’s love for the Canaries began in childhood, when he regularly attended matches with his dad. Decades later, the 77-year-old’s passion is still going strong and it’s something he shares often with fellow residents and the care home team. 

So much so in fact that his bedroom is a shrine to the Carrow Road club, decked out in yellow and green with themed bedding. And for his birthday, he was even surprised with a Norwich City cake.

On his special day, Geoff was treated to a visit to Stoke City’s bet365 Stadium – where Norwich were playing away – including a private tour of the pitch where he could get up and close to the players.

When speaking of the visit, Geoff said: “It was such a wonderful day – it brought back so many fond memories of going to matches with my dad when I was a boy. He was a huge Norwich fan from King’s Lynn, and that’s where my love for the team began.

‘’Being back in the stands, chanting along with the other fans, felt just like old times. I could almost hear my dad cheering beside me. Getting down on the pitch and seeing the players up close was the highlight for me – I couldn’t stop smiling. I’m so grateful to everyone who made it happen; it really was the best day ever.”

Geoff’s experience was part of Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, in which each care home encourages residents to put forward their dreams, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new.

Roxanne Walsh, Home Manager at Oakfield Croft, said: “We are always looking for ways to make residents’ wishes come true. So, when Geoff expressed his dream to watch Norwich City play, we had to make it a reality.

“It was so exciting to see Geoff walk around the ground with a big smile and see his favourite team play. The look on his face was priceless.”

“A big thank you to Norwich FC and Stoke City for making the day so special. It was a joy to be part of it.’’

Oakfield Croft is designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence, and incorporates plenty of space for hobbies and leisure activities. The building's layout is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities. It boasts facilities including a cinema, café and hair and beauty salon.