Edinburgh residents celebrate football fever with charity match and guest visit

Football fever has officially kicked off at three care homes in Edinburgh as residents celebrated the start of the summer of sport with a series of activities.

Care UK’s Cairdean House in Colinton and Murrayside in Corstorphine united for a football match, while Lauder Lodge in Portobello marked the occasion with a special guest visit, joining the nation in celebrating the season.

Residents and team members from Cairdean House and Murrayside laced up their boots for a five-a-side match at Powerleague Sighthill in support of Alzheimer's Scotland – a national charity that provides vital care, information and advocacy for people living with dementia.

The game saw families, friends and residents hold handcrafted signs and banners pitchside as they cheered on their home. Team Murrayside took home the trophy, winning 9-2.

Suzanne Welsh, Home Manager at Murrayside said: “It was fantastic to come together with Cairdean House for such a special occasion. There was a real sense of excitement and community on the day, with residents, families and team members all getting behind the teams. 

“While we’re thrilled with the win, what made it truly meaningful was raising money for Alzheimer’s Scotland, a cause that’s very close to many of our hearts.”

As proud sponsors of Hibernian FC, youth footballer Ellie Thomson from the Next Generation Academy Under-13s team also joined celebrations to speak with residents about their favourite football memories.

Angela Burns, Home Manager at Cairdean House added: “It was a wonderful day and a great opportunity for residents to come together and enjoy the matchday atmosphere. Football has a special way of sparking memories and conversations, and it was lovely to see everyone sharing stories and supporting the teams. As sponsors of Hibernian FC, it was a joy to welcome Ellie too. We may not have won this time, but we thoroughly enjoyed taking part!”

Ross Mackay, Alzheimer Scotland’s Head of Fundraising and Engagement, added: “Alzheimer Scotland is delighted to receive this generous donation. We are very grateful to Care UK and to all the staff and residents of their Edinburgh care homes who took part in special football-themed activities to support us.

“Alzheimer Scotland relies heavily on fundraised money, and every penny raised helps us continue to support our vital network of resource centres, community groups, and our 24-hour Freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000). This donation helps us to Prevent Today, Care Now and Cure Tomorrow. Thank you."

Over at Lauder Lodge, the team welcomed professional Emma Watson from the Scotland women’s national team to talk to residents about football memories and share her top footballing skills.

The football celebrations continued with a summer barbecue that brought together residents, families and the community for a fun-filled day. Everyone enjoyed taking part in football-themed games, including beat the goalie.

Lauder Lodge resident Blanche Cormack said: “Everyone had a wonderful afternoon. Rose the singer was great and really helped make the day special. The food was very well organised, ensuring everyone received exactly what they wanted and there was a great atmosphere with plenty of fun. The staff went above and beyond to make the event enjoyable for everyone.”

The events were part of Care UK’s ‘Goal-den Moments' initiative, which aims to bring generations together and encourage residents to reminisce about cherished football memories with the local community while sharing new experiences.

For more information about Goal-den Moments, please visit careuk.com/goal-den-moments.

Cairdean House, Lauder Lodge and Murrayside have been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and enable residents to lead active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The homes have been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents. There is also plenty of space – both indoors and out – for relaxation and recreation.