Solihull care home residents welcome community for matchday magic

Football fever has officially kicked off at a care home in Solihull as residents teamed up with friends, family and neighbours for an afternoon of sporting fun. 

Care UK’s Blossomfield Grange, on Worcester Way off Dog Kennel Lane, welcomed the local community to take part in a day of football festivities and join the nation in celebrating the huge summer of sport. 

Residents and guests tried their luck during penalty shoot-outs and seated football. John Ayres came out on top after scoring in a penalty shoot-out. 

Everyone then shared their most cherished football memories and traditions while listening to football anthems. 

To keep energy levels up, the home’s Head Chef, Adrien Henard, prepared a special barbecue that included favourites like burgers and hot dogs.

Resident Linda Jones said: “I had a wonderful afternoon. It brought back many memories. I remember attending a friend’s wedding on the day of the 1966 World Cup Final and having to try to get through the huge crowds in central London!”

The event was 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.

Melissa Hunter, Home Manager at Blossomfield Grange, said: “We had a ball opening our doors to the community for a day of football-themed fun!

“For many residents, football is more than just the beautiful game – it represents a lifetime of treasured memories and traditions. This event allowed us to honour these special moments and bring them to life once again.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to bring the local community together for a day of matchday magic as they participated in seated football and penalty shootouts. It was truly heartwarming to watch residents reminisce and share their favourite football stories from years gone by.

“We’d like to extend a huge thank you to the people of Solihull for joining us and making this a day to remember. With spirits high, everyone involved proved they still have plenty of goal-den skills to show off!”

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

Blossomfield Grange provides high-quality residential, dementia and short-term respite care, with the home incorporating plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies. The building has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents.