Real stories

‘I loved being a dementia football mascot at Wembley’

I love football, my team is Bristol Rovers. I regularly go to matches but I’ve never been a mascot or even dreamed about it. I thought it was just for small children, not grown-ups!

I go to a dementia group once a month and Jane, who organises it, knows I like football and said, ‘Would you like to go to Wembley?’

I jumped at the chance, but I didn’t know I was going to be a mascot at that stage. I found out about that later.

It was a shock to be asked about being an Alzheimer’s Society mascot, but I wasn’t nervous about it. I was just surprised they’d chosen me. 

Staying active after my dementia diagnosis

I don’t think I have inhibitions any more. 

I don’t worry about things. I just do what I have to do, stay busy and enjoy life. I’ve got dementia but I still want to keep doing stuff.

I would encourage people with dementia to give new things a go. Dementia can open doors.

I go into schools and talk to pupils about dementia – that’s an opportunity I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

And I definitely wouldn’t have had the mascot experience without dementia.

Walking out at Wembley as a mascot

The whole day was so exciting and it was great to share it with my sister Sandra, who was invited too as she’s classed as my dementia carer. We were treated like VIPs all day. 

I will never forget walking onto the pitch and singing the national anthem for as long as I live.

The sound of 78,000 people was absolutely immense. 

I remember lots of young people waving to us as we walked out of the tunnel, I loved that. I didn’t feel any nerves. I was just trying to soak up the atmosphere!

I walked out with England’s goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford, and we were behind Declan Rice. I said to Jordan, ‘Can I hold your hand?’ and he said, ‘Course you can.’

He was absolutely wonderful and really supportive.

He kept putting his hand on my shoulder to make sure I was alright and pointing to where we had to go.

It was great being with the other mascots. We’ve all got dementia but different types and we’re at different stages, but we felt like a little family.

Raising dementia awareness through football

The whole event was a great way to raise awareness.

For people in the crowd and at home to see us walk out, and then for the players in the second half to have nameless shirts, was so powerful and will have started lots of conversations, I’m sure.

I keep looking at photos from the day. I kept my t-shirt and I’ve got a few programmes. Sandra’s kept her pass and she says that she’s been converted to football now!

As well as all the memories, I made a good friend that day, Shelly, one of the other mascots who is a big Norwich City fan. We’re going to stay in contact.

I’ve been recognised by a few people since the day, which is funny. 

It doesn’t bother me that more people know that I have dementia.

I can’t thank everyone involved in organising the day enough.

Everyone was just so warm and wonderful. It was simply an amazing experience.