A Blackburn Rovers fan with dementia has praised walking football sessions being hosted by the club.

Dementia Action Week is the Alzheimer’s Society’s biggest and longest running awareness campaign.

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust run projects to help people with dementia and offer support to them and their families, including the charity’s Rehabilitation Walking Football programme.

Rovers supporter Glyn has been regularly attending the Rehabilitation Walking Football sessions since the programme’s inception in 2022.

He said: “I enjoy the sessions so much, they are excellent; I am probably Blackburn Rovers’ biggest fan!

“I love getting the exercise and it is nice to have a chat with everyone. I have a great laugh with the other players and everyone else involved.

“The sessions are so much fun, especially the match we play at the end.”

Glyn is a resident at Haydock Nursing Home in Blackburn and receives 24-hour support from their fantastic team, who accompany him to the Rehabilitation Walking Football sessions.

Rehabilitation Walking Football lead for the Community Trust, Chris McGrail, said: “It has been amazing to see Glyn get more confident as the Rehabilitation Walking Football sessions have progressed.

“Glyn started with us in October 2022 where he was slow to get going but always got involved, nonetheless. Over the past few weeks Glyn has not only completed the full one-hour sessions but he's also been accessed our Remember the Rovers session.

“None of this would be possible without the superb staff at Haydock Nursing Home.

“They are amazing people as the residents absolutely love coming down and the rest of the participants love getting them involved. We look forward to helping Glyn enjoy more sessions in the future.”

Due to his dementia Glyn’s memories are eroded, and he is unable to manage his day to day living, so needs 24-hour support from the staff at Haydock Nursing Home.

As a result of this, Glyn lost his confidence and can be withdrawn from all social situations.

However, every Monday morning, Glyn is ready to go and will sit in the lounge at Haydock Nursing Home ready to go wearing his Rovers shirt, hat, and scarf, regardless of the weather.

Manager at Haydock Nursing Home, John-lee Woodhead, said: “Glyn is a perfect example of the benefit Blackburn Rovers Community sessions can have on local people.

“He is Blackburn born and bred and visiting Ewood Park confirms his identity. You can see how the routine helps his memory and how much he enjoys being part of the group.

“Glyn treasures the Rovers kit he is given, to a point whereby it may need surgically removing!

“Speaking on behalf of Haydock Nursing Home I can only thank Blackburn Rovers Community Trust for inviting our residents to be part of all their initiatives and welcome many more opportunities in the future.”