BBC's Match of the Day films AFC Bournemouth's walking football sessions in care homes

BBC’s Match of the Day featured a walking football session run by AFC Bournemouth, as part of the community work it does at Care South’s care homes.

Cherries midfielder and partnership ambassador, Marc Pugh was joined by the head of AFC Bournemouth’s Community Sports Trust, Steve Cuss, Bournemouth chairman, Jeff Mostyn and Care South’s chief executive, Susan Willoughby and property and business development director, Simon Bird for the walking football session held at Elizabeth House in Parkstone. They also chatted to residents about the team’s recent successes in the Premier League.

The partnership which was set up in 2014 enables residents and people receiving home care plus the staff to get involved in a variety of activities including meeting football players, coffee mornings, walking football and visits to the Vitality Stadium.

Steve Cuss, head of AFC Bournemouth’s Community Sports Trust, said: “We had a wonderful afternoon at Elizabeth House celebrating another successful session with Care South residents. Partnering with Care South has been a great way of encouraging the residents to keep active, whether it’s getting involved in a game of walking football or playing football from their armchair, the special activity sessions provide plenty of opportunities for residents to maintain their fitness at their own pace.

“Having BBC One’s Match of the Day feature the partnership has been a perfect opportunity to showcase the power of the game and its ability to inspire local people of all ages and abilities.”

Susan Willoughby, chief executive at Care South, added: “Many of our residents and home care service users in Bournemouth and Poole have been fans of the Club all their lives, along with lots of our staff. In the last year, residents have been able to visit the Vitality Stadium, enjoy many chair football sessions, coffee mornings and some were even lucky enough to watch the Cherries get promoted live at the grounds! We are very proud of what our residents and AFC Bournemouth have achieved already and can’t wait to see what the future our partnership has instore.”

For more information go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35677983

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