Whether you’re a fan of the Bully Wee, the Hi-Hi, a Celt or a Gers supporter, you are being invited to share your stories at a Sporting Memories Club that’s recently started up in Cambuslang.
Launched by Clyde FC Community Foundation, it is aimed mainly at people over 50 years of age, who live locally and want to share their stories of football and other sports.
So you don’t have to be a Clyde fan, or follow Cambuslang Rangers, or Rutherglen Glencairn to come along and reminisce.
It’s a great way of making new friendships with people who live in the community while enjoying fascinating conversations about sport and local history.
The Cambuslang group is open to anyone who wants to share their own stories about sport and the history of the area with others, or you may just want to go long and listen.
Clyde FC historian Gordon Sydney, who is known as Syd, is one of those who attends and he can tell you a thing or two about the club over the decades.
He said: “The whole sporting memories concept in Scotland was started by Falkirk FC historian, Michael White. He started it for people with dementia. And as far as I’m aware there are groups in Portugal and Brazil off the back of that.
“People then looked around and thought well, there’s loads of older guys out there who don’t get out that much, but they’re as sharp as a tack but maybe don’t have social circle of friends so it would be good for them too.
“It’s not just about memories of Clyde, or sporting memories, it’s about social memories as well – going ‘doon the water’ in the 50s or 60s for your holiday, we can sit and talk about things like that as well. Or we can talk about music.
“It’s an open invite to people, we look for them to be over-50 but don’t worry if you’re 48-and-a-half, we won’t be turning you away at the door.”
Alan White, charity development manager at Clyde FC Community Foundation, has been instrumental in establishing the group along with Donna Mackey, partnership manager, Sporting Memories.
“As Clyde FC approaches its 150th anniversary, we have a wealth of memories to reflect on, making this a great time for us to support Sporting Memories in creating our club at Eastfield Community Centre,” said Alan.
“Our Clyde FC Community Foundation aims to tackle isolation and while for some this is lacing up their boots and getting on a sports pitch, for others it is getting out the house to talk about their memories of others on the sports pitch over the years!
“We are delighted to be running this club and hope that it will continue to expand as we include other activities in the weeks and months to come.”
Donna added: “This is an exciting time for older sports fans and supporters of Clyde as we invite them to attend our Sporting Memories club at the fantastic Eastfield Community Centre, Cambuslang; a facility already offering a range of groups and classes for all ages.
“We are grateful for the support of the team at Clyde FC Community Foundation in making this happen, adding to our brilliant community network of clubs and partners across Scotland.
“Everyone is welcome to attend with a warm and friendly welcome from our great team of volunteers.”
The group meets at Eastfield Community Centre, Dukes Road, Cambuslang, G72 7BA, every Friday from 10am to 11.30am.
It is free to attend and tea, coffee and biscuits are also provided free of charge.
If you or someone you know are interested in attending then simply turn up on Fridays, or contact the Foundation’s Charity Development Manager Alan White on [email protected]
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