September is World Alzheimer’s Month, the annual global campaign to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and dementia. This September, Wembley Park – London’s most exciting new neighbourhood – is celebrating its collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society to mark World Alzheimer’s Month with a special photographic exhibition entitled ‘Football Should Be Unforgettable’.
Paying tribute to the deep-rooted connection between Wembley Park and English football, the collection features illuminated portraits of English football stars including Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw to help raise funds and awareness of Alzheimer’s Society’s work. This has never been more important – dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, and one in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
On the large-format photographs, each footballer reflects on their earliest memories of falling in love with the beautiful game, sharing childhood photographs to feature in the display.
Images of other recipients of Alzheimer’s Society’s support, many who are living with dementia, also shared an item or photograph connected to their most precious memory of the game.
From their most precious memorabilia to treasured family moments, participants in the exhibition share and celebrate their deep-seated and lifelong connection to football. In the case of Peter Flanagan, an avid Aston Villa fan living with dementia, it’s all about community – and about passing the love of football down to future generations. He comments:
“I love walking round Aston or sitting in the Holte End wearing claret and blue and feeling like I’m part of a community. I remember wearing my claret and blue when we went to watch Villa v Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final in 2020.”
The family element of football also plays a big part in Lara Watson’s love of the game. Her later father, Geoff, had dementia. She recalls:
“As a family, we got all got caught up in football, largely thanks to my dad, Geoff. Dad was a boyhood fan of Manchester United, and became their Chief Scout. He carried a little red notebook with all his ideas and phone numbers in; it never left his side.”
‘Football Should Be Unforgettable’ is delivered as part of the popular Wembley Park Art Trail. This outdoor art experience is provided entirely free of charge, with acclaimed local and international artists using the urban landscape as their canvas, delivering a range of thought-provoking, context-specific pieces. Currently featured are works by street artists Suiko and Mr Doodle, multi-disciplinary artist and poet Claire Luxton and the world-famous Jason Bruges Studio.
The ‘Football Should Be Unforgettable’ exhibition follows on the heels of the announcement that Wembley Stadium has become the first national stadium to be dementia friendly. The home of English football made adjustments and improvements in collaboration with its charity partner, Alzheimer’s Society, to ensure that the stadium is accessible to visitors living with dementia.
“World Alzheimer’s Month is an important way to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and a range of associated issues. We are honoured that Alzheimer’s Society has curated such a special collection of treasured photographs and memories from some of football’s most recognised stars and others affected by the disease for display in Wembley Park throughout September.”
Josh McNorton, Cultural Director, Wembley Park
‘Football Should Be Unforgettable’ photography exhibition is free to attend and runs until 30th September 2023. QR codes on the portraits enable viewers to make donations to the Alzheimer’s Society campaign.
