Football and Dementia United – England vs Wales

On the 9th of October 2025, dreams came true for 22 football fans. We’ve all seen children in the enviable position of walking onto a pitch alongside their footballer counterparts as their mascots. Now, the Football Association (FA) and Alzheimer’s Society have instead chosen 22 individuals living with dementia to be their mascots for the highly anticipated England vs. Wales match. Did you tune in?

The FA has had a charity partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society since August 2021, which is still going strong. Football is arguably the nation’s most beloved sport, so what better way to raise awareness, support, and donations for dementia? The partnership highlighted dementia to a wide audience, reducing stigma, and could even prompt those watching at home to seek support if they’ve spotted signs of dementia within themselves or a loved one.

If you’re the eagle-eyed amongst us, you might have noticed the touching way in which the footballers honoured those with dementia. At the start of the game, the players wore their football shirts as normal, with their names printed on the back. After half time, however, the players returned to the pitch with the shirts on – only this time, without their names printed on the back.

This wasn’t a mistake. In fact, this was the FA’s way of honouring one of dementia’s most common symptoms – memory loss. The football shirts drew attention that forgetting names, places, and memories is a common reality for those living with dementia. This gesture goes a long way in showing that while those with dementia may encounter memory loss in their daily lives, this doesn’t mean they should be ignored or excluded from society.

So, who were the lucky 22 individuals who got to walk alongside the football greats? The 22 mascots were selected as Alzheimer’s Society service users who were nominated by clubs, dementia services and awareness groups. One lucky mascot was Andy Paul, 66, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019. Andy said:

“I didn’t think at my age I’d ever do something like this, and I was absolutely overwhelmed when I heard the news. I’m going to cherish this opportunity; to have my family there watching and to share the moment with them will be incredibly special.

I also hope it will show people that dementia isn’t necessarily what you might expect, and that being diagnosed doesn’t mean you suddenly stop doing the things you love.” (Alzheimer’s Society)

The Newcastle defender, Dan Burn, surprised Andy and another selected fan at St. George’s Park National Football Centre to let him know the good news. Burn said:

“I was a bit nervous when I was told I would be meeting fans with dementia, as I wasn’t sure how to act. But they weren’t what I was expecting at all, and I can honestly say it opened my eyes to some of the assumptions people make about dementia.” (Alzheimer’s Society)

Dan Burn may speak for a lot of us who may not be well acquainted or familiar with dementia and how it affects the daily lives of those living with it. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s very much possible to lead a healthy and fulfilling life with dementia with the right support alongside you. At Helping Hands, we’re committed wholeheartedly to supporting people with dementia to live life to the fullest. Our friendly carers will even accompany you to your favourite football matches and cheer alongside you!

At Helping Hands, we’re experts in dementia care, and we’re proud to provide personalised support to those with dementia, supporting them to live well in the homes and communities they love. If you or a family member needs support or advice when it comes to living with dementia, why not contact us? Our friendly team will point you in the right direction to arrange expert live-in care, visiting care or respite care. With our experienced carers, you’re always in the best of hands – Helping Hands.