Carabao Cup trophy makes special appearance to celebrate Memory Café milestone | OneFootball

More than 120 Memory Café regulars were given a chance to see the club’s first domestic trophy in seven decades up close, at a session organised ahead of World Alzheimer’s Month (September).

The Memory Café is hosted within the Moncur Suite at St. James’ Park, reuniting attendees with former players each month. Sessions use memories of goals, games and Newcastle United greats to stimulate conversation amongst individuals living with Dementia and Alzheimer's.

August’s guest speaker Shola Ameobi rolled back the years while delving back into some of his 397 appearances for the club. The former Magpies forward entertained the crowd with stories of Sir Bobby Robson, former teammates and his famous goals in Tyne-Wear derbies.

Speaking at the Memory Cafe, Ameobi commented: “The Memory Café is a truly inspiring initiative, and reaching over 5,000 people is an incredible milestone. The last time I visited, there were around 30 attendees, so it’s genuinely heartwarming to see how it’s grown to support so many individuals and their families.

“Newcastle United means everything to its supporters - and the supporters mean everything to the club. It’s always a privilege to come along and be part of something that uses the power of football to make a meaningful impact in our community. It’s a powerful reminder that the influence of this club spans far beyond 90 minutes of football on the pitch.”

Welcoming its 5000th visitor, the Memory Café has firmly cemented its place as the North East’s biggest football drop-in session having grown substantially since being established in 2019.

Each session supports individuals living with Dementia and Alzheimer's - along with their families - by combining football with referrals for medical assistance.

Hosted on the last Thursday of each month, sessions and are free to attend. People can register interest by contacting the club on unitedasone@nufc.co.uk or telephone via 0191 201 8407.

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Complementing the Memory Café, Newcastle United Foundation also supports individuals living with dementia through its Dementia Walking Football programme. Sessions are hosted at NUCASTLE (1-2.30pm) every Wednesday, offering footballers of all abilities a chance to take part in 60 minutes of physical exercise, followed by an opportunity to socialise with teammates.

Additional information and registration details can be found here.