A new season of the ‘Reminiscence Workshops through Football’, developed by FEAFV and FUNDACIÓN LALIGA, begins

October begins with a new edition of the ‘Reminiscence Workshops through Football’ project, which the Spanish Federation of Veteran Footballers' Associations (FEAFV) and FUNDACIÓN LALIGA have been developing together for more than a year.

After involving more than 700 people in its first season, based on stimulating and recovering memories associated with childhood, youth, and adulthood through football for elderly individuals, with or without cognitive impairment, brain injury, or mental health issues, they will run in 40 new locations over the next nine months.

The first cycle of workshops will be spread over four months, during which 480 training hours with senior citizens will take place. These will alternate educational events in nursing homes with various activities coordinated with the football clubs in each city, such as visits to stadiums, first-team training sessions, or the clubs’ museums. Organisers and participants from the previous edition reported all these activities very positively, indicating that they experienced highly enriching moments with strong emotional impact.

The cities where the workshops will be held in the first four months of the season are: Málaga, Durango, Vigo, Arrasate-Mondragón, Bilbao, Gijón, Azpeitia, Alcobendas, Valladolid, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Zaragoza, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Barcelona, A Coruña, Logroño, Albacete, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Elche. And they will be conducted in collaboration of the veterans' associations of Málaga CF, Athletic Club, RC Celta, Real Sociedad, Real Sporting de Gijón, Atlético de Madrid, Real Valladolid, UD Las Palmas, Real Zaragoza, Rayo Vallecano, Valencia CF, Hércules CF, FC Barcelona, RC Deportivo, CD Logroñés, Albacete Balompié, CD Tenerife, and Elche CF.

FEAFV President Juan Mari Zorriqueta welcomed this new edition of the workshops: “We’re beginning the development of a new agreement with FUNDACION LALIGA and appreciate their collaboration and enthusiasm last season and willingness to accompany us for another year in the effort to help those who need us. Through these 40 new workshops to be implemented over the new season, we aim to strengthen the execution structure of the FEAFV Workshops and ensure that our group of ‘Friends Forever’ continue to reach many more people”.

In turn, Olga de la Fuente, Director of FUNDACIÓN LALIGA, stated that “it’s an honour to contribute to improving the quality of life of our senior citizens through a sport that arouses so much passion and unites so many people. Seeing how participants get excited, recall memories, and enjoy the activities fills us with satisfaction and motivates us to continue with this very special project”.

The ‘Reminiscence Workshops through Football’ offer multiple benefits for the memory of older people. By reliving historical and personal moments related to football, participants activate areas of the brain that manage long-term memory, which helps keep their cognitive functions active and healthy. Social interaction and sharing experiences with other fans also contribute to improving the ability to remember, while creating an emotional and friendly environment that strengthens emotional well-being. These workshops not only allow the elderly to recall their past with joy but also enhance their mental agility and ability to connect past events with the present.