Our story

Since our formation in England and Scotland in 2011, we’ve grown our network of Sporting Memories Clubs across the UK, including Wales, to over 150 weekly Clubs from the Shetland Islands in the north to Brighton in the South!

Sporting Memories supports older people who were facing challenges in later life, be it living with dementia or long-term conditions, depression or simply being isolated and lonely, helping to improve their mental and physical wellbeing through regular sessions reflecting on their Sporting Memories and taking part in some light games once more!

Find out more about our journey over the past 15 years below!

History

2011 – 2016

In 2011, Sporting Memories officially began launching Clubs in England and Scotland following a series of successful pilot projects, including delivering Sporting Memories resources and activities in 15 care homes across Leeds. 

In 2012, the number of Sporting Memories Clubs continued to grow alongside additional activities to support the organisation’s work, including Memory Matches – which raised awareness of dementia at a number of professional football league, premier league, and super league clubs by encouraging supporters to share their memories. The Sporting Pink resource was also first published in this year. 

In 2013, The Sporting Memories Foundation was granted charitable status meaning the organisation could expand its work and network of Clubs across England and Scotland. The Replay Memories website was also launched during this year, allowing memories to be shared by Clubs and the wider public.

In 2014, Sporting Memories was recognised for its work by being chosen as “Best National Dementia Friendly Initiative” at the inaugural Dementia Friendly Awards. They also launched projects to support major sporting events taking place in the UK during the year including the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Tour De France Grand Depart.

In 2015, Sporting Memories enhanced its reminiscence and intergenerational work further with the launch of the Replay Memories app and the Spirit Of The Games website, which was aimed at engaging multiple generations into reflecting and remembering sporting moments.

In 2016, a partnership between Sporting Memories and Reuters saw over 90,000 sporting images donated to the organisation, allowing them to be used for reminiscence purposes. Sporting Memories also featured on BBC 5 Live’s series focusing on Dementia and the Power of Sport during this year.

2017 – 2021 

In 2017, The partnership with The BBC continued as a Sporting Memories Club featured in Alan Shearer’s documentary focusing on Dementia and Football. In this year the Sporting Pink also went digital, allowing for the resource to be shared across the network of Clubs easier and as far as Australia. 

In 2018, saw Sporting Memories hit the milestone of having over 100 Clubs operating across the UK. The Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland was granted charitable status and then Prime Minister Theresa May awarded Co-Founder Chris Wilkins MBE the ‘Points of Light’ award in recognition of his service to supporting his local community through Sporting Memories.

In 2019, Sporting Memories launched its first Clubs in Australia as well as hosting its first ever national conference in the UK.

In 2020, Sporting Memories then launched its first ever Clubs in Wales to ensure the organisation had Clubs running across Great Britain. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Sporting Memories had to shift and move its Clubs from in-person to online. This resulted in the first ever Great Get Together hosted during tis year, featuring Clubs from across all countries attending.

In 2021, Sporting Memories celebrated it’s tenth anniversary despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic still ongoing. The organisation was highlighted during The FA Cup of this year as well as gaining further connected Clubs in New Zealand. In April 2021 Co-founder Antony Jameson-Allen exited Sporting Memories.

You can watch this video below produced in 2021 where Patron Guy Mowbray shares our journey over the previous decade. 

2022 to present

In 2022, Sporting Memories celebrated its growing network of Clubs in Wales through ‘Croeso Week’ with a special event bringing together Clubs across south Wales at Rodney Parade, home of Dragons Rugby Club. Sporting Memories in Scotland also held its first ever Volunteer event at Livingston FC, in recognition of all the volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts into supporting over 40 Clubs that happen across the country.

In 2023, Our Co-Founder Chris Wilkins was awarded an MBE for services to Loneliness and supporting those living with dementia the New Year Honours List. Sporting Memories also partnered with sports travel operator sportsbreaks.com to provide some Club members with some unforgettable sporting memories including travelling to France to watch the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

In 2024, Sporting Memories launched its first ever apprenticeship scheme, which would go on to hire three apprentices to support the organisation’s network of Clubs and activities in Essex. Sporting Memories in Scotland also hosted their first ever fundraising night in Dunfermline, where they were able to raise over £1000 towards the Club held at Abbeyview Bowling Club.

In 2025, Sporting Memories teamed up with the 20th International Island Games held in Orkney to celebrate the 40th anniversary since the Games began with a series of reminiscence and historical and intergenerational projects. These activities have ensured that there will be a legacy of sporting memories for the Games as well as sport in Orkney.

In 2026, Sporting Memories has relaunched it’s intergenerational website – entitled Replay Memory Makers – ahead of the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The website provides a series of resources for school and college students to help them engage with older people and to help share memories of sport.