COVENTRY City fans in the elderly community were welcomed to the Building Society Arena on Monday for a free befriending event.
The two hour event featured a presentation about the club’s time at Highfield Road, Coventry’s home ground between 1899 and 2005.
Fans were able to meet legends from the club’s past, including 1987 FA Cup winner Dave Bennett and former full back Dietmar Bruck who played for Coventry for nine years in the 1960s.
And fans were in for a surprise as another former player Ken Brown arrived with one of the guests.
Jimmy Hill’s sister-in-law arrived with photographs, memories and memorabilia of the former Match of the Day presenter.
Around 30 people turned up to enjoy meeting new friends with their loved ones also invited to come along.
One man described the day as ‘one of the best he had had for years’ after being allowed to follow his dream of going out onto the pitch.
The befriending morning was aimed at fans at the highest risk of isolation.
Coventry Building Society Community Officer Emma Brodie said: “It was a very emotional day and you could tell that for many of the fans who had turned up it was a magical day for them.
“A wide variety of people attended including those living in care homes and people living with dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
“A lot of people arrived alone, so it was a lovely chance for them to meet their fellow Coventry fans.
“We want events like this to act as a safe space for all of our elderly community.”
Coventry Building Society is holding events for the city’s elderly community throughout the year.
For more information follow its social media accounts or call Emma Brodie on 07790 880614.
