'Sport chat helps former footballer with dementia'

Peter Marchi, right, with brother Will at Sporting Memories

A group which gives people the chance to talk about their sporting memories is a "chink of light" for families supporting people with dementia.

Peter Marchi suffered a series of mini strokes in 2022, and was diagnosed with vascular dementia.

The former Coventry City reserve player, who needs full time care, has been going to a Sporting Memories group in the city.

His daughter Lindsay said being able to hear people share stories about sport had brought part of her father "back".

'New memories'

When he’s there "he will laugh along with some of the stories that are being told, some of the jokes, and we've been made to feel so welcome."

Sporting Memories is part of the CV Life and city council’s Coventry Moves project.

It aims to tackle isolation and loneliness among the older generation by reminiscing about the city through the lens of sport in a dementia friendly way, said CV Life.

The meetings are compered by Coventry's former Olympic runner David Moorcroft, and feature a range of sporting names and sports journalists.

“There isn’t much hope or positivity when someone you love has this awful condition," said Mr Marchi's daughter Lindsay.

However, Sporting Memories had been a "chink of light at the end of what’s been a very dark tunnel,” she said.