England and Wales will contest a friendly match at Wembley Stadium on Thursday, October 9. While the two teams are big rivals, they will come together to take part in a powerful and emotional moment of unity on the evening as they raise awareness for those living with dementia.
The FA revealed in June that the fixture would be an Alzhemier’s Society International. They’ve now confirmed that there will be no child mascots for the match. Instead, both sets of players will walk out on to the pitch alongside 22 fans living with dementia.
Football fans with the disease have been randomly selected from across England and Wales and will walk out alongside the teams to deliver the message that it will take a united team to beat it.
One England fan that will join the players on the pitch for the national anthems is Andy Lee. The 66-year-old, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2019, was emotional as Dan Burn gave him the news in person. He said:
“I didn’t think at my age I’d ever do something like this, and I was absolutely overwhelmed when I heard the news. I’m going to cherish this opportunity; to have my family there watching and to share the moment with them will be incredibly special.
“I also hope it will show people that dementia isn’t necessarily what you might expect, and that being diagnosed doesn’t mean you suddenly stop doing the things you love.”
Players will also play without their names on the back of their shirts for the second half at Wembley Stadium. This has been done in previous Alzheimer’s Society Internationals involving England, including against Belgium in March 2024, and is done so to highlight one of dementia’s most common symptoms: memory loss.
Mark Bullingham, CEO of the FA, has conveyed the importance of the partnership. He said:
“Our partnership with Alzheimer’s Society continues to raise vital funds and awareness for those impacted by dementia, and the 22 people living with a diagnosis who will walk out at Wembley Stadium alongside the national teams will ensure this message resonates more than ever.”
While Alex Hyde-Smith, chief marketing officer at Alzheimer’s Society said: “This year’s Alzheimer’s Society International promises to be a historic night, showcasing so many different experiences of dementia and providing a special moment for our mascots and their families.
“We know beating dementia will require the ultimate team effort, and football is the ultimate team game. Players need their teammates, coaching staff and fans to support them, and likewise, people affected by dementia need a team of family, carers and doctors. It will take a society to beat dementia and, as with any successful team, we all have a role to play.”
Both teams will continue their World Cup qualifying campaign following the friendly, with England travelling to Latvia on Tuesday October 14, and Wales hosting Belgium in a crucial Group J clash the day prior.
Wales are currently third in their group but know a win would see them take a huge leap to qualifying for next year’s tournament, which will take place across North America.
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