A care home resident who was a professional footballer in the 1940s and 1950s is now the proud owner of an AFC Bournemouth signed football shirt mounted display.

Stan who played for clubs including Brockenhurst FC and Sway FC and who with his Sway FC teammates won the cup in 1947/48was presented with the display from the team at Care South’s Wickmeads Care Home near Tuckton.

In 2022, Stan celebrated his 100th birthday with a VIP visit to AFC Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium with assistant club secretary and club historian, Neil Vacher.

During the Second World War, Stan met Dame Vera Lynn whilst serving in Myanmar (formerly Burma) and exchanged communication with her and her family in later years.

Wickmeads activities coordinator, Hudson, who helped arrange the 100th birthday celebrations for Stan, presented him with a mounted display featuring the letters, as well as a newspaper clipping of Dame Vera’s visit to the troops and photos of her, which really brought a tear to his eye.

Residents at Care South’s Alexandra House, Dorset House, Castle Dene, Wickmeads, Fairlawn, Elizabeth House and St Ives House care homes along with clients from Care South at Home Bournemouth, enjoyed a visit in December to AFC Bournemouth’s (AFCB) Vitality Stadium for its annual Christmas coffee morning where Stan

enjoyed a morning of tea, coffee, cakes, mince pies and festive entertainment provided by carol singers with plenty of singing and dancing.

Tracey Walker, home manager at Wickmeads, said: “What a wonderful few months it has been for Stan. He thoroughly enjoys the visits from the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust team and visiting the AFC Bournemouth Vitality Stadium for various events. Stan was delighted with his gift which meant a lot to him considering his background in the football industry. It has been proudly displayed in his bedroom.”

The ongoing partnership between AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust and Care South began in 2014. The partnership allows residents, home care clients and staff to get involved in a variety of activities, including meeting players, coffee mornings, walking football and visits to the Vitality Stadium.