Half Acre House Residential Home provides penalty shoot-out ahead of England game

Date published: 18 June 2021

Rochdale AFC Military Veterans visited Half Acre House for a penalty shoot-out on Sunday 13 June, ahead of England's Euro 2020 fixture against Scotland.

The veterans hosted a football themed morning at the residential care home, located off Roch Valley Way, where they donated the use of their football kits, nets and footballs for the residents use.

The donation meant that residents were able to play football and take part in a penalty shoot-out, with assistance from the care home staff.

Lauren Marie, a senior care assistant at Half Acre House, said: ““We want to show that fun has no age limit!

"We’ve worked as a community along with Rochdale AFC Military Veterans to provide a penalty shoot-out to get us in the spirit for England playing.

“We arranged the shoot-out with the veterans team and got our football kits and football shirts on for the day. It was the most rewarding feeling seeing the residents so happy!

“Residents that struggle with mobility even got up and joined in.”

Lauren continued: “We have been hosting so many activities throughout this awful pandemic to try and make our residents as happy as possible.

“This weekend we’ve had an ice cream van visit, which they all loved."

Operated by Rochdale AFC Community Trust, the Military Veterans programme aims to support former services personnel live a happy, fuller life after leaving the military.

Although the Trust offers a wide range of activities and sessions for veterans, one of the scheme’s key elements is the Rochdale AFC Military Veterans team established in February 2020 by Adam Trennery, a former Royal Navy Weapons Engineer.