WITH Middlesbrough FC hoping to be on the verge of a new era a former player has taken a group of supporters on a special tour of their ground.

Bernie Slaven regaled a group of Teesside men who are living with dementia with stories of the club's footballing highlights.

As Wembley fever gripped the club, the former striker, who now works for the Boro charitable foundation, spoke to the fans as part of Dementia Awareness Week.

The former player, who scored 162 goals in 423 league games in a Boro shirt, said: "Just being here clearly jogged a lot of memories which just shows how important it is to be able to reminisce about their days of watching Boro or in a couple of cases actually playing for the club.

“I’m right behind anything like this tour that helps people with dementia remain active members of their community and also enjoy the warm glow that football can provide when times are good."

The tour was organised by Middlesbrough-based Alzheimer’s Society staff members Martin Ward and Claire Blackwell-Jones who also run the increasingly popular Dementia Cafes in Middlesbrough.

Claire Blackwell-Jones, who is a dementia support worker, said: "The football club is right at the centre of the community here on Teesside which is why it was so nice to visit the ground because we want to do out bit to ensure people with dementia and their carers remain active.

"There was a real spring in the step of the men who have dementia because they love the club and having Bernie there was the icing on the cake because he’s infectiously enthusiastic."

For further details about Dementia Awareness Week activities on Teesside, contact the Alzheimer’s Society team on 01642-442030.