When we were contacted by Matt Storey about a donation of old match programmes, we were grateful for the thought and delighted that we could enhance the work we do across different ages.
Matt, Police and Crime Commissioner in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, works closely with different groups in the Foundation and was aware of the range of sessions for different ages.
He explained why he thought of us when he was given some old match programmes.
“A friend of my dad’s was cleaning out his garage and his stepson had a collection of old Boro programmes which he wanted to find a new home for. I thought the Foundation might be interested in that little ‘find’.
“There are some really good ones in there, like the Leicester City Coca Cola Cup tie from 1997 and stacks of them from the Bryan Robson Premier League Days.
“Perhaps of more interest to a different generation are two leather collector’s boxes of programmes from 1971-1973 which are in really good condition and very smartly presented.”
Receiving the programmes on behalf of the Foundation, deputy Foundation manager Craig McManus said: “We’re really grateful for these and delighted that Matt thought of us.
“These will be useful in schools where some children who sometimes don’t always take to reading that much suddenly show a greater interest when football programmes are put in front of them. They’re encouraged to read in a different way.
“And of course we will be taking them on our visits to care homes and other sessions where participants will have memories evoked.”
Matt concluded: “I hope this might be a bit of fun and everyone likes some nostalgia!”