10 May 2016
Hallmark Care Homes residents watch Cardiff City play and meet football legends
Three lucky Hallmark Care Home residents watched Cardiff City play and had the opportunity to meet Cardiff City football legends, after winning our wish-granting competition.
Residents; Charlie Criddle, 71, Brian Miller, 82 and Michael McCarthy, 45 enjoyed watching Cardiff City’s latest game against Birmingham from the luxurious Captions Lounge at Cardiff City Football Stadium which included a delicious brunch, and the opportunity to meet Cardiff City legends, Aron Gunnarsson, Gary Bell and Derek Brazil in the flesh.
When Charlie, Brian and Michael, residents at Regency House and Shire Hall, our care homes in Cardiff and Greenhill Manor, our care home in Merthyr were asked to write down a wish, they revealed their desire to watch Cardiff City play with the company of their family.
Brian had previously worked for Cardiff City as a football scout, while Michael and Charlie had been avid football fans for many years with Charlie holding a season ticket membership with the club for nearly 65 years!
Hallmark Care Homes granted the three gentlemen’s wishes and organised the grand VIP experience after deciding they should be the homes winners of its Christmas wish competition.
Charlie Criddle, 71 said: “I had a wonderful time and felt completely overawed on the day.
“My favourite part of the experience was meeting ex-football player Gary Bell who was a fullback in the late 1960’s.”
Charlie was accompanied to the match by his nephew Michael Criddle.
Michael Criddle said: “I enjoyed everything about the day, from the lovely food, to chatting with some players old and current. It was also lovely to see uncle Charlie “living the dream” meeting some of his idols and collecting their autographs.”
The granted wish for the residents are just one of many, which we have pledged to make true this year for each of our 15 care homes in England and South Wales.
Other fulfilled wishes include; reuniting a resident with his teenage sweetheart whom he hadn’t seen in 20 years and taking a resident to meet and watch pop and dance sensation Peter Andre in concert.
Click here to find out more about our Lucky Star Christmas wish competition.
Click here to find your nearest Hallmark Care Home.