Christmas cheer during coffee morning at Vitality

Residents from Care South’s care homes were joined by season ticket holders, ex-Cherries players David Stocks, Tommy Taylor and Hughen Riley as well as long-serving former club secretaries Keith MacAllister and Neil Vacher, now club historian.

Children from Pokesdown Community Primary School chatted with residents and sung Christmas carols, while entertainer Scott Free – a regular at Care South events throughout the year – performed a host of songs from his Swingin’ Sinatra set.

The coffee morning was hosted by the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust which is enjoying its ninth year in partnership with Care South, the leading provider of high quality residential and home care services across the south of England.

Among the residents to attend was Horace, who is 103 and travelled with the team from Fern Brook Lodge in Gillingham, one of Care South’s ten care homes in Dorset and Hampshire.

Care South chief executive Simon Bird said: “It was wonderful to see so many of our residents getting together for a morning of festive celebration at our annual AFC Bournemouth coffee morning.

“It was lovely to see the smiles on the residents’ faces as they sang and swayed along to the music.

“Looking out across the room at the event, it was easy to see why this is such a good partnership for us as the AFC Bournemouth team bring so much happiness and joy to our residents, and embodies everything that our ‘Food, fun and friendship’ motto stands for at Care South.”

The AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust also host weekly walking football coaching sessions and an annual tournament which are sponsored by Care South, a not-for-profit charity.

A partner since 2014, Care South backs a host of club initiatives which provide richer experiences for their residents, creating stimulating and lasting memories through the power of football.

Steve Cuss, who heads the Trust, said: “We are so proud of our relationship with Care South and the team jump at every chance they get to visit the care homes and help the residents have fun while staying active.

“The Christmas coffee morning was a lovely way to round off the year and it was nice to be able to welcome lots of the residents to the stadium where they could have a memorable morning of entertainment.”

Click through the arrows above to see a gallery of pictures from the Christmas coffee morning.