The Reminiscence Workshop visits the Ciutat de València

Levante UD and the Levante UD Footballers Association have held one of the final sessions of the Reminiscence Workshop, organized in collaboration with the Ballesol Patacona residence and the LALIGA Foundation. The initiative aims to use the blue and red spirit to combat forgetfulness and improve the quality of life of our elderly, demonstrating that the granota heart beats strongly at any age.

One of the final sessions included a visit by members of the “Ballelevante UD” team to the facilities of the Ciutat de València Stadium. During the event, the residents had the opportunity to meet in person the Technical Secretary of Levante UD and former player, Héctor Rodas, as well as the first-team players, the coach, Luis Castro, and his coaching staff, who also joined the reception, sharing conversations and anecdotes. The footballers presented an official scarf to each of the participants.

The veteran "coaching staff" that guided this visit was composed of Juan Barat, José María Carrillo, Antonio Lloret, and José Manuel Valero, and on this occasion, Miguel Pallardó and Alex Geijo also joined, accompanying the residents on a Granota Tour through the most emblematic corners of the stadium, with explanations provided by the Historical Heritage Manager, Emilio Nadal.

For participants like José, Manuel, Otto, Luis, Carlos, Pedro, Ángela, Antonio, Consuelo, or María, walking through the locker room tunnel, stepping onto the pitch, or visiting the Raconet was an extraordinary experience. As highlighted by María Luisa Vivas, the center's director, and psychologist Ana Moret, these activities are vital for cognitive stimulation and the well-being of our elderly.

Football against forgetfulness

The initiative aims to reach out to the elderly, to whom we owe so much, and has become a magnificent opportunity to promote awareness and social consciousness about this group.

It has been proven that football can be a very effective tool to help recover memories, especially among those who have emotional ties or memories associated with the sport. In the case of football, it is a sport that has been very present in their lives, allowing them to relive the excitement of remembering a match they attended, a victory of their team, or a player they met. By the end of the 12 sessions, participants will have recovered unforgettable memories and emotions.