Arbroath Football Memories group participants enjoyed a visit from former category one referee Sandy Roy last week, as the Specsavers sponsored nationwide tour continued at Gayfield Park on Tuesday 2 December.
For the third season in a row, the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner of the Scottish FA has facilitated for football legends and retired referees to speak to participants of Football Memories, a project designed to support people living with memory loss conditions including dementia and Alzheimer’s, as well as those experiencing loneliness and social isolation.
Following a successful opening event in Inverness with Scotland hero Darren Jackson, the tour continued along the east coast where Sandy, one of the most respected officials in Scottish football, shared stories from his remarkable 25-year refereeing career.
A mainstay in the country’s top leagues from 1973 to 1998, Sandy took charge of more than 1300 matches and has since observed almost 1250 more, becoming a key figure in referee development across the North East.
His career took him to the European stage, including serving as an assistant referee in a European Cup semi-final featuring AC Milan icons Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten.
Sandy, who now lives in Aberdeen, says: ‘It was a pleasure to return to Gayfield, a football ground with real significance in my career, and to share some memories with the Arbroath Football Memories group.
‘Football has an incredible power to connect people, no matter their age or background, and being part of this tour with Specsavers once again shows how important these sessions are for those living with memory loss.
‘With Scotland heading into a World Cup year, it is a brilliant time to look back on the game and forward to what is ahead.’
Established in 2009, Football Memories Scotland is a charitable project run by the Scottish Football Museum in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland.
With nearly 600 groups around the country, often hosted in football settings, Football Memories uses engaging football themed resources stored in a memory box to spark stories and conversation led by trained volunteers.
This season’s sessions are World Cup themed, giving groups the chance to look back on Scotland’s history at the prestigious tournament and even select their best post war Scotland eleven, which will be revealed in the lead up to next summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Specsavers is sponsoring the memory boxes for the referee tour and has helped to add exciting new memorabilia, including vintage football boots and match day programmes to support group discussions. Long term memories can often be reawakened through visual cues, unlocking cherished moments from the past.
Robert Craig, Chair of the Scottish Football Museum, says: ‘It was wonderful to welcome Sandy to Arbroath as the tour continues to demonstrate the real impact Football Memories has across Scotland. His stories from an extraordinary refereeing career were hugely enjoyed, and Specsavers continued support is invaluable in allowing us to deliver these sessions for people living with memory loss or isolation.
‘Visits from figures like Sandy bring our sessions to life. His humour, insight and generosity with his time made a real impression on the group, and events like this show exactly why partnerships such as this one with Specsavers are so important.’
Jenny Stephenson, Scottish Divisional Chair for Specsavers, says: ‘Specsavers is proud to continue supporting Football Memories for a third season and to help bring these special moments to communities across Scotland.’
Following the Arbroath visit, the tour will move on to Paisley, Ayr and Motherwell in early 2026, as excitement builds ahead of Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in nearly three decades.
Specsavers renewed its sponsorship deal with the Scottish FA in 2024, becoming the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner and extending one of the longest partnerships in sport. The agreement runs to 2028 and includes continued support for referee training and development, as well as raising awareness of grassroots and para football across the country.
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