Good times shared at Bournemouth FC
Mark lives at Ophir Road, a residential service for individuals with learning disabilities and complex needs in Bournemouth. He is a huge football fan and really enjoys the atmosphere and being a part of the crowd at a football match.
Mark originally from Manchester, as are his parents, is naturally a Manchester United fan but having moved to Ophir Road his closest team is AFC Bournemouth.
Mark has become a season ticket holder at AFC Bournemouth and goes with his Dad and an additional support colleague, to as many home games as he possibly can. He has already seen them play Manchester City this season, unfortunately AFC Bournemouth lost but scored the goal of the game.
AFC Bournemouth have really good disabled access at the ground and have even installed a viewing point for wheelchair users so that they can have a better view of the pitch to see what is going on. Mark is hoping to have a go on this during the season. The AFC Bournemouth staff and stewards know Mark well and are extremely welcoming towards him.
Mark loves going to the football, and really comes alive, thoroughly enjoying every moment he is there. His Dad is a big football fan and he and Mark share some really good times at the games. Mark’s Dad is also a keen Manchester United fan and says; “Bournemouth aren’t very good, but Mark really enjoys it!”
Mark has a signed Manchester United shirt on his wall alongside a framed AFC Bournemouth shirt. He has some quite wide-ranging moods at times and can become frustrated. When he going to football, he jumps and shouts and really gets into it, this helps to de-stress Mark and at difficult or challenging periods in Mark’s life this can really help him to regain some calm.
AFC Bournemouth look as though they may struggle this season and haven’t got off to the best of starts but hopefully they can pick up enough so that Mark and his Dad still get to watch the best teams play right on their doorstep.