London Bangla A Force for the community…
Emdad Rahman
Veteran footballers from across London, Birmingham, Kent, Sussex, and Essex came together to support Dementia Action Week, led by the Alzheimer’s Society.
The powerful show of unity took place during the latest round of matches in the Inter City Bangla Cup, where all four squads, along with their coaches, officially became Dementia Friends — pledging to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding dementia in their communities.
London full back Helal Uddin commented, “Football has always brought people together, and now we’re using that connection to shine a light on dementia. It’s more than a game, it’s a platform to create real change.”
Anayeth Hussain, representing Birmingham Legends, added, “Many in our communities are affected by dementia but don’t always have the words or support to deal with it. Through football, we’re breaking that silence and taking action.”
Dementia Action Week is the Alzheimer’s Society’s biggest awareness campaign, aiming to encourage people to act on dementia – Whether by supporting a loved one, learning more, or calling for systemic change. This year’s theme focuses on dementia diagnosis and the urgent need for improved access to support and information.
Dementia Friends is an initiative helping people understand what it’s like to live with dementia. Through simple but meaningful actions, Dementia Friends help spread awareness, compassion, and support throughout society.
In the UK, over 900,000 people are currently living with dementia, with numbers expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040. It’s not a natural part of aging and is caused by diseases of the brain, most commonly Alzheimer’s.
Football plays a vital role in this awareness effort. It reaches all generations and backgrounds, cutting through language, culture, and age. Community based events like the Inter City Bangla Cup create powerful moments of unity, using the universal love of the game to spark conversations that matter.
Together, these veteran footballers are proving that even off the pitch, they’re still making a difference — one pass, one pledge, one person at a time.
