Professional Footballers Association Northern Ireland > Players Against Dementia

Players Against Dementia

P.A.D NI

Players Against Dementia is a dedicated campaign focused on supporting former footballers and their families affected by dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions in Northern Ireland. The initiative aims to raise awareness, provide financial assistance, and advocate for long-term care solutions for those who have contributed significantly to the sport.

Raising Awareness and Fundraising

Former Irish League footballers, including Jim Lemon and Frankie Moffatt and Jimmy Cleary, have come together to tackle the challenges posed by dementia through charity events and fundraising activities. These efforts not only generate essential funds but also foster a sense of community and solidarity among former players and supporters. Belfast Telegraph

The key aim is to ask each Mens Premiership club to host one fundraising event each year. 12 clubs, 12 events, 1 each month. The proceeds going towards charitable donations and to supporting players and their families who are affected.
Clubs who wish to know more about how they can support should contact info@pfani.com or reach out directly to P.A.D NI.

In a notable event, Former Northern Ireland player Barry Hunter spoke about his losing his father to dementia and was joined by various other speakers, compered by BBC’s Stephen Watson. The event was an enormous success, and the auction raised a large sum of money to support the work of Dementia NI.

The lunch took place before the Linfield v Carrick Rangers game on Saturday 29th November. Thank you to Linfield F.C for their support.

Meeting Centres

Meeting Centres are effectively social clubs which offer on-going warm and friendly expert support to people with mild to moderate dementia and their families. Originally developed in the Netherlands, Meeting Centres are now growing around the world. They help people to adjust to living with the symptoms and changes that dementia brings.

There are currently over 50 Meeting Centres in Scotland catering for over 1000 people with dementia.

The PFA fully supports the establishment of Meeting Centres in Northern Ireland. We see it as fantastic mechanism to offer support through club facilities and are engaged at board level in order to help bring the advantages to Irish League football clubs.

Offering a warm and safe environment for people and their families, Meeting Centres offer care, support, respite and information to dementia affected families. A Meeting Centre is a safe place where dementia sufferers and their carers can go and receive a warm meal and entertainment for up to three hours, three times a week.

By raising awareness, fostering community support, and advocating for necessary care structures, Players Against Dementia is making significant strides in ensuring that former footballers receive the recognition and assistance they deserve.

PFA Northern Ireland will run a campaign to ensure all current players and clubs receive information around concussion and are aware of the protocols. We will also work with NIFL and FIFPRO to ensure funding is put in place for all young players to receive baseline testing that finds their current cognitive display and can then be tested again after a concussion to check if there has been any change. This will be a preventative measure to determine risk and advice can be given to players as to the longterm effects.

We will continue to work with P.A.D and Meeting Centres to support their aims going forward and identify funding opportunities and ensure legitimate spending of any funds raised.

Community Engagement and Support

A further event was held in Ulster University on 22nd April 2026 where speakers from Ulster University, Players Against Dementia, Meeting Centres, PFA NI and NIFL came together in front of a packed room to deliver research findings and give further information on how they are supporting current and former players.