SAINTS legends have been sharing stories from their playing days in an effort to help people with dementia enjoy memories of the club.

The Saints Community Development Foundation has launched Reminiscence Café, a bi-weekly event held in the Eric Asthon Boardroom at the club's stadium.

Each session sees a former player chat to former Saints star and current mental health ambassador Eddie Cunningham about their time at the club - and answer questions from people there.

Guests so far have included former stand-off Tommy Martyn, who reminisced about the 1999 Super League Grand Final triumph over Bradford, Eric Chisnall, Billy Benyon, Paul Wellens, Ade Gardner, Harry Pinner, Peter Harvey and Chris Arkwright.

Attendees are also shown historical footage and pictures relating to the town and Saints, before taking part in a quiz, with chair exercises also thrown in.

Foundation manager, Steve Leonard, said: “This idea has been with me for quite a while, but it was the introduction of Eddie Cunningham as the Foundation’s mental health ambassador that got the wheels in motion.

“I now sit back and watch this tremendous event grow session on session and the feedback we have received is testimony to the hard work put in by my team to make it happen."

He added: “It's fantastic to see the people who come along have so much fun and also for their carers to have some respite.

“It’s a great feeling to be in a position to make such events happen within our community, and I would like to thank every one of the friends of the Foundation for their donations and the club for providing us with a fantastic venue, which helps make programmes like this possible.”

May 14 to 20 marks Dementia Awareness Week.

People who know anyone who they think would benefit from Reminiscence Café or want to know how to become a Friend of the Foundation, can email scdf@saintsrlfc.com.

For more about dementia see: sthelens.gov.uk/public-health-and-wellbeing/staying-well/dementia-support/

or email publichealth@sthelens.gov.uk.

Also see dementiafriends.org.uk.