Sunderland AFC recently began its journey in partnership with the Armed Forces & Veterans’ Breakfast Club, with breakfast meetings having taken place since November in Black Cats Bar at the Stadium of Light.
The initiative – set up all over the UK and beyond with over 400 breakfast clubs in operation – is designed to maintain a healthy and lively community feel for retired members of the British Forces, some of whom have been left in difficult situations since their departure.
Last month’s breakfast club was held on February 8, and brought in an encouraging turnout from regional veterans and their families. From this event, safc.com were in attendance to catch up with several of the club’s attendees at the SoL to find out how their relationship with SAFC has helped and supported them.
We begin here with two admirable gentlemen who were incredibly reunited by chance at February’s Breakfast Club, having last served together a whole 32 years ago.
Ian Bladen, 58, and Rob Adamson, 56, met whilst in Colchester before their regiment got disbanded, and last saw each other in the flesh in 1991.
The duo served in the 45 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, known as the West Yorkshire Gunners.
“We’re both from the North East and we had to tone our accents down! We became well-acquainted with Yorkshire,” they recalled.
“It was meant to be, us being here at the same time. We were in separate check-in and veteran break groups, which are extremely beneficial for the transitional period and life after the Armed Forces. Some of our lads suggested we went for breakfast.
“Some of us have had a bad turn in life, difficult personal circumstances, some have been diagnosed with illness, and these groups link us with initiatives like this – and look what it can do. We said we’d see each other soon – that was over 30 years ago!”
Ian and Rob were visibly emotional, and were asked for a chat with safc.com sometime after being spotted sharing a warm and tear-shed embrace, having double-taken at one another in initial disbelief. A shocked and poignant catch-up together followed.
“It’s the first time we’ve both ever been here. It’s an amazing link-up with the football club too. Some of us support Sunderland, some of us support other clubs, but it doesn’t matter really.
“We have ever-lasting memories, ones only the Armed Forces can give you. Life as a veteran holds more opportunities socially with organisations such as the Breakfast Club. The stories we share, the reunions we can have, like this one.”
All at SAFC thank Ian and Rob immensely for their service and hope their rekindled brotherhood continues as closely as possible for many years to come.
Stay tuned to safc.com as we speak to more involved with the Breakfast Club scheme at SAFC, as they explain how it has benefitted their lives alongside the Black Cats.