Cotman House Resident Shares Sound Advice With England’s Football Team

As England’s footballers prepare to face Slovakia in the last 16 of this summer’s European Championship, 80 year old Cotman House Care Home resident, Howard, has been sharing memories from his own footballing days – as well as giving a piece of sound advice to the team.

Former Ipswich Town Professional

Sparked by an interest at Cotman House in this summer’s tournament, 80-year-old former footballer Howard Osborne reminisced about his footballing career with Care Home Marketplace, Lottie, and shared the ultimate advice for England’s squad if they want to win the 2024 Euros: “listen to your manager”.

Howard, also known as ‘Oz’, by his fellow football players, had a remarkable career in the ’60s and ’70s. His first professional football contract was with Ipswich Town, where he played as a left-winger. Throughout his football career, Howard was best known for his precise crosses, powerful shots, and goal-scoring success. He said, “I didn’t have a funny celebration when I scored a goal like the footballers do now, but I did shout thank God!”

Cup Success Repeated for Howard’s Footballing Grandsons

After leaving Ipswich Town, Howard later joined Felixstowe Town. In 1975, Howard scored the team's winning goal in the Suffolk Senior Cup. This success led to the club's acceptance into the Eastern Counties League.

Howard’s contributions in the 1975 final have been instrumental in the club's history, which is now known as Felixstowe & Walton United Football Club. Almost 50 years later, this summer, Howard's grandsons, Sam Osborne and Ryan Chidlow, won the very same Cup (Senior Suffolk Cup) for Trimley Red Devils FC. Howard said that he “is very proud of his grandsons for their achievements and to see them following in similar footsteps”.

Dedication to the Sport Brings Amazing Opportunities

Growing up, Howard’s football idol was Johnny Haynes, a former Fulham Player known for his exceptional passing skills. As a young boy, Howard would study Johnny Haynes's football goals, hoping that it would be him playing on a professional football pitch one day.

Howard was committed to developing his football skills. He shares that he “never missed training and was dedicated to improving my fitness—keeping up with younger players and staying fit became a challenge the older I got, but it was a challenge I was up for.”

Howard’s dedication to football opened him up to amazing opportunities—including playing alongside some of the best English footballers of all time, like Sir Bobby Robson, former footballer and manager of England’s national team.

Watching Every Game and Supporting the Boys

Playing alongside Bobby Robson, Howard “definitely learned a thing or two about winning a football match”, and his ultimate advice for England's 2024 Euros squad is to bring home a win by “listening to your manager”. Howard is fully behind Gareth Southgate and advises the England team that they need to be too if they want to win the Euros this summer.

If England were to win, Howard would be “very happy. I’ll watch every game and support the boys along the way.”

Cotman House Home Manager, Kirsty Allen, is extremely proud of Howard’s achievements and his interest in this summer’s tournament, adding:

“At Cotman House, our mission is to provide exceptional personalised care that enriches the lives of our residents, so we are thrilled to share Howard's inspiring story with our community. His memories of a remarkable football career bring joy and a sense of pride to all of us here at Cotman House.

In celebration of the Euros, we will be organising special viewing parties, themed activities, and discussions, creating an engaging and festive atmosphere for our residents to enjoy. Howard's passion for football continues to inspire us all, and we are dedicated to making this a memorable event for everyone.”

Will Donnelly, Co-Founder of Lottie, added, “At Lottie, we’re on a mission to address misconceptions about ageing. Everyone can learn valuable lessons from older adults—no matter their age. It’s been great to partner with Cotman House to share Howard's advice for Three Lions as they prepare for the Euros. With a successful career in football spanning over two decades, Howard has plenty of helpful advice for England Euro’s squad this summer!

Howard's story highlights the positive impact that reminiscing can have on older generations — especially those living with dementia – and with so many sporting events this summer, Howard's story is the perfect reminder of the benefits of staying active and celebrating national sporting events like the Euros as we age. Sport truly is for everyone. It has the power to bring generations together and create a sense of community and belonging - both of which are hugely important for good wellbeing as we age.”

Discover Cotman House

Cotman House Care Home is situated within the beautiful seaside surroundings of Felixstowe and our environment is matched by the standard of care we deliver, where care is not just a service, but a commitment tailored to every resident. Our focus goes beyond the physical; we extend our care to encompass the unique needs of each individual, whether it's assisting with memory loss, providing specialised dementia care, or offering support with end-of-life care.

At Cotman House, we understand the challenges families face during difficult times, and that's why we take pride in our accreditation for 'End of Life' care. We're here to support not only your loved ones but your entire family through this journey.

Our vibrant and happy home isn't just about the physical space; it's a thriving community. Perfect for those who may be feeling lonely, Cotman House fosters an environment where residents find companionship and joy.