Former Premier League star Dean Windass, 55, suffering from dementia as ex-Man Utd ace reveals diagnosis live on BBC
DEAN WINDASS has been diagnosed with dementia aged 55, Manchester United legend David May revealed on TV.
And now David Beckham is calling on football's authorities to do more to support players with the neurodegenerative disease.
Windass earned legendary status at boyhood club Hull and also played in the Premier League with Bradford and Middlesbrough.
He famously fired the Tigers into the top flight with his 2008 play-off final wondergoal volley aged 39.
Windass initially retired in 2009 before brief comebacks over the next three years.
But now still only in his mid-50s, he has recently received the shock news on his health.
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May, 54, appeared on on Friday morning alongside Nobby Stiles' son John.
With permission from Windass, the former Manchester United and Blackburn defender said: "I only spoke to Dean Windass yesterday, ex-professional footballer.
"I asked Deano how he is.
"He's been diagnosed with Stage 2 dementia.
"He's the same age as me and he's worried sick of how it's going to be in the future for him."
The news about Windass came as a shock to football fans.
But May reassured followers on he had been given the green light from his friend directly to publicise the update.
Old Trafford hero May tweeted: "FYI I spoke to @DWindass10 last night and asked his permission.
"He was 100 per cent behind me mentioning that he had been diagnosed with stage 2 dementia.
"Deano has just done an article for a national newspaper which will be published soon.. share the love."
Windass retweeted May's post and another message of support which read: "I'm so sorry to hear that Deano @DWindass10. My mum had Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.
"Keep doing what you're doing mate, stay active body and mind my friend and of course you've got the Yorkshire grit, fighting spirit and great support."
Dean Windass's career stats
Dean Windass had a prolific career, spanning nine clubs.
Here are his career stats:
- Hull City
- First spell: 1991–1995
- Appearances: 166
- Goals: 57
- Second spell: 2007 (loan)
- Appearances: 18
- Goals: 8
- Third spell: 2007–2009
- Appearances: 61
- Goals: 12
- First spell: 1991–1995
- Aberdeen
- Years: 1995–1998
- Appearances: 78
- Goals: 21
- Years: 1995–1998
- Oxford United
- Years: 1998–1999
- Appearances: 41
- Goals: 15
- Years: 1998–1999
- Bradford City
- First spell: 1999–2001
- Appearances: 77
- Goals: 22
- Second spell: 2003–2007
- Appearances: 133
- Goals: 56
- First spell: 1999–2001
- Middlesbrough
- Years: 2001–2003
- Appearances: 37
- Goals: 6
- Years: 2001–2003
- Sheffield Wednesday (loan)
- Years: 2001–2002
- Appearances: 9
- Goals: 3
- Years: 2001–2002
- Sheffield United (loan)
- Years: 2002
- Appearances: 9
- Goals: 3
- Years: 2002
- Oldham Athletic (loan)
- Years: 2002–2003
- Appearances: 14
- Goals: 3
- Years: 2002–2003
- Bradford Park Avenue
- Years: 2010
- Appearances: 1
- Goals: 0
- Years: 2010
Then the ex-Hull forward - dad of Sheffield Wednesday star Josh Windass - a video from his car smiling and miming along to Glen Campbell's song Rhinestone Cowboy.
He captioned the clip: "Just got to keep smiling and trying to help people."
Windass then added in another tweet: "Seriously I am ok was delighted to find out I had a brain. Just hope other families get the help they want for the people they have lost."
Speaking to Windass, who started and then finished his career with hometown club Hull, added: “I’m all right. I'm not dying.
"I could walk out my front door and get run over. People don’t need to worry about me, it’s fine.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in five years or tomorrow. I just get on with it.
“My phone has gone mad because everyone thinks I'm dying. I’m not dying. I’m all right,” he said. “My son text to ask if I was okay."
Windass has previously been open about his financial and mental health struggles since retiring from football, including attempts to take his own life.
May was discussing the additional risk professional footballers have of developing dementia - with evidence from studies showing they are 3.46 times more likely to do so than the general public.
He added: "Over my career, I probably headed the football about 20,000 times in total.
"It's only coming to light now.
Footballers at increased dementia risk
By Sam Blanchard, Health Correspondent
MEDICAL studies have found that former professional footballers are significantly more likely to get dementia than the average person.
There is now growing concern that heading the ball damages the brain.
Dementia typically starts in late middle age or old age and begins with a worsening of someone’s short-term memory, meaning they forget appointments, names or locations.
As it gets worse the patient’s personality might change, they may get mood swings and become easily confused or incoherent.
Most cases are due to Alzheimer’s disease, which can be genetic or triggered by unhealthy lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking or conditions like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.
Head injuries like concussions are also thought to increase the risk of dementia because they damage delicate nerves in the brain.
As nerve damage builds up over time due to injury or disease, people lose more of their brain power and symptoms get worse.
Studies estimate that ex-pro footballers’ dementia risk, compared to the average person, could be from 50 per cent higher to more than triple.
Scientists increasingly believe the repetitive small impacts of heading the ball can add up to cause serious, deadly brain damage years later.
It is also seen in American football players in the hard-tackling NFL, where increasing numbers of ex-players are developing a degenerative brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
English football legends including Jack and Bobby Charlton, Nobby Stiles, Jeff Astle and Bill Gates all developed dementia.
Former Man Utd players Gary Pallister and David May have spoken in recent weeks about fears they will be affected.
The Football Association has begun phasing out headers in the youth game to protect young players.
"I'd like to know where I'll be in ten years' time, will I have the care from the governing bodies, PFA, for funding that these families are not currently getting?
"It's worrying. I'm worried, of course I am.
"I've got a family to look after and I don't want my children looking after me day in day out.
"Care does cost a lot of money. Is there enough to care for future generations?
"One in three [footballers have the] possibility of getting dementia.
"The message needs to get out there."
We need the football family to come together and allocate resources to help address the tragedy of these devastating diseases
David Beckham
Former England captain Beckham joined forces with fellow footballers May, Gary Pallister, Peter Reid, Gary McAllister, Jan Molby and others plus politicians and medical experts in Manchester to show his support for the Football Families for Justice campaign.
FFJ is a voluntary organisation calling on the Government to amend the Football Governance Bill and introduce a mandatory financial support scheme funded by football authorities and the PFA for players and their families.
Beckham said in a video message: "As a young player at Manchester United, I was privileged to be guided and mentored by [ex-coaches] Eric Harrison, Nobby Stiles and my dad’s hero Sir Bobby Charlton.
"Like thousands of ex-players, all three died from neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.
"I want to add my support to the work of John Stiles and Football Families for Justice in their campaign to meet the needs of those affected.
"We need the football family to come together and allocate resources to help address the tragedy of these devastating diseases.
"Let’s ensure that victims and their families are treated with kindness, respect and best-in-class support.
"I hope you will join us in ensuring a better future for our former colleagues - the many ex-professional footballers who have brought so much joy to so many fans and for their loved ones."
On the shock Windass revelation, spokesperson for Dementia UK, Caroline Scates, added: “We’re sorry to hear that Dean Windass has been diagnosed with dementia.
"By choosing to speak openly and publicly about his diagnosis, he will undoubtedly encourage others to seek support if they are concerned about symptoms they may be experiencing.
“There are estimated to be around 70,800 people living with young onset dementia in the UK – where symptoms occur before the age of 65.
Obtaining a diagnosis of young onset dementia can be challenging, and it is often even harder to find age-appropriate support.
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"But it is important to know that you are not alone and that expert care is available.
“We encourage anyone affected by young onset dementia to visit for information resources and to find out how to access our national Helpline and Clinics services.”