I don’t want people to feel sorry for me after diagnosis, but if I can help, that’s brilliant

Dean Windass, a former forward for the Premier League, has talked about his fight with dementia at the age of 55, but he wants to raise awareness rather than pity. Last year, the former Middlesbrough star was diagnosed with stage-two dementia. When David May spoke about Windass’s condition on BBC Breakfast, the ailment’s effects on former football players were once again brought to light: “I only spoke to Dean Windass yesterday, ex-professional footballer,” May stated. “I inquired about Deano’s health. It has been determined that he has Stage 2 dementia. He is about my age and is bored with the way things will be for him in the future.

Windass discussed his health on the Greatness on Demand podcast, and the discovery has generated a lot of support for him. The former forward for Hull City and Bradford wants the attention his diagnosis has garnered to assist others.”The onus is on me because I’m the one who’s been mentioned, it’s opened a massive can of worms and I get that,” he stated. It’s not about Dean Windass; it’s about the attention, which I receive enough of anyhow. All I want is for individuals to receive the assistance they are due. Tell others about your issues because you are powerless to solve them alone. If I am able to assist others, that is fantastic.I don’t feel any different; I still train daily. I am in good health. The lesson of the story is that I still play football, even though I plainly don’t head the ball. Some folks are in much worse shape than I am. According to the Mirror, “I don’t want people to feel sorry for me.”

Later, May revealed that Windass had given him permission to talk about his illness. He went on BBC Breakfast to discuss the most recent findings that showed football players were more likely to develop dementia as a result of heading balls. May stated: “I think I headed the football roughly 20,000 times throughout my career. Only now is it becoming apparent. Would I have the support of the PFA and other regulatory bodies for financing that these families do not now receive in ten years?It’s concerning. Naturally, I’m concerned. I don’t want my kids to take care of me all day because I have a family to support. The expense of care is high. Is it sufficient to take care of the next generation? Dementia is a potential for one in three football players. “The message must be spread.”

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk