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 neuro-degenerative 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.
May, 54, appeared on BBC Breakfast 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 X 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 – posted 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 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.
Is it ageing or dementia?
Dementia – the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s – comes on slowly over time.
As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe.
But at the beginning, the symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for normal memory issues related to ageing.
The US National Institute on Aging gives some examples of what is considered normal forgetfulness in old age, and dementia disease.
You can refer to these above.
For example, it is normal for an ageing person to forget which word to use from time-to-time, but difficulting having conversation would be more indicative of dementia.
Katie Puckering, Head of Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team, previously told The Sun: “We quite commonly as humans put our car keys somewhere out of the ordinary and it takes longer for us to find them.
“As you get older, it takes longer for you to recall, or you really have to think; What was I doing? Where was I? What distracted me? Was it that I had to let the dog out? And then you find the keys by the back door.
“That process of retrieving the information is just a bit slower in people as they age.
“In dementia, someone may not be able to recall that information and what they did when they came into the house.
“What may also happen is they might put it somewhere it really doesn’t belong. For example, rather than putting the milk back in the fridge, they put the kettle in the fridge.”
“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 neuro-degenerative 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.”