Dean Windass: 'Dementia scares me, footballers need more support'

Former footballer Dean Windass has recently stated that he is worried about his future after being diagnosed with stage two dementia. He hopes to provide more support for other players and their families in the same situation. Windass's dedication to raising awareness highlights the need for greater understanding and resources for those affected by this condition.

The 55-year-old player played for 12 clubs during his 19-year career. He was diagnosed last year and announced the news this January. In an interview with BBC's "Newsnight," Windass said he was trying not to let the disease affect him, but "cries every now and then." His openness about his struggles brings attention to the emotional toll dementia can take.

Windass confessed: "It scares me, I don't know what the outcome is going to be. Interview me in 10 years, I might be telling you a different story." Stage two dementia is the early stage of the syndrome, where patients experience very mild cognitive decline, possibly including some memory lapses. Windass said he felt "emotional" during the tests, and although he doesn't know what the future holds, he is trying to live as normal a life as possible.

He added: "There's nothing I can do. You can't go back, so you just deal with it as best you can. I hope in the next five or 10 years it doesn't progress. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. So, you get up in the morning and you live. You try to live like a normal person." Windass was a member of the Bradford City team that was promoted to the Premier League in 1999 and etched his name into Hull City's history by scoring the only goal in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in 2008.

He also played for Aberdeen, Oxford, Middlesbrough, and Sheffield United, making over 700 appearances and scoring over 230 goals in his career. Windass added: "If they said [while playing] in 10 years you might get mild dementia. I'd say 'I wouldn't head the ball then'. I wouldn't have done it as much in training... [I would have] thought twice about it." This reflection emphasizes the potential long-term consequences of repetitive head trauma in sports.

In his first public broadcast interview since his diagnosis, Windass spoke candidly about the impact of the news on his mental health and his family. He stated that he believes his diagnosis is a direct result of repeated headers and is concerned about his two sons, Josh and Jordan, who are both footballers. He explained: "I don't want them worrying because at the moment I'm okay." His concern for his sons underscores the familial implications of his condition.

A 2019 study by the University of Glasgow found that former professional footballers were nearly three and a half times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than the general population. Windass said he wants to raise awareness of dementia and push the players' union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), to increase support for affected players and their families. This highlights the urgent need for proactive measures to protect athletes' long-term health.

"One thing I love about myself is helping as many people as I can," he said. "The reason we're doing this [interview] is to help these families because my family might need help in 10 or 15 years. So I don't want them to suffer as well. At the moment, if I can help or we can help people and push the PFA to help these people... that's what we're trying to do, that's what we're trying to achieve." Windass's altruistic motivation underscores the importance of community support in navigating such challenges.

The PFA stated that it has invested over £1 million in brain health funds after 30 former footballers and their families filed lawsuits against football governing bodies in 2022, claiming they failed to protect them from brain injuries. The Premier League has also contributed to the fund, which, according to the PFA, aims to provide industry-wide support for players with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. These financial commitments represent a step towards addressing the needs of affected players.

Windass is a member of "Football Family Justice" (FFJ), a volunteer organization dedicated to upholding the rights and well-being of former players with neurodegenerative diseases. Former Manchester United and Blackburn defender David May, also a member of the organization, announced Windass's diagnosis. He said that by talking about it, he hopes Windass can help others in the future. May said: "When I asked Dean if it was okay to mention it, I didn't expect it to spread as quickly as it has. In a sense, it's definitely a blessing because other people can benefit from Dean standing up and talking about it."

"He's talking about 10 or 15 years down the line, he wants some assurances that in 10 or 15 years these plans are being put in place so he doesn't have to rely on his family and that there are carers there to help him." This highlights the need for long-term care and support systems for individuals facing the progression of dementia, ensuring they can maintain their dignity and quality of life.