Former Manchester United star David May has opened up about his concerns for the future during an appearance on BBC Breakfast this Friday.
Presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty discussed the potential link between dementia and football, addressing the FA’s decision to reduce deliberate heading in youth football across England.
In conversation with the show’s hosts, Naga probed whether David frequently headed the ball throughout his career, to which David responded by acknowledging he did estimating the figure at roughly 20,000 times.
He shared: “I didn’t know anything, it’s only really coming to light now that this is coming out.”
Speaking to the BBC presenters, the 54-year-old expressed his desire to understand what his situation would be a decade from now. He remarked: “Would I have the care from the governing bodies, from the PFA, the funding, that these families now, are not actually getting.”
With Naga making it clear that David doesn’t currently exhibit any symptoms of cognitive decline, she asked if he considered it a concern for his future, reports the Manchester Evening News.
He confirmed: “It’s worrying. Yeah, I’m worried, of course I am. I’ve got a family to look after. I don’t want my children looking after me day in and day out.”
Additionally, John Stiles, son of football legend Nobby Stiles, disclosed during the interview that they put his father’s medals up for sale to fund the necessary medical care at the time. The BBC presenter delved into the financial burdens of care, noting the high costs that come even for those assumed to be wealthy.
David responded: “Care does cost a lot of money and the money that’s going into the PFA, is it enough money to care for the future generations, who one in three have a possibility of getting dementia?”
In an earlier part of the interview, while discussing his father’s condition, the guest disclosed that they had donated his dad’s brain to Dr. Willie Stewart post-mortem. Upon examination, it was discovered that Nobby did have vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s on the brain.
John informed the BBC hosts: “The disease that killed him is called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). I asked him (Dr Willie Stewart) how many footballers brains he examined had CTE, it was 70%. That’s what killed my father.”
Acknowledging the stroke of luck that his father’s medals could be sold to cover steep healthcare expenses, John continued: “If my dad didn’t have medals to sell, I don’t know what my family would’ve done.”
He highlighted the dire situation many football families face when their loved ones need care home services, saying: “That is what is happening with families now. Football families, when they go into care homes, they’re in a terrible state.
“That is why we’re campaigning to get help for those families, who basically are in a complete financial mess when their loved one goes into a care home.”
BBC Breakfast continues weekdays on BBC One from 6am.