Former Premier League star Dean Windass revealed this week that he has been diagnosed with Stage Two dementia.
Windass, whose 20-year career included spells with Hull City, Middlesbrough and Aberdeen, scored his last top-flight goal at the age of 39. The striker hung up his boots in October 2009 – just 15 years before he received his diagnosis 12 months ago.
Now 55, the Hull City legend has noticed lapses in memory, sometimes forgetting names and conversations he’s had with his partner. It was after seeking advice from John Stiles – son of England’s 1966 World Cup hero Nobby Stiles – that he decided to undergo scans. Since the death of Nobby, who battled dementia for several years, in 2020, John has actively campaigned for changes within football.
Windass’ diagnosis was first shared with his consent by former Manchester United defender David May on BBC Breakfast this week, who said: “I spoke to Deano [Windass] and he’s worried sick about how it is going to be in the future for him.” Despite finding his reality difficult to process, Windass aims to use his voice to highlight the issue.
According to NHS guidelines, dementia encompasses the various symptoms stemming from brain damage, caused by different diseases including Alzheimer’s. There are six common early signs that might surface in advance of a dementia diagnosis. They are:
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- Being confused about time and place
- Mood changes
These symptoms described are usually subtle at first and worsen very gradually. It’s crucial to note that dementia is not a natural part of growing older, and contacting a GP immediately if there are concerns about memory issues is vital.
Father of two Windass, who notched 234 goals during his career, has no doubt over the cause of his dementia, telling The Daily Mail: “I’ve been heading footballs for a job. Not in the games but in training. Crossing and finishing drills. They asked me how many times I’d headed the ball in 20 years. Bloody hell! Thousands and thousands of times.”
Following his CT scan, Windass was told his results on a Zoom call. He recalled: “The conversation I had was that there was nothing to worry about at this stage but the scan has come back as mild grade two dementia. Immediately, I was like ‘oh f***, what does that mean?’
“I don’t know how it will affect my life in the years to come. I do forget names. I don’t know what’s around the corner. I live day to day.”
Windass also told The Mirror that he decided to speak out about his diagnosis in order to aid others. He said: “My phone has gone mad because everyone thinks I’m dying. I’m not dying. I’m all right.
“My son text to ask if I was okay. I don’t know what’s going to happen in five years or tomorrow. I just get on with it.”