Former Hull City striker Dean Windass has been diagnosed with stage 2 dementia.
Former Manchester United and Blackburn defender David May shared the news on the BBC Breakfast program on Friday morning, while speaking about concerns about the condition in former players, alongside former Leeds midfielder and dementia campaigner John Stiles.
Stage 2 dementia causes memory lapses and mild cognitive decline.
May has since posted on X, confirming that he had spoken to Windass and received permission to talk about the 55-year-old's condition.
His post said: “FYI, I spoke to @DWindass10 last night and asked for his permission. He was 100 percent supportive when he mentioned that he had been diagnosed with stage 2 dementia. Deano has just written an article for a national newspaper, which will be published soon.”
Windass – who also played for Bradford City, Aberdeen, Oxford United and both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday – scored the winning goal in the 2008 Championship final against Bristol City, which saw Hull promoted to the Premier League for the first time. .
He later posted a video on People I lost.”
Beckham supports a campaign urging an improvement to the Neurodegenerative Diseases Care Fund
David Beckham has backed a campaign to improve care for former players with neurodegenerative diseases by applying political pressure on football authorities.
The former England captain has lent his support to the Football Families for Justice (FFJ) campaign, which is now working with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram in efforts to give football independent regulatory powers to enforce the law. Game authorities must take “decisive action” on neurodegenerative disease among former players.
“We need the football family to come together and commit resources to help tackle the tragedy of these devastating diseases,” Beckham said in a video speech shown at a campaign meeting in Manchester.
“Let’s make sure victims and their families are treated with kindness, respect and best-in-class support.”
