Fans send best wishes to Dean Windass following his Stage 2 Dementia diagnosis, with it announced on Friday (10th January).
Former footballer David May revealed live on BBC Breakfast that Windass has stage two dementia at the age of 55a.
May also shared his concerns about his health following the news that the Football Association (FA) has introduced a new rule regarding deliberate heading.
He was with John Stiles, Nobby’s son, raising awareness for CTE / dementia in football and the help needed for ex-players and their families from PFA.
David May tweeted: “FYI i spoke to @DWindass10 last night and asked his permission, he was 100% 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 ❤️”
Deano said: “Seriously I am ok was delighted to find out I had a brain 🕺😀⚽️👍 just hope other families get the help what they want for the people they have lost 🙏”
Seriously I am ok was delighted to find out I had a brain 🕺😀⚽️👍 just hope other families get the help what they want for the people they have lost 🙏
— Dean Windass (@DWindass10) January 10, 2025
Just got to keep smiling and trying to help people @DavidMay04 @ThebfgGazza @walkingsbrill @kerryhull75 @bignorms xx⚽️❤️ pic.twitter.com/piu3g5aCAE
— Dean Windass (@DWindass10) January 10, 2025
#bcafc so sad to hear about Dean Windass pic.twitter.com/SkBhl6DxYH
— Scott Nichols (@SWN1984) January 10, 2025
With permission from Windass, May 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.”
Windass have also shared May’s post as well as a number of other messages of support.
One 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.”
Deano uploaded posted a video from his car smiling and playing along to Glen Campbell’s song Rhinestone Cowboy.
He wrote: “Just got to keep smiling and trying to help people.”
Windass to the Mirror, saying he had kept quiet about the news for a year but insisted: “I’m all right. I’m not dying.”
He pointed out he only agreed to speak out to help others. “My phone has gone mad because everyone thinks I’m dying. I’m not dying. I’m all right,” he said. “My son text to ask if I was okay.
“Of course I’m worried, I’m not being naive, I don’t want Kerry looking after me.
“I’m honestly fine. I’m not dying. I could walk out my front door and get run over. People don’t need to worry about me, it’s fine.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in five years or tomorrow. I just get on with it.
“Obviously because I’ve headed footballs there’s some sort of bleeding on my brain. It’s shown something. I went into the big machine.
“We went for these scans last year and that was the diagnosis they gave me, stage two dementia. I asked if there was any problem and they said ‘no, but they don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow’.
“He [John Stiles] actually sent a lady round to my house for two days and she put me through some [memory] tests and I started crying because I got real frustrated because I couldn’t do it.
“Basically it was like a test to say ‘television and bus’… there were 20 words opposite each other. And then she’d say repeat what I just said now and I couldn’t remember it and I was getting so frustrated about it.
“That did upset me, that frustrated me because I couldn’t remember. I didn’t know if it was the fact I was thick or what,” he joked.
Deano estimates to have said headed far more than 20,000 balls over his career.
“I have headed thousands and thousands of footballers over a 20 year career. It was training every day, and part of my game was heading the ball anyway. I was doing a thousand balls a week easy.”
He as asked to do a Zoom call to get the results of a CT scan in 2024.
“The scariest thing was when they rang me to say ‘we’ve got your results,’ they said ‘ can you do a zoom call’. I said to Kerry my partner something must be up. So I phoned John Stiles.
“I can’t remember doing the Zoom call, that’s the worst thing. I live day to day anyway. But the most important thing is to listen. I’m okay, I’m not dying.
“The moral of the story is, it’s not about me, it’s about John Stiles and the lads trying to get over ‘can the PFA help these families…if they’re in a home and these people can’t afford to put them in a home.
“It’s damaging people’s families financially. It’s important because these people need help.”
David May talked about the additional risk professional footballers have of developing dementia.
He added: “Over my career, I probably headed the football about 20,000 times in total.
“It’s only coming to light now.
“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.”
As mentioned, fans send best wishes to Dean Windass following his Stage 2 Dementia diagnosis…
@Jtsuperleeds: 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 👊
@howmic21: awful news and at such a young age too thoughts with all his family and friends at this sad time
@TimMaggs90: Whaaaat?! Not Deano 😢
@vanqate: David, I am involved with a dementia café at my team . An ex pro who was in the team when i was a kid comes along and I was wondering if you could give me details of the group so I could pass them on to his wife. Even if it’s just contact with others in the same situation
@MattKL1980: @DWindass10 granted me and thousands of others our boyhood dream of a Wembley winner and promotion to the PL, while living out his own boyhood dream. Always owe that moment to him. Your spirit and Yorkshire grit will see you fend this off Deano #hcafc
@LbRudyard: Thoughts with Josh and Jordan 💙 #swfc
@supersilverfox: Absolutely extraordinarily sad news for the football community, but especially all Tigers 🐯
@davidhen1: Just seen the news mate, all the best… keep strong, you were so helpful to me during lockdown with your positivity and supported so many others. Remember “pillows on top” and keep going pal ❤️👊💪
@petershaw12: Keep going big man in my thoughts tigers legend swansea all the very very best 💘
@CraigAndrew3: Extremely sorry to hear about the Stage 2 Dementia diagnosis @DWindass10. Wishing you all the best. An absolute Bradford City legend. #bcafc #bantams
@Thecityvent: All the bantams are with you Deano 🧡❤️
@BlockBBantam: We are all behind you Deano, you absolute legend!!!
@TheBlackNAmber: Tigers faithful send our love and best wishes deano 🧡🖤🐯
@adamcoatham: All strength with you Deano – stay well!
@GilpinLee: The man who lived a boyhood dream playing for his own city and then scoring the biggest goal ever to put them in the big time ⚽️ Mr Dean Windass 💥 he’s still living it come on Deano Deano ⚽️⚽️⚽️
@TomButl55445942: Sending my best wishes dean ,keep smiling and doing your thing yours Tom Butler 🐯❤️
@danfromboro: Turned on the TV and saw the interview this morning deano hope theres more that can be done to help much love #UTB @boro
@brian_horton4: Thank you Deano for not singing live don’t give up your day job.Hope you’re all keeping safe and healthy. Best Wishes Nobby 👍⚽️👌
@Jasey_B_DCFC: Wow, shocked and saddened to be reading this, Dean Windass is an icon of a player, a Legend who always gave 150% as a player, his sons followed in his footsteps and it’s great to see, keep ya spirits up Dean, I wish you ad played for my local club in ya career dcfc 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
@ThatjamieT:
Legend Deano, sending all my thoughts to you and your family.
Up the Tigers and I hope yer bed is med.
@MarkHowsham: Sorry to hear the news of your diagnosis, I presume you have an MCI status at present? Stage2? Having worked with people living with a dementia for decades I’ve met and supported many to remain positive and purposeful. All the best to you and your family.
@SocialMediaJon1: Wishing you all the best Dean take care
Sending best wishes to @DWindass10 from the #hcafc faithful . Forever the man who gave our club the greatest moment in our history. 🐯
Keep being the legend that you are 🖤🧡 pic.twitter.com/wFlDicI2mR
— The Black N Amber (@TheBlackNAmber) January 10, 2025
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