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 BBC Breakfast on Friday morning, while speaking about concerns about the condition in ex-players, along with ex-Leeds midfielder and dementia campaigner John Stiles.
Stage 2 dementia causes memory lapses and mild cognitive decline.
May has since posted on X, confirming he had spoken to Windass and been given permission to speak about the 55-year-old’s condition.
His post said: “FYI, I spoke to @DWindass10 last night and asked his permission. He was 100 per cent 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.”
Windass – who also played for Bradford City, Aberdeen, Oxford United and both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday – famously scored the winning goal in the 2008 Championship play-off final against Bristol City, which saw Hull promoted to the Premier League for the first time.
He later posted a video on X, singing along to Glen Campbell’s hit ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’, then posted: “Seriously, I am OK, was delighted to find out I had a brain. Just hope other families get the help they want for the people they have lost.”
Beckham backs campaign urging improved neurodegenerative disease care fund
David Beckham has backed a campaign to improve care for former players affected by neurodegenerative disease by applying political pressure to the football authorities.
The former England captain has given his support to the Football Families for Justice (FFJ) campaign, which is now working with the Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram on efforts to give football’s independent regulator powers to force the game’s authorities to take “decisive action” on neurodegenerative disease among ex-players.
Beckham said in a video address played at a campaign meeting in Manchester: “We need the football family to come together and allocate resources to help address the tragedy of these devastating diseases.
“Let’s ensure that victims and their families are treated with kindness, respect and best in class support.”
