Dementia afflicted footballers

[Octopus of Odstock 2,186]

Recent reports suggest a minimum of 375 former footballers have dementia or some form of degenerative brain deisease, but other people like Tony Cascarino suspect it is a lot more according to reports. For privacy reasons, not all 375 are going to reveal but with so many footballers now coming public and with the hapless Gordon Taylor now gone at the PFA, many more may now reveal their plight.

 

I thought it would be a good idea to record those living for research purposes. I know there are much more, but I can add them on in due course as of course this can be amended.

 

Forename	Surname	Age in 2024	Clubs	International	Caps
Harry	Jarvis	96	Notts County, Worksop
Enrique	Collar	90	Athletico Madrid, Cadiz, Valencia, Murcia	Spain	16
Cliff	Jones	89	Swansea, Tottenham, Fulham	Wales	59
Jim	MacLean	88	Dunfermline
Billy	Wilson	88	Linfield, Portadown, Burnley, Ballymena
Alan	Peacock	87	Middlesbrough, Leeds, Plymouth Argyle	England	6
Nair	Silva	87	Corinthians	Brazil	1
Ron	Yeats	87	Dundee United, Liverpool, Tranmere	Scotland	2
Carlos	Bilardo	86	San Lorenzo, Deportivo Español, Estudiantes
Frank	Wignall	85	Everton, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Derby County, Mansfield, King's Lynn	England	2
Alan	Roper	85	Walsall
Gilberto	Della Breda	85	Kortrijk, Gent, Standard Liege
Denis	Law	84	Huddersfield, Manchester City, Manchester United, Torino	Scotland	55
Xavier	Stierli	84	FC Zurich	Switzerland	12
Alan	Spence	84	Southport, Sunderland, Darlington, Oldham, Chester
Len	Willett	84	Wrexham, Congleton
Jose Zico	Dias	84	Nacional, Paranese
Hughie	McIlmoyle	84	Leicester, Rotherham, Carlisle, Wolves, Middlesbrough, Bristo C, Preston, Morton
Alex	Stuart	83	Dundee, Dundee United
John	McNamee	83	Newcastle, Workington, Celtic, Hibs, Hartlepool, Blackburn
Mike	Bailey	82	Charlton, Hereford United, Wolves	England	2
Rod	Thornhill	82	Reading, Poole Town
Hugh	Ryden	81	Bristol Rovers, Stockport County, Chester, Halifax
Gordon	Wallace	81	Montrose, Raith, Dundee, Dundee United, Seattle Sounders
Jorge	Peralta	81	Club Sport Uruguary, Herediano	Costa Rica	1
Alan	Gilliver	80	Huddersfield, Blackburn, Rotherham, Brighton, Lincoln, Bradford, Stockport
Nelson	Acosta	80	Huracan Buceo, Penarol
Peter	Cormack	78	Hibernian, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Bristol City, Partick Thistle	Scotland	9
Dave	Watson	78	Notts County, Rotherham, Sunderland, Manchester City, Stoke, Southampton, Derby	England	65
John	Tudor	78	Coventry, Sheffield United, Newcastle United, Stoke, KAA Gent
Dave	Boylen	77	Grimsby Town
Billy	Sinclair	77	Greenock Morton, Chelsea, Glentoran, Kilmarnock, Linfield, Sligo Rovers
Chris	Barnard	76	Southend, Ipswich, Torquay, Charlton
Gareth	Davies	75	Wrexham	Wales	3
Tony	Parkes	75	Blackburn Rovers
Barry	Whitbread	75	Lancaster, Altrincham and Runcorn, Singapore manager
Tommy	Cassidy	74	Glentoran, Newcastle, Burnley	Northern Ireland	24
Alex	Cropley	73	Hibernian, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Toronto Blizzard, Portsmouth	Scotland	2
Terry	McDermott	73	Bury, Newcastle United, Liverpool	England	23
Frank	Womble	73	Rotherham, Crewe, Halifax
Mick	Lyons	73	Everton, Sheffield Wednesday, Grimsby
Trevor	Whymark	73	Ipswich, Derby, Grimsby, Vancouver Whitecaps, Southend, Peterborough	England	1
Willie	Young	72	Aberdeen, Tottenham, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Norwich, Brighton, Darlington
Dave	Serella	72	Nottingham Forest, Walsall, Blackpool
Osvaldo	Aquino	72	San Lorenzo, Gurani, Olimpia	Paraguay
Daniel	Passarella	71	Sarmineto, River Plate, Fiorentina, Inter Milan	Argentina	70
Kees	Doornebal	71	Christchurch United
Stuart	Parker	70	Blackpool, Southend, Chesterfield, Blackburn, Bury, Chester etc.
Jimmy	Calderwood	69	Birmingham, Cambridge, Sparta Rotterdam, Willem II, Roda, Heracles
Dave	Cusack	68	Sheffield Wednesday, Southend, Millwall, Doncaster, Rotherham, Boston
Dietmar	Constantini	68	LASK, SWW Innsbruck
Pierre	Vermeulen	68	Rida, Feyenoord, MVV, PSG, Tours, Angers	Holland	9
John	Deehan	67	Aston Villa, Norwich, West Brom, Ipswich, Barnsley
Edgardo	Bauza	66	Rosario, Verecruz, Atletico Jr, Independiente	Argentina	3
Gordon	Cowans	66	Aston Villa, Blackburn, Derby, Wolves, Sheffield United, Bradford, Stockport, Burnley	England	10
Steve	Elliott	66	Nottingham Forest, Preston, Luton, Bury, Bolton, Walsall, Rochdale
Steve	Norris	65	Port Vale, Leek Town
Brendan	Ormsby	64	Aston Villa, Leeds, Shrewsbury, Doncaster, Scarborough, Wigan
Colin	Gibson	64	Aston Villa, Manchester United, Port Vale, Leicester, Blackpool, Walsall
Jan	Furtok	62	GKS Katowice, Eintract Frankfurt,  Hamburg	Poland	36
Kevin	Hetherington	61	Ayr, Queen of the South, Annan
Jan Jaap	Keistra	59	Veendam, Groningen
Bruce	Murray	58	Washington Stars, Maryland, Millwall, Stockport, Ayr, Atlanta Ruckus	United States	85
Martin	Ogg	55	FC Schaffhausen

[Spade_Cooley 9,513]

,

[Dying Probably 578]

1 hour ago, Octopus of Odstock said:

Recent reports suggest a minimum of 375 former footballers have dementia or some form of degenerative brain deisease, but other people like Tony Cascarino suspect it is a lot more according to reports. For privacy reasons, not all 375 are going to reveal but with so many footballers now coming public and with the hapless Gordon Taylor now gone at the PFA, many more may now reveal their plight.

 

I thought it would be a good idea to record those living for research purposes. I know there are much more, but I can add them on in due course as of course this can be amended.

 

Forename	Surname	Age on NYE	Clubs	International	Caps
Eddie	McLaren	91	Reading
Jimmy	Millar	86	Dunfermline, Rangers, Dundee United	Scotland	2
Peter	Swan	84	Sheffield Wednesday, Bury	England	19
Bobby	Charlton	83	Manchester United, Preston	England	106
Jim	McLean	83	Hamilton, Clyde, Kilmarnock, Dundee
Roger	Hunt	82	Liverpool, Bolton	England	34
Alan	Roper	81	Walsall
Jimmy	Robson	81	Burnley, Blackpool, Barnsley, Bury
Mike	Bailey	78	Charlton, Hereford United, Wolves	England	2
Chris	Chilton	77	Hull, Coventry
Bill	Gates	76	Middlesbrough
Mike	Sutton	76	Norwich, Chester, Carlisle
Gerd	Muller	75	1861 Nordingen, Bayern Munich, Fort Lauderdale Kickers	West Germany	62
Dave	Watson	74	Notts County, Rotherham, Sunderland, Manchester City, Stoke City, Southampton, Derby	England	65
Chris	Nicholl	74	Halifax, Luton, Aston Villa, Southampton, Grimsby Town	Northern Ireland	51
Steve	Smith	74	Huddersfield, Bolton, Halifax
Dave	Boylen	73	Grimsby Town
Frank	Worthington	72	Huddersfield, Leicester, Birmingham, Bolton, Leeds, Sunderland, Southampton, Brighton, Tranmere, Preston, Stockport	England	8
Stan	Bowles	72	Manchester City, Bury, Crewe, Carlisle, QPR, Nottingham Forest, Leyton O, Brentford	England	5
Ernie	Moss	71	Chesterfield, Peterborough, Mansfield, Port Vale, Lincoln, Doncaster, Stockport, Scarborough, Rochdale
Tony	Parkes	71	Blackburn Rovers
Dave	Serella	68	Nottingham Forest, Walsall, Blackpool
Jimmy	Calderwood	65	Birmingham, Cambridge, Sparta Rotterdam, Willem II, Roda, Heracles
Gordon	Cowans	62	Aston Villa, Blackburn, Derby, Wolves, Sheffield United, Bradford, Stockport, Burnley	England	10
Wout	Holverda	62	Sparta Rotterdam, Fortuna Sittard, HFC Haarlem
Brendan	Ormsby	60	Aston Villa, Leeds, Shrewsbury, Doncaster, Scarborough, Wigan

 

Good god, that AND being a billionaire?

[ebless 203]

You can add Peter Cormack of Liverpool, Hibernian and Partick Thistle 

 

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/latest-hibs-news/legendary-hibs-player-peter-cormack-speaks-out-about-his-dementia-920231

 

Also Davie Sneddon of Kilmarnock, Dundee, Preston and Raith Rovers 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-39103570

[Octopus of Odstock 2,186]

26 minutes ago, ebless said:

You can add Peter Cormack of Liverpool, Hibernian and Partick Thistle 

 

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/latest-hibs-news/legendary-hibs-player-peter-cormack-speaks-out-about-his-dementia-920231

 

Also Davie Sneddon of Kilmarnock, Dundee, Preston and Raith Rovers 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-39103570

 

Thank you - the Sneddon article also refers to Joe Mason, ex-Kilmarnock and Rangers also being affected by the disease. So I've added them all on.

[RoverAndOut 4,745]

4 hours ago, Octopus of Odstock said:

 

Roger Hunt 82 Liverpool, Bolton England 34

 

It feels heresy to question your estimable research so I'm sure I'm wrong, but where's your info about Roger Hunt having dementia? I don't recall it coming up in the recent discussion of Bobby Charlton's diagnosis and a quick search on Google for 'Roger Hunt dementia' brought several references to other members of the 66 team with dementia, but I found no mention of him personally suffering from the disease.

 

This article I posted in the Boys of 66 thread from January talks about the possibility of Liverpool winning the title and contains several memories of past games and no mention of dementia. I'm still assuming I'm wrong, but thought I'd ask the question. 

[ebless 203]

2 hours ago, Octopus of Odstock said:

 

Thank you - the Sneddon article also refers to Joe Mason, ex-Kilmarnock and Rangers also being affected by the disease. So I've added them all on.

 

Mason actually passed away in September 2019. Sneddon is still alive however. 

 

https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-joe-mason-footballer-and-highly-respected-first-team-coach-rangers-1405127

[Sir Creep 7,070]

Because it was important to distinguish them from all footballers.  

[Ulitzer95 12,563]

4 hours ago, Sir Creep said:

Because it was important to distinguish them from all footballers.  

SC, just leave the forum. It’s evident that you’re not happy with the general conduct of other users here as all you ever do is whinge and complain.

In the UK there’s a big conversation going on right now about whether using your head to hit the ball in association football should be banned because of the statistical likeliness of former professionals developing dementia. Therefore it’s very topical right now, and as the posts above demonstrate, focusing a list leads to other users providing new names. All useful for deadpooling which is why we’re ultimately here. I don’t recall you unearthing any fresh possibilities lately. Just copy and pasting news articles and constantly moaning.

So either contribute or just STFU and take your sarcasm elsewhere. Stop trying to belittle other users, especially ones who have been here for far longer than you. 

[TQR 14,384]

1 hour ago, Ulitzer95 said:

SC, just leave the forum. It’s evident that you’re not happy with the general conduct of other users here as all you ever do is whinge and complain.

 

In the UK there’s a big conversation going on right now about whether using your head to hit the ball in association football should be banned because of the statistical likeliness of former professionals developing dementia. Therefore it’s very topical right now,

“Fucking retarded UK-centric noob”

[Octopus of Odstock 2,186]

18 hours ago, RoverAndOut said:

 

It feels heresy to question your estimable research so I'm sure I'm wrong, but where's your info about Roger Hunt having dementia? I don't recall it coming up in the recent discussion of Bobby Charlton's diagnosis and a quick search on Google for 'Roger Hunt dementia' brought several references to other members of the 66 team with dementia, but I found no mention of him personally suffering from the disease.

 

This article I posted in the Boys of 66 thread from January talks about the possibility of Liverpool winning the title and contains several memories of past games and no mention of dementia. I'm still assuming I'm wrong, but thought I'd ask the question. 

 

You are indeed right. My notes came from an article in 2016 that reported Hunt as suffering from memory loss (Daily Express, I should have known better) and I had put a mental note against his name. He seems, as far as I'm now aware, very well, as per the link you posted - https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/690296/David-Cameron-urged-honour-1966-World-Cup-heroes-knighthoods   (note the correction at the top)

[Octopus of Odstock 2,186]

18 hours ago, ebless said:

 

Mason actually passed away in September 2019. Sneddon is still alive however. 

 

https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-joe-mason-footballer-and-highly-respected-first-team-coach-rangers-1405127

 

Well, that shows you how bloody useless Wikipedia is. The next time they want £2 per person, they had better get their pages updated. Thanks, I'll update it accordingly.

[RoverAndOut 4,745]

7 minutes ago, Octopus of Odstock said:

You are indeed right. My notes came from an article in 2016 that reported Hunt as suffering from memory loss (Daily Express, I should have known better) and I had put a mental note against his name. He seems, as far as I'm now aware, very well, as per the link you posted - https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/690296/David-Cameron-urged-honour-1966-World-Cup-heroes-knighthoods   (note the correction at the top)

 

Makes sense. Stupid tabloids, but at least it's cleared up - good to know a few of the 66 lads are still in decent shape at least!

[Lord Fellatio Nelson 6,218]

1 hour ago, Octopus of Odstock said:

 

Well, that shows you how bloody useless Wikipedia is. The next time they want £2 per person, they had better get their pages updated. Thanks, I'll update it accordingly.

You old skinflint! 

[ladyfiona 2,570]

Should this thread also include ex rugby players because they get brain damage more than footballers i'm sure?

[Lord Fellatio Nelson 6,218]

13 minutes ago, ladyfiona said:

Should this thread also include ex rugby players because they get brain damage more than footballers i'm sure?

Some may argue that they must already be brain damaged for wanting to go out and play the game anyway.

Obviously, that's not me.

[Sideik 236]

 

1 hour ago, ladyfiona said:

Should this thread also include ex rugby players because they get brain damage more than footballers i'm sure?

Or american football, I've seen a movie about this...I had to search for the title but it was easy: "Concussion" with Will Smith

Anyway...if all the concussion stuff is true I think Raul Jimenez made a big leap towards the illness today...

[Sean 6,309]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/13409745/kenny-sansom-dementia-brain-disorder/ : Kenny Sansom diagnosed with Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome a type of dementia which is alcohol-induced normally.The statement says this is reversible.Only 20% of cases are and that is dependent on abstaining from alcohol.

[The Old Crem 3,579]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55201237

We now have dementia cases for Rugby players.

 

My dad still thinks it's a hoax and he is does not believe they is a link.

[TQR 14,384]

This thread should probably be extended to include Rugby players; Steve Thompson, off of England’s World Cup winning Rugby Union squad of 2003, has early onset dementia at the age of 42 and can’t remember winning the cup.

 

He and several other under-45s affected are planning on taking legal action against the RFU.

[gcreptile 10,963]

10 minutes ago, The Quim Reaper said:

This thread should probably be extended to include Rugby players; Steve Thompson, off of England’s World Cup winning Rugby Union squad of 2003, has early onset dementia at the age of 42 and can’t remember winning the cup.

 

He and several other under-45s affected are planning on taking legal action against the RFU.

Oh wow, more than 70 players..

Daily Mail also has Michael Lipman, Mouritz Botha, Carl Hayman, Geoff Old:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-9028737/Rugby-faces-concussion-lawsuit-bombshell-70-former-players-plan-sue-head-injuries.html

[Grim Up North 3,725]

11 minutes ago, The Old Crem said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55201237

We now have dementia cases for Rugby players.

 

My dad still thinks it's a hoax and he is does not believe they is a link.

 

9 minutes ago, The Quim Reaper said:

This thread should probably be extended to include Rugby players; Steve Thompson, off of England’s World Cup winning Rugby Union squad of 2003, has early onset dementia at the age of 42 and can’t remember winning the cup.

 

He and several other under-45s affected are planning on taking legal action against the RFU.

 

When rugby went professional it changed the game from a game for all shapes and sizes to a game for brick shit houses - the hits they take every game week in and week out must far exceed the punishment most professional boxers take and they probably have 3 months between bouts.

 

30 years ago the forwards who were in the scrum only caught up with the play again once the ball had gone out of play whereas now they are in the game taking hits throughout.

 

Even American football is kinder because you are either in attack or defence so only on the pitch for half a game.

 

I can see rugby as we know it being banned within 10 years.

[gcreptile 10,963]

Googling "rugby dementia" reveals a current flood:

 

Alix Popham:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/55208227

 

James Haskell:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/12807234/rugby-james-haskell-hartley-dementia-warning/

 

Also a Telegraph article a couple of hours ago...

[TQR 14,384]

1 minute ago, gcreptile said:

Googling "rugby dementia" reveals a current flood:

 

Alix Popham:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/55208227

 

James Haskell:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/12807234/rugby-james-haskell-hartley-dementia-warning/

 

Also a Telegraph article a couple of hours ago...

Worth saying that Haskell does not exhibit signs of dementia but one of his squad mates has it.

[RoverAndOut 4,745]

On 28/11/2020 at 20:37, Octopus of Odstock said:

Recent reports suggest a minimum of 375 former footballers have dementia or some form of degenerative brain disease, but other people like Tony Cascarino suspect it is a lot more according to reports. For privacy reasons, not all 375 are going to reveal but with so many footballers now coming public and with the hapless Gordon Taylor now gone at the PFA, many more may now reveal their plight.

 

I thought it would be a good idea to record those living for research purposes.

 

It's not my thread, so I'm not making a judgement one way or the other, but is the purpose of the thread not being muddied if we start throwing in NFL players and rugby players? This was specifically about the increasing numbers of footballers coming forward with forms of dementia, to see just how widespread an issue it is. I don't deny there are issues in other sports (the NFL's has been widely publicised in recent years) but does it not threaten to become 'just another thread about degenerative diseases'? Maybe we extend it to 'Dementia in Sport' in which case, do we lump the boxers who inevitably end up in this situation too?

 

Octopus hasn't waded in to dispute the widening of his original intention, so maybe I'm in the minority and I totally agree there are issues in many different sports (I came here to see if anyone had reported Steve Thompson et al's suing plans) but it felt like this started off like the 'Oldest Living Footballers' thread and is now losing it's focus. Just my opinion. 

EDIT: I guess what I'm asking is whether making this an all-encompassing thread is the lesser of two evils when compared to two further threads for "NFL concussion-related issues' and 'Rugby concussion-related issues' or whether that would be a better plan?