I played for Manchester United with Fergie, but now I'm worried that dementia will prevent me from looking after my family.
Former Manchester United star David May has revealed he fears for his long-term health after revealing Dean Windass has been diagnosed with dementia.
The status of the former Hull, Bradford City and Middlesbrough striker was shared by the Red Devils legend on BBC Breakfast with the former striker's permission.
“Yesterday I spoke to Dean Windass, a former professional footballer,” May said.
“I asked Deano how he is. He was diagnosed with stage 2 dementia.
“He's the same age as me and he's very worried about what his future will be like.”
He then turned to @DWindass10 Last night and I asked for his permission, he supported me 100% and mentioned that he had been diagnosed with stage 2 dementia.
“Deano just wrote an article for a national newspaper that will be published soon… share the love.”
In addition to reposting May's message, Windass wrote: “Seriously, I'm fine and I'm glad to know I have a brain. I just hope other families get the help they want for the people they've lost.”
May enjoyed a successful career that began in Blackburn Rovers before sir Alex Ferguson lured him to Old Trafford for £1.2 million in 1994.
The following year, May had to watch as his former teammates lifted the Premier League title at his and Manchester United's expense.
However, that only fueled the fire of what became a trophy-laden nine-year stint at the Theater of Dreams.
Two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League winners' medal shine brightly in May's home.
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And it played a very significant, if quiet, role in America's success in the 1990s and early 2000s.
A centre-back par excellence, May often filled in at right-back when he was first choice. Gary Neville was not available.
A warrior in the field no matter where he was deployed, May rarely lost an aerial duel.
But now the 54-year-old fears his heading ability will come back to haunt him in the years to come.
the first manchester united The star opened up about his concerns about dementia and his widely discussed connection to football.
He appeared on BBC Breakfast on Friday morning to discuss the issue following the FA's decision to limit intentional heading in youth matches across England due to health implications.
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May admitted that he had headed the ball around 20,000 times during his career and spoke of his concern about how it could affect his health in the future.
“I didn't know anything, it's just coming to light now that this is coming to light,” May said.
May admitted he is unsure whether signs of dementia will manifest in him over the next decade and spoke of his skepticism over whether he will receive adequate support from the sport's governing bodies.
“It's worrying,” he said. “Yes, I'm worried, of course I am. I have a family to take care of. I don't want my children taking care of me day after day.”
“Health care costs a lot of money and is the money going to PFA enough to care for future generations, one in three of whom are likely to develop dementia?”
John Stiles, son of England's 1966 World Cup champion Nobby, revealed that his father was forced to auction off his medals to pay for necessary medical care before his death in 2020.
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After making the decision to donate his father's brain for post-mortem research, John revealed that the former England hero did not suffer from vascular dementia or Alzheimer's.
He said: “The disease that killed him is called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). I asked (the doctor) how many brains of footballers he examined had CTE, it was 70 per cent. That's what killed my father.”
“If my dad didn't have medals to sell, I don't know what my family would have done.”
“That is what is happening now with the families. The families of football players, when they go to care homes, are in a terrible state. That is why we are campaigning to get help for those families, who are basically in a complete financial disaster. .when your loved one enters a nursing home.”
