Being told I had Parkinson’s hit me hard. But football has been great. It gets me up in the morning
HIS LOVE OF THE GAME IS HELPING HIM FIGHT ON
PHIL DOWD went toeto-toe with football’s biggest names, taking charge of memorable matches involving the likes of Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Now he is ready for an even bigger challenge.
Former Premier League referee Dowd is determined to win his battle against Parkinson’s.
At 61, Dowd admits that he did not want to confront the truth for the first two years after he was told that he had the condition, which affects the nervous system.
Around 153,000 in the UK have been diagnosed with the disease, the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world.
But Dowd, who took charge of the 2012 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool and the 2010 League Cup final between Aston Villa and Manchester United, wants to provide a positive message with football still at the heart of his life.
He is part of the PGMOL development group and helps to coach and look after six officials, including current top-flight referee Sunny Singh Gill.
Dowd, who still drives to games, spends hours on his computer and his phone to guide the officials – the other five are Aji Ajibola, Kirsty Dowle, Tom Parsons, Declan Brown and Abi Byrne – under his tutelage. He has also thrown himself into raising awareness of the disease and promoting the work done by Parkinson’s UK.
The self-confessed football nut first became aware of his Parkinson’s symptoms when his wife spotted his left arm shaking, which also happened when he was playing golf. His uncle had it and that maybe put him on alert.
“Football gets me up in the morning now,” said Dowd. “That is what gets me going and it’s important to have that. It started when my wife saw my left arm shaking and I got checked. I got diagnosed during Covid times and the specialist said to me, ‘You’ve got Parkinson’s.’ It hit me hard and I just thought, ‘S***.’
“I didn’t want to admit that I had it for the first two years. At that stage you don’t realise all the symptoms because you think you just shake a bit. But there are so many other symptoms.
“You want to hide it but football has been brilliant to me. Howard Webb has been so supportive as has Wayne Allison at the PGMOL.
“I was given tablets which help a lot. And exercise is really important. I have to take my driving test every three years but I still drive.”
Parkinson’s UK supports everyone affected by the condition, funding research into the most promising treatments, getting closer to a cure every day.
Dowd, whose first Premier League game was Fulham v Everton in December 2001, said: “The other things which impact you are stiff muscles but I play golf and you just have to adapt. Insomnia affects me badly. I can find it difficult to get out of the chair at times. Everything slows down. I joke about always
He’s also thrown himself into raising awareness of the disease
‘That is what gets me going and it’s important to have that’
‘I have to take my driving test every three years but I still drive’
being in the centre circle in my last year as a referee.
“I never get up to buy a pint now – so it helps me in some ways! I don’t drink but I can’t carry a tray full of beers or a bowl of soup. But, generally, it doesn’t stop you doing things, it just takes longer and can be much harder to do basic things like getting dressed.
“I want to put something back into society and we’ve got some golf days. There’s also a walking football tournament. I want to help highlight it in the next couple of years.
“It’s important to be positive and stay active. There’s no cure. It affects people differently. I can probably jog better than I can walk.
“I also want to show that you can lead a good life and it’s not as bad as people think. I’m still doing stuff and I’m still grateful the PGMOL want me to work in my role and that has really helped me.
Further information, advice and support is available on their website, www.parkinsons.org.uk or their free, confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303.
PHIL DOWD EXCLUSIVE