I CALLED THE HELPLINE FOR MY DAD BUT STILL FEEL AS POWERLESS AS BEFORE

Mark Phoenix is the son of Peter Phoenix, the former left winger for oldham, rochdale, exeter, Southport and Stockport. Peter (pictured) is now 82 and suffering from dementia. here, Mark tells his story... IN the early stages of my dad showing symptoms of dementia in 2017, I phoned the PFA and was put through to John Bramhall, the deputy chief executive. e. John told me there was s no link between football all and dementia, and I could only agree at the time. There was no research to suggest otherwise. I explained me and my mum, who is now 80 years old, were the only ones left to look after my dad. I asked John if the union could help, and later spoke to a claims adviser at the PFA called Brian, who asked me what benefits I collect. After looking at my benefits, Brian explained we could claim £30 more a week off the th government — —a and that was the extent exte of the PFA’s help. help My dad’s house is a few miles from their offices in Manchester, but no one has ever visited. Back then, there was no official link between football and dementia. I knew little about it. But when your dad develops brain damage, you want to find out why. Then the news broke last week: there is a link between football and dementia. I phoned the PFA to speak to John and he told me: ‘It’s a lot to take in.’ He then explained how he played as a centre half in over 500 games and he was worried himself. I told him he should be and reminded him of the help I received — £30 a week. John said he was sorry and sent me a number for their Dementia Helpline. I phoned yesterday and spoke to a young lady called Harriet from the Alzheimer’s Society. She was very understanding and sympathetic. She advised me to contact the union again and said she would see what the Alzheimer’s Society could do for me. So here I am, in the exact same desperate position.