Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
More than a walk in the park
Meets the players using football to kick Parkinson’s symptoms into touch
John Roche slowly shuffles towards his back door, barely lifting either foot off the ground. Even negotiating the single step down into his garden is a challenge.
But it’s one he carefully manages. Because on the patio ahead of him sits a football.
Within seconds, John is transformed as he rolls it onto his right foot before expertly juggling it with the aplomb of a Cristiano Ronaldo.
And what makes this all the more remarkable is that 59-year-old John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease nine years ago.
It means every day he struggles with a range of symptoms including involuntary shaking known as tremors, slow movement and stiff muscles that cause poor balance.
All of these impairments are obvious in a short video he made to show family members how the condition affects him. It has since been watched by thousands on social media.
But, astonishingly, with a ball at his feet, he instantly displays the skills which made him a well-respected non-league player up until his mid-30s.
“Following my diagnosis, I gave up many things I loved such as skiing,” says John, a commercial director in the construction industry until he took early retirement.
“But I had to find a way of fighting back and for me that was through football. I never thought I’d play again, but Parkinson’s opened up a way for me to return to the pitch.”
John, who lives with wife Tracy in Lydiate, Merseyside, now plays walking football, a slowed down low-impact version where any running is banned. He has also jointly set up Parkinson’s Support, a group encouraging sufferers to stay active backed by the Walking Football Association which this year has been creating ‘hubs’ across England.
Parkinson’s is a progressive condition that affects about 145,000 in the UK. Around 18,000 people are diagnosed every year.
It’s caused by the loss of nerve cells deep in the brain that produce the chemical dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for sending messages between the brain and body cells.
Dopamine helps control movement, so those with Parkinson’s usually have mobility issues. The disease has more than 40 typical symptoms, so everyone’s experience of the condition is different. Along with tremors, symptoms can include loss of smell and the ability to smile, as well as depression, anxiety and some memory loss. Although medication can help, there is no cure.
John says: “Back in 2012 I kept having pain in my shoulder blade which I’d been having physiotherapy for but without success. I saw various doctors and was told it could be a trapped nerve. I finally saw a neurologist who diagnosed Parkinson’s within 30 seconds. It came as a huge shock.”
Although John enjoyed five years of relatively stable health post-diagnosis, his condition has since deteriorated. He stays active through cycling and bowls – with walking football being a welcome addition during the past two years. He now plays three times a week, both with and against able-bodied teams. They also play against players with other issues, such as stroke victims. But experts remain puzzled why John and others with Parkinson’s can play football while struggling with everyday mobility issues. Claire Bale, head of research communications at Parkinson’s UK, says:
“We still don’t fully understand it. There are many message pathways involved in our movement, and so we think the brain might override some of these when there is a lack of dopamine and follow different pathways.” She says other research has shown how those with Parkinson’s can ably play sports such as table tennis, ride a bike and even dance despite having significant mobility issues.
But all forms of exercise are encouraged as studies have shown two-and-a-half hours per week can slow the progression. “I’ve seen people struggle to walk but when they hear music, they respond and dance – it’s amazing,” says Claire. “It is a phenomenon we want to find out more about.”
Ex-police dog handler Paul Nicholls was diagnosed with Parkinson’s seven years ago. He began playing walking football three years later.
“I shut myself away as I was ashamed,” says Paul, 53, from Clacton-on Sea, Essex. “But then I discovered walking football. Playing makes me feel free again as I focus on the ball and my walking issues aren’t there. It gives me a euphoric feeling. For that hour of playing, I feel normal again.”
John shares these emotions. “Along with the other players, we hang up our sticks and go on to the pitch,” he says.
“It’s like I’ve rolled back the years.
I’m doing what I love and feel great before, during and for a short time afterwards. It’s incredible how we’re transformed on a football pitch.”
We Are Undefeatable is a national campaign to inspire people with longterm health issues, including Parkinson’s, to get active. To find out more about the Walking Football Association and its support for Parkinson’s visit thewfa.co.uk.
Parkinson’s has opened up a way for me to return to the football pitch