Please don’t give me the Cald shoulder
Jimmy tackling Alzheimer’s with trademark humour as he jokes about regretting splashing out on Ibrox season ticket
JIMMY CALDERWOOD insists he doesn’t want to be treated any differently after revealing he’s been diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease. The former Aberdeen and Dunfermline boss yesterday went public with his illness and the 62-year-old hopes it doesn’t change how those in football view him.
Calderwood said: “I hope when people in the Scottish game see me from now on they don’t say, ‘I don’t want to talk to him’.
“I would hope they would treat me the same as always.”
JIMMY CALDERWOOD played it for laughs when he revealed he’s bought a season ticket for Ibrox – and still can’t get the Hibs game out of his mind.
The former Aberdeen manager, a boyhood Rangers fan, is determined to tackle his diagnosis of young onset Alzheimer’s disease with his trademark good humour.
He will continue to watch the Scottish game he loves and comment on the Premiership he knows inside out from spells at the Dons, Dunfermline, Ross County and Killie.
He has also pleaded with former players and managers not to treat him any differently when they see him out and about and stressed he’s still good for a wind-up.
Calderwood, 62, yesterday went public on a diagnosis delivered more than two years ago because he wants to help others talk more openly about dementia.
He may have grown more forgetful in the last couple of years but his impish sense of fun is the same as ever.
He said: “I’ve bought a season ticket for Ibrox but I should take it back. I can’t believe I’ve spent money on it!”
Partner Yvonne Buchanan said: “When his team gets beat he doesn’t like it but apart from that his mindset is very positive. That’s what keeps him going.”
Calderwood moved from Govan at 15 to sign for Birmingham, played for Sir Alf Ramsey and Jim Smith in the old First Division and also had a stellar career as player and coach in Holland with clubs such as Sparta Rotterdam, Willem II, Roda and Nijmegen.
He added: “The enjoyment of football will always be there. I love the game. I’ve had a great time in sport. I could never take anything away from that. It has been fantastic.
“I’ll be going down to Birmingham two or three times a year to meet up again with old friends and team-mates such as Kenny Burns and Trevor Francis. It’s always great to see them.
“I hope when people in the Scottish game see me from now on don’t say, ‘There’s Calderwood, I don’t want to talk to him’. I hope they would treat me the same as always. I could be a dinosaur now and again but I enjoy seeing my former players. I caught up with Ryan Jack at Ibrox the other day and he was fantastic with me.
“Football is a wonderful game. There can be some idiots – and I might have been one in the eyes of some referees – but football is my whole life.
“I’ve been contacted recently by a number of journalists for my views on certain aspects of football. I’m still up to date with what’s going on so I hope to keep hearing from them.”
Calderwood is one of the most popular personalities within Scottish football but revealed he was initially reluctant to discuss his condition with even his closest pals.
However, the diagnosis of his former Sparta team-mate, striker Wout Holverda, convinced him to speak openly about the disease.
Calderwood said: “I haven’t confided in anyone in the game until now and I don’t really know why. I think in the beginning I was maybe a little bit scared or something but I just need to get on with it. I would like to encourage people to talk. The message to others is not to be afraid to come forward.”
Alzheimer Scotland have used the power of football previously to help men, in particular, come to terms with their diagnoses.
They have joined forced with the Scottish Football Museum to support the development of Sports Heritage Scotland, which includes more than 140 Football Memories Groups.
Jim Pearson of Alzheimer Scotland said: ‘People have an emotional attachment with clubs and we have been working with the Scottish Football Museum to contribute funding to Football Memories.
“When you ask people to talk about games, great players and goals, you see people come alive. Football is a great vehicle for that.”
Calderwood has contributed greatly to the Scottish game since arriving at East End Park from NEC Nijmegen in 1999, the first time he had worked in his homeland. He secured Dunfermline SPL promotion before steering them to their most successful spell since the 1960s, including a fourth-place finish and Scottish Cup Final appearance.
He took Aberdeen into the top half of the SPL after joining in 2004 and under his charge they also played in Europe after Christmas, a feat no side outwith the Old Firm has matched since and which was only halted by UEFA Cup defeat by Bayern Munich.
He also worked wonders at County and Killie, taking over both toiling clubs in mid-season only to preserve their top-flight status.
Ex-Pars midfielder Darren Young, now East Fife boss, insists his old gaffer will be up for the fight ahead.
He said: “Jimmy has been a battler his whole career and that won’t stop now. Scottish football will rally behind him.”
■ For more info call Alzheimer Scotland’s freephone helpline on 0808 808 3000.
I’ve bought a season ticket for Ibrox but I should take it back. I can’t believe I’ve spent money on it! JIMMY CALDERWOOD