As a player, I hated having to head the ball. It’s like being hit by concrete
Former first minister backs fight for more research into dementia link
Former first minister and ex-professional footballer Henry McLeish has admitted he used to dread heading the ball.
A debate has been raging over whether the sport is to blame for a number of ex- players suffering dementia.
Before becoming a high-profile Labour politician, McLeish was on the books of Leeds United and made 108 appearances for East Fife.
He will co-chair a summit later this year when scientists and the football authorities will discuss the game’s links to the illness.
The former wing-half said: “I was one of the youngestt players ever to play in Scottish h professional football. My firstst game for East Fife was at Hampden against Queen’s Park rk when I was barely 16.
“I remember what the ball was like on a wet day. Because I was quite small, I used to say to big defenders, ‘Okay guys, it’s comingming 60ft in the air, this is your ball,l, I’m not going near it’.
“That was a joke but it had serious intent because it was like a lump of concrete landing on your head.”
The Sunday Mai l has been campaigning on behalf of the families of the many ex- players suf fering dementia. We want football to carry out more research into claims heading a football can cause the devastating brain disease.
McLeish revealed he was keen to get involved with the summit, organised by Alzheimer Scotland, as his late father Harry – a miner for 30 years – was diagnosed with dementia. He said: “My father diedd of a stroke, aged 88, but had dementia at the time.
“Dementia becomes a challenge to any family and the person who has it sometimes may not be aware they have it. In the early stages, they can put it down to forgetfulness or doing things they wouldn’t normally do.
“My father was getting old and thought his memory was a problem of age. It was but in the early stages we didn’t realise what was happening was more significant.”
McLeish, 68, played a key role in introducing free personal care for the elderly in 2001 when he was first minister.
He added: “I remember people from the social work department coming to assess what help my father required. It was quite emotional for me when the social worker said, ‘ Well, Mr McLeish, we’ll be able to give you some care. You’ll be glad to know you’re getting this partly because your son introduced it’. It was quite overwhelming.”
The families of former football legends including Celtic captain Billy McNeill, Dundee United defender Frank Kopel, West Brom striker Jeff Astle and Scotland boss Al ly MacLeod have all spoken about their concerns that heading the ball causes dementia.
McLeish praised the Sunday Mail for highl ighting the issue and helping to trigger the summit, which wi l l be attended by SFA chief executive Stewart Regan.
He said: “After the Billy McNeill coverage, it was clear that this is something that must be addressed.
“The courage of the McNeil l family to come forward has given confidence to others to talk about it. It has started a Scotland-wide conversation on this issue.”
The courage of the McNeill family has given confidence to others