On the outside, dad looks fine. He’s not walking with a stick, there are no hearing or sight problems. But he is far from fine. And we now know this isn’t going away
Daughter Too many ex-players are suffering for it to be a coincidence
The family of Rangers legend Jimmy Millar have today bravely decided to speak out about the Ibrox icon’s battle with dementia.
His heartbroken daughter Elaine has gone public on the 82-year-old’s 10-year ordeal with the devastating brain disease as football reels from a barrage of ex- pros suffering from the condition.
Like many other families, Elaine is convinced her dad’s plight is linked to his prowess for heading the ball.
Jimmy’s heading ability helped him net 30 Scottish Cup goals, which is still a post-war record for Rangers – held jointly with Derek Johnstone.
In all competitions, he scored 162 goals for the Glasgow giants and his famous strike partnership with best pal Ralph Brand is one of the most celebrated in Scottish football history.
The pai r were lifelong friends on and off the pitch.
But t ra g i ca l ly Jimmy’s dementia has left him so confused that he now wrongly believes Ralph is dead.
Sitting with his wife of 59 years, Evelyn, there’s a f lash of anger when Elaine gently tries to remind her dad that Ralph has not passed away.
But adamant Jimmy snaps: “No, Ralph’s gone. I was at the funeral.”
The dad of four was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2007 and, although he can still recognise his family, the cruel condition has taken its toll.
Clinical support worker Elaine, 55, from Broxburn, West Lothian, said: “I would say the hardest thing for me is just remembering how he was compared to now. A lot of his personality has just gone.
“There are just wee things where he gets irate and he’ll maybe say a swear word. For him to swear at me is sometimes so upsetting.
“I know that’s the dementia – that’s not dad. I was daddy’s girl and he would always say, ‘You never swear in front of a lady.’
“He would never, ever want to upset his family in any way. He lived for his family.
“I just cling on to all the good memories I have of him.” But she added: “Sometimes, if you’re visiting and there’s maybe too many people there, there are just certain things that trigger off an outburst from him. Or if there’s a loud noise, he gets quite agitated about it.
“It’s stressful having a loved one with dementia because there is no cure. You know it’s not going to go away. It’s forever.”
Three-time league championship winner Jimmy enjoyed a successful 12- year spell with Rangers after starting his career at Dunfermline.
He also had a stint with Dundee United before hanging up his boots.
Jimmy said: “I was versatile–I could play badly anywhere.”
It’ s a joke he repeats numerous times in the short period we are with him.
Elaine said: “We realised something was wrong when he started repeating himself . The CT scan 10 years ago confirmed our worst fears.
“My dad looks fine and I think that’s the sad thing about it – he’s far from fine. My dad’s not walking with a stick, he’s not got any hearing problems and his sight’s fine…it’s just his memory.
“We saw him this morning and probably when we go back this afternoon he’ll have forgotten.”
Jimmy’s grandson Darren, 30, plays for East of Scotland league side Gala Fairydean after starting his career at Hibs.
Elaine said: “Darren’s grandad was his hero and dad loved coming to watch Darren because neither of my brothers ever got involved in football.
“But now if we take him along to watch Darren play at Gala Fairydean, he barely talks about it.
“I don’t know if it’ s the concentration side of it means he can’t follow what’s happening and
A lot of his personality has gone. I just cling on to all the good memories I have of him
it frustrates him. If he’s watching the telly, no matter who’s playing, he’ll say, ‘ There’s my laddie’ – even if it’s Man United. I wish it was.
“You just have to go, ‘ That’s right, dad. He’s doing well, eh?’ He used to watch football all the time but he’s not so bothered now.”
Elaine takes comfort from the fact that, unlike many dementia sufferers, Jimmy still recognises his family and knows who they are.
The family are looking forward to Jimmy and Evelyn’s 60th wedding anniversary celebrations in August.
Elaine said: “To this day, he’ll still say, ‘She’s my No1’, and he puts his arm round her.
“The good thing just now is that my dad still knows who we are. It’s not, ‘ Who are you?’ Eventually that’s what will happen.
“What I love to see is when you drive up to my mum and dad’s and their wee faces just light up when they look at you and they are so happy.
“My dad’s now quite…I don’t want to say clingy…but he just loves my mum. He does get anxious when she’s not there, constantly asking, ‘ Where’s your mum away to?’ – even if she’s just nipped to the toilet.
“He used to go out for long walks on his own and played golf six days a week but now he just likes to stay in with my mum.
“When he played football, he was known for being so courageous but now he’s almost timid.”
Lisbon Lion legend Billy McNeill ’s family’s brave decision to go public about his dementia helped convince Jimmy’s family to speak out.
The granddaughter of Jimmy’s former Old Firm rival Stevie Chalmers revealed last week that he also has dementia.
The Sunday Mail has been backing ex-players’ families’ calls for football to do more to fund research into the sport’s links with the disease.
Elaine added: “Dad knew Billy McNeill. They met at lots of things and his family’s decision to speak out got us thinking.
“My dad’s had this illness for 10 years now and you say to yourself, ‘ Why should it be hidden?’
“I’m just disappointed football is not doing more to find out. I don’t know why they don’t try to get on top of the issue.
“No one wants football banned but they could be doing research to find out if you can make the game safer.
“Dad was renowned for heading the ball – that was my dad’s trademark. He wasn’t the biggest but he could jump and scored a lot of goals from headers.
“So it really does make you wonder. He’ll tell you about those heavy leather footballs. If they got wet, they were like a ton brick – so you don’t know if that’s why he is like this now.
“I think it’s got to have done some damage. There’s too many ex- players suffering for it to be a coincidence.”