‘INVESTIGATE GAME’S DEMENTIA LINK’

ALZHEIMER Scotland chief Jim Pearson has called for more funds to fully investigate any possible link between football and dementia. In February, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers backed a similar call by Liz McNeill after it was revealed her husband, Lisbon Lions captain Billy McNeill, had been diagnosed with the condition seven years ago. In 1999, ex-Celtic striker Billy McPhail launched a legal bid to prove he had suffered pre-senile dementia as a result of heading heavy footballs. The case was thrown out by an industrial tribunal before he died aged 75 in 2003. But three years later, a coroner ruled that former England and West Brom player Jeff Astle had died from dementia aged 59 brought on by repeated heading of the ball. Other leading footballers to get dementia include 1960s Rangers striker Jimmy Miller, Dundee United’s Frank Kopel, Hearts and Spurs legend Dave MacKay and Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles and Ray Wilson of England’s 1966 World Cupwinning team. Speaking after former Aberdeen and Dunfermline boss Jimmy Calderwood revealed yesterday he has younger onset Alzheimer’s Disease at age 62, Pearson said: ‘It’s becoming a more common question because more footballers are sharing their stories. ‘But there hasn’t been a lot of research — and the research that has been done is insufficient and lacks robustness. ‘We need to know more and learn more about it and we need to get better funding.’ Pearson praised Calderwood’s decision to go public on having Alzheimer’s and hopes it will help people in Scotland with the disease to seek help. He said: ‘It’s estimated there are about 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland. But of those 90,000, just over half actually have a diagnosis. That’s a big improvement over the last decade because it used to be one in three. ‘But there’s still a problem. People are still not coming forward and talking openly about dementia. They don’t have the confidence. ‘But it’s maybe even harder for somebody who comes from a football background like Jimmy Calderwood, who perhaps has a bit of hero status and is regarded so highly within their community. ‘There are additional barriers there.’