‘Our era’s legacy of dementia’

BRYAN KING counts himself lucky that after a lifetime in the game playing for Millwall and scouting for top Premier League clubs he’s still got all his faculties.

Sadly for former teammates and friends in the game, later life hasn’t been so charitable with dementia ravaging many of his contemporaries like Nobby Stiles and Jack Charlton who both passed away in the last four months.

King, now 73, is living in Norway after 27 years talent spotting players in Scandanavia for Tottenham, Everton and Aston Villa.

After taking numerous whacks to the head King is grateful he’s not suffered any lasting damage.

But in his new book, The Lions’ King, the former Millwall keeper gives a frightening glimpse into the lack of care and protection for players in the 60s and 70s.

“Looking back it’s no wonder players are being struck down by dementia and it’s an absolute disgrace how little action has been taken by the authorities to help these guys.

“I remember at the time being thankful I only had to save those leather balls, not head them. When I think that defenders and forwards were heading them most days of the week it makes me shudder.

“Since I started my book a couple of years ago about 15 players from my era who had dementia have died.”

As a goalkeeper King faced another threat on a regular basis – concussion.

He said: “I was lucky in that I didn’t pick up too many concussions in my career. Players of our era were told by clubs, doctors and physios that we’d be okay, there was no danger, we’d be alright. Yet a lot of people aren’t alright.”