Terry McDermott confirms dementia diagnosis
Former Liverpool and Newcastle United footballer Terry McDermott has revealed he has been diagnosed with dementia.
McDermott, 69, announcedonLiverpool’sofficial websitethathewasintheearly stages of Lewy Body dementia following hospital tests.
He said: “I’ve got to get on with it and I will. It’s the way
I’ve been brought up. Nothing has come to me easily.
“I’m not frightened of taking it on and also, as we’ve seen, there are a lot of former players in a worse state than me. Battling is second nature. The worst thing was, until my condition was diagnosed you don’t know what’s going on.
“The number of ex-players being diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s is frightening.”
McDermott’s announcement comes only two days after Manchester United and Scotland great Denis Law revealed he was suffering from dementia.
McDermott made 329 appearances and scored 81 goals for Liverpool between 1974 and 1982, helping the side to fourleaguetitlesandthreeEuropean Cup victories as well as UEFA Cup success and two League Cup crowns.
He made 56 appearances for Newcastle United between 1973 and 1974, scoring six goals.
The former England international later had spells working as assistant manager at St James’s Park, alongside the likes of Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Glenn Roeder and Sam Allardyce, as well as with Huddersfield and Birmingham.
NUFC great Alan Shearer was among those taking to social media on Sunday, August 22 to share a message for McDermott.
He tweeted: “Wishing you well legend.”