Family of Magpies hero ‘desperate for PFA support’ amid dementia struggles
FORCED TO SELL HIS HOME TO PAY CARE HOME COSTS
BIG John Mcnamee was a footballing colossus when the frightening enforcer for Newcastle United in their European Fairs Cup times but he is now reduced to a shell of his former glory struck down by crippling dementia.
Medical investigation has proved conclusively that CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a progressive degenerative disease “only found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma.”
For soccer players that equates to repeatedly heading a ball over a long career, not just players from yesteryear who were confronted by a heavy leather caser but even today’s superstars where it travels so much faster it is like a bullet on impact.
It is a dire situation which has forced Mcnamee’s family to make the final agonising decision to sell the house where he had lived for many years in an effort to pay spiralling care home costs.
They are far from alone in their desperate plight. No fewer than three from United’s golden age covering seven years at the end of the sixties when the club made regular trophy finals are current dementia sufferers who need 24-hour care.
Mcnamee of the 1969 Fairs Cup squad has been joined by John Tudor from the ’74 FA Cup, and Tommy Cassidy who played in both the ’74 FA Cup and ’76 League Cup.
Heroes all who brought so much joy to so many but are currently paying a huge price for their time in the spotlight representing the Toon.
Former Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear, who played for Spurs, is another in a care home.
Now John Mcnamee Jnr is supporting a campaign launched by
Nobby Stiles’ son John to get justice for families of former footballers facing such financial hardship.
“I want the PFA to step in and take positive action, not just talk about it,” he told me.
“I don’t want compensation for individuals but justice and help for families of ex-players who are being wiped out financially. “When dad was first diagnosed seven years ago we received what amounted to six weeks care from the PFA but then the money stopped, deadlines for a final decision were put back, and nothing happened.
“My sister and I had to fund dad’s care home bills and then when we couldn’t any longer we had to sell dad’s old house in Cockermouth to set up a fund which covers his care home stay but this cannot go on indefinitely.
“We are just one of countless families desperate for some sort of support which is why I’ve been in constant discussions with John Stiles to back what he is doing.”
John, a former player himself with Leeds United and Rochdale, set up Football Families For Justice three years ago and has relatives of 40 players actively involved with him.
When I spoke with John he told me: “What is happening – or rather not happening – is scandalous. The PFA are supposed to represent the players but they are effectively doing nothing despite repeated promises.
“They have a fund of £55m – yes, £55m – but have set aside the paltry sum of £1m to help the families of ex-players with care costs.
“They are supposed to be a trade union yet their members are losing their minds and dying because of injuries received while doing their jobs and they are doing nothing to help.”
When World Cup winner Nobby
Stiles died in October of 2020 at the age of 78 following a long and harrowing illness his family donated his brain to Dr Willie Stewart’s FIELD study.
Dr Stewart concluded: “We don’t find CTE in patients with dementia unless there is a story of brain injury or head impacts which was the case with Nobby.
“That is why we see it in people who play football and rugby and who box. The common theme is head impact.”
No fewer than six of England’s victorious World Cup winners of 1966 suffered from dementia – the Charlton brothers Bobby and Jack, Martin Peters, Ray Wilson, and George Cohen as well as Nobby.
Former Aston Villa and Northern Ireland central defender Chris Nicholl, who gave Alan Shearer his debut when manager of Southampton, died recently from CTE.
He had been in full-time care for many years which resulted in his family home having to be sold as well as his mementos from his playing career.
When money ran out Chris had to be taken from the care home which he loved and put in a cheaper version.
John Stiles was involved in fighting his corner just as he has been in constant contact with Joe Kinnear’s family and John Mcnamee Jr. I have long worked with Big John, not just during his playing days at Newcastle but afterwards on talk-ins across the area.
He was a joy to listen to, a fund of gloriously irreverent and downright hilarious reminiscences, yet behind the facade of a fun guy was a life of terrible tragedy.
Having lost his dear wife Rose aged only 41 he was left to bring up
I dont want compensation for individuals, but justice and help for families of ex-players,
John Mcnamee Jnr
four kids on his own, putting them through university despite a lack of money.
He became a postman in Cockermouth to give him more time with the family only for his Royal Mail van to be involved in a head-on collision which left him with serious neck and back injuries. Then his son Darren died unexpectedly in Australia.
Crippled by old football injuries which put him on sticks, John went on to lose all his goods and chattels when floods decimated the area where he lived. Not once but twice.
Worse followed.
Mcnamee was originally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease which robbed him of so many treasured memories and warm public appreciation many years ago and things have continued to go steadily downhill.
It was later confirmed he had CTE and had also developed Parkinson’s disease.
Now he is confined to a wheelchair hardly able to speak.
No man deserves such constant horrific fortune, but at 82 he battles on.