Recent Cases of Dementia and Motor Neurone Disease in Former Footballers
Introduction
This article lists recent cases and provides links to older examples.
Recent Cases of Dementia
Ian Alexander mainly played for Bristol Rovers (midfielder).
Kevin Bird died in February 2023 at age 70. His dementia has been associated with heading (Centre-back).
Tommy Carroll played for Ipswich and the Republic of Ireland and died aged 77 in 2020 (Central midfielder).
Jimmy Fryatt. He played for Oldham Athletic and Blackburn Rovers and died in 2020 aged 79 (striker).
Jimmy Gabriel died aged 80 in May 2023. He played for Bournemouth and Southampton (centre-back).
Joey Jones died aged 70 in 2025. He played for Liverpool, Wrexham and Huddersfield (left back).
Denis Law died aged 84 after playing for Manchester United. He was born in 1940 (centre forward).
Walter Lees, was a player for Watford (central defender).
Terry McDermott played for Newcastle United in the 1970s and again in the 1980’s. He also played for Liverpool (central midfielder).
Gordon McQueen played for Manchester United and died aged 70 in 2023 (central defender).
Brendon Ormsby played for Aston Villa (page 181) (centre-back).
Alan Peacock played for Middlesbrough and died in 2025, aged 87 (inside forward/striker).
Barry Pierce played for Crystal Palace and died aged 85 in 2020. (central midfielder).
Andy Payton played for Middlesbrough in the 1991-92 season (striker).
Tony Parkes played for Blacburn Rovers in the 1970’s (midfielder).
John Shuker played for Oxford United and died aged 77 in 2019 (midfielder).
Bobby Tambling played for Chelsea and was a manager in Ireland (striker).
Goff White. He was an amateur footballer who died in April 2024 (centre-forward).
Dean Windass played for Bradford City (striker).
Summary
Many of these footballers were either central defenders or centre forwards. These positions involved frequent heading of the ball and aerial challenges, which is associated with an increased risk of dementia.
Another list shows that there are more players in the central positions with dementia compared to wider players.
Older Cases of Dementia
When Jeff Astle died in 2002, the initial cause of death was early-onset Alzheimer’s. This was the accepted narrative until a re-examination took place. After the use of modern techniques to analyse the brain tissue, it was found that the pattern of damage was not consistent with Alzheimer’s. It was a case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a brain disease seen in boxers. Astle’s death provided the evidence that heading a football could lead to an identifiable and specific brain disease. Former players were not getting random or general forms of dementia. They were suffering from a disease related to their job.
The author compiled an unofficial list of 133 former players with dementia. It is not a formal medical registry. However, with better testing, dementia cases in the past, could have been identified as CTE. Danny Blanchflower’s Alzheimer’s, death in 1993,could have been from CTE.
Tommy Banks, had been England’s oldest living former player, before he died in 2024, aged 94 (left back).
Ron Greenwood, a former England manager, was living with Alzheimer’s disease before he died aged 84 in 2006 (centre half).
Eric Harrison was a wing-half for Halifax. His diagnosis of dementia is significant as he coached David Beckham at Manchester United.
George Raynor was a former Sweden manager who got Sweden to the 1958 World Cup. He died in 1985 after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s linked to cerebral vascular disease. He was an ‘outside right’.
Recent Cases of Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
Jason Bowen played for Swansea City and Cardiff City (Right winger).
Neil Grayson played for Cheltenham and Northampton Town (Striker).
John Pender made nearly 500 appearances, mainly for Burnley. (Central defender).
Fernando Ricksen was a former Glasgow Rangers player who had a type of MND and died in 2019, aged 43 (Right-back).
Tommy Robson played for Peterborough United after playing for Newcastle United. He died in 2020 aged 76 (Left Winger).
Marcus Stewart was a striker for Sunderland (Centre-forward).
Mark Taylor won the FA Vase with amateur team Whitley Bay FC (Whitley Bay is near Newcastle) (Central midfielder).
Older Cases of Motor Neurone Disease
The author found 14 cases of motor neurone disease (scroll down) in former footballers. The disease varies significantly between patients. Consequently, life expectancies can be different between players. There is no unique pattern for MND, unlike CTE’s distinctive tau outline.
Other Sports
Dementia cases in former American Footballers
Many UK rugby players have been affected by dementia.
One study stated that former rugby players are 15 times more likely to get motor neurone disease (MND) than the general population.
Brain damage in former boxers has been studied since 1928.
Disclaimer
This writing is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
Further Links
For further articles on football heading and dementia then see these links.
You Tube Channel on Football Heading and Dementia
