Saints icon Tony Fitzpatrick insists a new campaign to support former players suffering from dementia couldn’t have a better leader than his old boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
The former Buddies duo are among 30 Scottish football greats calling for injuries caused by excessive heading to be classed as an industrial injury. That would allow sufferers to get help via the devolved social security system.
The timely calls come in the wake of the sad passing of former St Mirren and Scotland great Gordon McQueen, who died just last week from dementia.
Former Saints captain, manager and chief executive Fitzpatrick is determined to help his former team-mates and rivals who are suffering from brain injuries and dementia, with recent studies showing former footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative brain disease than members of the general population.
And he believes having former Manchester United legend and ex- St Mirren manager Ferguson onside can make all the difference as the campaign aims to make a telling impact.
Speaking exclusively to Renfrewshire Live Sport, Fitzpatrick said: “This is a hugely important campaign. It’s incredibly sad to see players I’ve played against and with now suffering from dementia and brain injuries.
“You try not to think about it yourself but I know how ill I often felt after games when I’d had a clash of heads or been hit by the ball in the head from close range. It’s frightening, really.
“The balls were much heavier back then, too, especially when they were wet. I have no doubt that excessive heading and aerial duels when elbows were flying all over the place must bring things like dementia on quicker for former footballers.
“Your health is more important than anything else and it’s so important that is recognised within the game.
“I was more than happy to throw my weight behind this and Fergie is exactly who you want to lead a campaign.
“It shows the kind of man he is. He is always at the front of good causes like this and you couldn’t ask for a better leader.
“His profile can help spread the message around Scotland and beyond.”
Fitzpatrick was hugely saddened to see his former colleague McQueen pass away last Thursday. The pair worked together at Love Street when Fitzpatrick hired the former Leeds and Manchester United star as his first-team coach.
While paying tribute to his old Buddie, Fitzpatrick also hoped lessons would be learned from his passing which would help stop hundreds of footballers suffering the same fate.
Fitzpatrick said: “It was tragic to see what happened to Gordon McQueen and I know other former Saints players who are also suffering from the same affliction.
“It’s heart-breaking to see him pass away from the effects of football, the game he loved.
“He was a young player when I was coming through the ranks at Love Street. He’d moved south by the time I broke into the first team, but when I became manager many years later, I made him my first-team coach.
“We worked together for over a year and I’ve got great memories of those times together. He was a great personality and was brilliant in the dressing room.
“His great strength was heading the ball, he scored a lot of headed goals as well. That just makes it even more sad.
“Hopefully this can be a catalyst for change because we don’t want to see current footballers in 10, 20 or 30 years’ time suffering the same thing.”
The co-signed statement, also supported by former St Mirren striker Frank MacAvennie, reads: “The evidence is now clear.
“Former professional footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely to die of brain injuries, including dementia, than people of the same age range in the general population.
“Brain injuries from repetitive head impacts have resulted in a generation of players being afflicted by this decline in brain function.
“These players were injured at work. We must recognise that. Those in power must now recognise it, too.
“Under new powers being devolved in Scotland, we have an opportunity to formally classify brain injury in football as an industrial injury.
“By creating a clear and dignified process, we can honour the legacy of our footballing heroes with action and stop a generation of players falling victim to preventable suffering.
“We have a generational chance to support those who entertained us in our national game to be given the support they desperately need.
“For a generation of our greats, they are facing their final injury time – and time is running out.”
READ MORE:
Don't miss the latest Renfrewshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
