Newcastle legend diagnosed with dementia
Terry McDermott has revealed he has been diagnosed with dementia.
Former Newcastle midfielder and assistant manager Terry McDermott has revealed he has been diagnosed with dementia.
McDermott, 69, has announced that he was in the early stages of Lewy Body dementia following hospital tests.
'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 came only two days after Manchester United and Scotland great Denis Law revealed he was suffering from dementia.
McDermott made 130 appearances and scored 18 goals for Newcastle over two spells. Sandwiched in between those spells he played for Liverpool between 1974 and 1982, helping the Reds to four league titles and three European Cup victories as well as UEFA Cup success and two League Cup crowns.
The former England international later came back to Newcastle working as assistant manager alongside the likes of Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Glenn Roeder and Sam Allardyce.
McDermott was at Liverpool's Anfield on Saturday:
"I've been looking forward to going down to Anfield and seeing the lads, people I have known for years and having a good craic with them,'' said McDermott.
"Thankfully there are games coming up regularly now which I can go to.''