Former Premier League footballer Dean Windass has made a public and emotional plea to his son, Wrexham star Josh Windass, to get in touch, while wishing him a happy birthday. The 56-year-old, who is living with stage two dementia, shared the message on social media ahead of his son's FA Cup match.
A Public Birthday Wish and a Private Heartache
On what should have been a day of celebration, Dean Windass took to X to wish his son, Josh, a happy 32nd birthday. The message, however, carried a profound weight of personal sorrow. "Just want to wish my Josh happy 32nd birthday good luck tonight against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup from a very proud DAD miss yeh," Windass wrote.
He followed this with a raw and heartbreaking plea: "Life’s too short Josh this is breaking my heart please get in touch." This public appeal highlights a strained relationship, complicated further by Dean's health condition. Josh Windass revealed last year that he learned of his father's dementia diagnosis not from Dean himself, but through a friend, footballer Max Lowe, in a coffee shop.
Living with Diagnosis and Fear of Forgetting
Dean Windass's stage two dementia diagnosis became public knowledge last year. The condition is characterised by noticeable memory lapses, such as forgetting familiar names or misplacing everyday items. For a man whose career is defined by iconic moments, the diagnosis brings a specific fear.
Windass is best remembered for scoring the spectacular volley that secured Hull City's historic promotion to the Premier League in the 2008 Championship play-off final. He admitted to Daily Mail Sport, ‘That scares me. If somebody asked me about the goal at Wembley and I can’t remember, then that is a worry.’
He has spoken openly about the emotional impact, stating he sometimes wishes he had never had the scan that revealed the condition. "I don’t want to be a burden or for anybody to feel sorry for me. I am healthy, physically. But now, I overthink things," he said.
A Wider Issue for Football
The news of Windass's condition was initially shared by former Manchester United defender David May during a BBC Breakfast segment focusing on dementia in football. May clarified he had Windass's permission, aiming to raise awareness. Windass has since joined calls for greater support and research into the link between football and neurodegenerative diseases.
Research suggests repetitive head impacts from heading the ball may increase dementia risk. David May highlighted the ongoing concerns about future care, noting, "Over my career, I probably headed the football about 20,000 times in total... I'd like to know where I'll be in ten years' time."
Despite his personal struggles, Dean Windass has consistently expressed immense pride in his son's career, particularly recalling watching him play for Rangers. His current public message underscores a painful family rift, set against the backdrop of a health battle facing a growing number of footballers.
