Daughter of Stan Bowles describes her father's dementia

Daughter of Stan Bowles describes her father's dementia

The daughter of footballing legend Stan Bowles has revealed the emotional turmoil of watching her father's heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer's disease.

The former Queen's Park Rangers star was diagnosed with the degenerative brain condition four years ago at the age of 64. 

Since then his state has rapidly declined to the point that he struggles to speak.

Former QPR star Stan Bowles was diagnosed with the degenerative brain condition four years ago

Bowles, 68, who lives in Manchester, is one of hundreds of former football stars, including 1966 World Cup winners Nobby Stiles, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson, that have been diagnosed with dementia.

The worrying trend has sparked the theory that the condition could have come from a career of heading footballs.

Bowles pictured in 1975

Bowles is now entirely dependent on his eldest daughter, 49-year-old Andria.

The former pub landlady told the Daily Mirror that her father no longer remembers her name.

'He can’t talk any more, but we still have little moments, like when I’m shaving him and he’s making funny faces,' she said. 'He cries a lot. He comes and says "thank you", or tries to, and I hug him.

'I spend so much time worrying about what will happen to dad.' 

Andria never leaves her father alone in the house for more than a few minutes, as he becomes frightened in unfamiliar settings.

Once a notorious womaniser, Bowles now has to wear a tracker attached to a chain round his neck so that he does not get lost.

Last mo nth he wandered out of the house without it, causing a 'panicked' Andria to frantically search the local area before her father was finally returned home by a nurse who found him in his dressing gown.

At least 375 former football players have been diagnosed with degenerative brain conditions after hanging up their boots.

A study of 14 retired footballers earlier this year found four had a condition known to cause dementia, while six had Alzheimer's disease.

Bowles, pictured playing for QPR in 1978, is now entirely dependent on his eldest daughter, 49-year-old Andria

Repeated blows to the head suffered on the field, from headers and colliding with other players, are thought to be the cause.

It comes 15 years after the death of England striker Jeff Astle, whose inquest suggested he developed dementia as a direct result of heading heavy leather footballs. 

The Football Association has recently been urged to consider a ban on children under 10 doing headers in training and matches. 

Loyal fans at QPR have been campaigning to hold a benefit match in honour of Bowles for almost a year.

Today that match was played against Bournemouth, who won 1-0.

The proceeds will be going to Bowles's future care. 

 

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