Real stories

Dementia hasn't stopped me supporting my beloved football team

Liverpool was my local team, so I had to support them. When I was about 15 my dad took me and my three brothers to the Kop. We were in what they called the ‘boys pen’ for youngsters around my age.

Now, players have big state-of-the-art training grounds, but in those days, they would arrive at the ground, and we would run around the streets with them as they warmed up!

One of my best memories was when I went to Wembley for a cup final one year.

In those days it was a big thing going down to London. I went with my mates on the train down from Lime Street Station. It was very exciting as you can imagine.

Going to watch Liverpool at Anfield, the atmosphere is electric, especially when everyone starts to sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. When I hear that song, I stand up – it is like the National Anthem to me! It gets the hairs up on the back of your neck.  

It is more than a song; it is our anthem.

Sharing my love of football with my grandchildren 

I have seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.  

Being able to watch Liverpool play has been wonderful and I’m happy I’ve been able to pass down that love of football and my team to them. I have great memories of taking my eldest grandson to watch Liverpool in action at Wembley.

I’ve seen him grow up to become a fan himself and pass that love down to his sons.  

My two great-granddaughters are also big fans of Liverpool – as is my grandson-in-law.

When I noticed something wasn’t right

Around 2005, I started having problems at work. There were things I should have remembered, and I just didn’t. It got quite embarrassing when I agreed to something and then forgot about it.

I would give an answer and not get a reply because people wouldn’t understand what I was getting at. It was frustrating having to go to the doctor and have tests.

When I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2008 at the age of 72, I didn’t feel good about it.

I know you can get it really bad and not speak to people as you should.

After I had been to the memory clinic, I was able to get onto medication quickly, and that has been wonderful. I take it daily, and now I remember things much better. 

I’ve now been living with Alzheimer’s for 14 years.

Learning to live with dementia 

The main thing is you can’t do anything about it, but you can live with it.  

Having dementia does change you, but if you can get on with it that is good. I try and keep myself active as much as I can. I do all my own ironing – I learned that in my army days. 

I’ve always helped round the house doing housework, that keeps my mind active rather than sitting in the corner and saying nothing.

If you get amongst your friends they will help you, they won’t forget you. Once you start talking about dementia, they start to understand.

Connecting with others affected by dementia 

After I was diagnosed, we contacted Alzheimer’s Society and joined a group who really helped me. It’s good to meet other people living with dementia, though everyone is at different stages. We belong to a few music groups, like Singing for the Brain.  

I enjoy the social side; you know that you’re not alone.  

At that time, we realised there wasn’t an Alzheimer's group in Formby, so my wife and I set up our own group which was very successful. Most weeks there were 20 people who attended the group. We would also arrange coach trips two or three times a year.

Keeping up with my beloved team

I still love going to watch Liverpool at Anfield when I can, but of course I watch them on TV now as well.  

I did have a season ticket but they're expensive, so I passed mine on to my son in law, who sometimes gets me a programme from the games so I can keep up to date.  

He and my daughter recently took me on the stadium tour of Anfield, in the dressing rooms and around the ground.

I have a photo album now of the pictures we took on the day, with ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ on the front. Being a Liverpool fan makes me happy and watching them win makes me very happy!