The 65-year-old said a number of Anfield’s great players who have passed away in recent years are showing signs of being affected, with four “legitimate Liverpool legends” currently suffering from fitness problems. Ta.
One of them is former captain Ron Yates, 86, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease five years ago. Aldridge himself has been tested, but he admits there is little that can be done at this stage in his life.
“The damage is done,” he said. “I headed the ball like everyone else. I loved heading the ball and practiced every day.
“We trained with a heavier ball and stayed behind after training and took 50 or 60 headers.
“I myself have had some problems and have taken some tests. But I’m not as worried about myself as I am about my family, because I don’t think I’m worried about these diseases more. Because we all see how it affects those around us.”
This week, lawyers representing more than a dozen players, including the family of England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, who died of dementia in 2020, filed a lawsuit against the English Football Association for the first hearing. Appeared at the High Court in London. The Football League, the Welsh Football Association and the International Football Association Board are appealing over the brain injuries he suffered during his career.
Today’s sports news in 90 seconds – January 18th
Lawyers for the Stiles family had previously argued that the sports organization did not take adequate steps to reduce headed balls during practices and games.
Last month, Aldridge was one of several former members of staff who helped launch the new LFC Memories app, part-funded by the LFC Foundation, which uses the sights and sounds of the club’s proud history to support fans living with dementia. He is one of the Liverpool players who develops directly with professional football clubs.
But the former Irish striker, who scored 60 goals for the Reds in 1987-88 and 1988-89, said some of the club’s greatest players were struggling.
“It seems like 70 to 80 percent of the young people who died in the 50s, 60s and 70s, who were my heroes, had dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, not just the disease they were exposed to,” he said. .
“We have four ex-players and Liverpool legends who are currently in trouble. They are the people who made Liverpool great and the reason we are where we are now.”
Mr Aldridge, former chairman of the Forever Reds players’ association, held a Christmas dinner for 500 guests at Anfield last month that raised £75,000 for former footballers and local good causes.
“We support our former players in any way we can. We’re doing it now with two great players from the past,” he said.