Liverpool legend Terry McDermott has revealed he has been diagnosed with dementia.
McDermott became a household name during an eight-year spell with his boyhood club which ended in 1982, winning virtually every major honour.
He won four league titles, three European Cups, two League Cups and the UEFA Cup after being signed by Bob Paisley from Newcastle United in November 1974.
In 1980, the Kirkby native became the first footballer to be crowned Player of the Year by both the PFA and the Football Writers’ Association in the same season.
He also claimed the prestigious Goal of the Season award at the end of that campaign for an impressive strike against Tottenham in the FA Cup quarter final.
The 69-year-old, who scored 81 goals in 329 appearances at Anfield, confirmed on Saturday he is in the early stages of Lewy Body dementia following hospital tests.
He said: “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 was in attendance for Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Burnley on Saturday and admits he is keen to see his former club in action as frequently as possible.
“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,” added the former England international.
“Thankfully there are games coming up regularly now which I can go to.”