Billy McNeil

[Tom Hart RIP]

Sad to read that Billy has dementia.

[Hibby Bairn]

You could see the signs of that years ago. Terrible disease.

[HIBERNIAN-0762]

Very sad to hear that, what a great leader he was, pity we have never really had a player like him since King Paddy left.

[DaveF]

Terrible news and a illness which takes its toll not only on the affected person but family and friends too.

I wish him and those around him all the very best in the fight ahead.

[Just Jimmy]

I read something that celtic have won something like 113 trophies and he was captain for 36 of them. Outstanding.

I have first hand experience this illness in the family. All the best to him and his family in the fight ahead.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Tom Hart RIP]

Younger fans won't remember the heavy leather balls these guys headed regularly.
A lot of ex centre halves and centre forwards have dementia and studies are ongoing.

[Pretty Boy]

Sad news.

Wish him and his family well dealing with such a horrible illness.

[Sir David Gray]

I wouldn't wish this cruel illness on my worst enemy.

[Scouse Hibee]

Terrible illness, been though it with my father in law, heartbreaking and energy sapping for those dealing with it.

[NASAHIBS]

Terrible illness. My dad suffers at the moment, and it does take its toll on family and friends. He travelled everywhere with me supporting Hibs and its sad that he wasnt fit enough to see the cup final.

[emerald green]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Terrible news and a illness which takes its toll not only on the affected person but family and friends too.

I wish him and those around him all the very best in the fight ahead.

Absolutely agree. "The long goodbye" as it's often referred to. A truly heartbreaking & cruel illness to suffer from and to witness.

Dementia is one of the great challenges facing society today as people live longer and longer.

[snooky]

I spoke to him several years ago at a sportsman's dinner. I asked him how Celtic managed to subdue Alex Edwards. He said he couldn't remember Edwards. I thought that was very odd however, I can now see he was probably in the early stages of this horrid disease.

[Hibernia&Alba]

Is there any news regarding how advanced his illness is?

It's a cruel condition. My gran suffered from it in the last few years of her life, and it was like a stranger who looked exactly like her. She didn't know who were, as time went on. It affects the family most of all: my gran didn't know there was anything wrong with her, which was a blessing, but it's a terrifying thought you could end up like that.

[Keith_M]

Just reading an article about this and it really was very sad. They were also linking it to heading the ball.


Did the ball used to be heavier in the 60s/70s or is that an urban myth?

[Conrad Gray]

Horrible disease. I'd forgotten he was Director of Football with us in the 90's. Would I be right in thinking he was our interim Manager at one point?

[Pretty Boy]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Horrible disease. I'd forgotten he was Director of Football with us in the 90's. Would I be right in thinking he was our interim Manager at one point?

One game I think.

A 3 goal defeat away to Aberdeen.

[BH Hibs]

Wish him and his family all the strength in the world.

[jdships]

" A man amongst men" in every sense of the word snd a gentleman too boot
Every best wish B McN

[Tom Hart RIP]

The historical trust runs a highly successful Football Memories project. They hold meeting between 11-12.15 on the first Monday of each month.
Started a few years ago with just a handful but now gets about 30-40 each session.
SFA provides cards showing ex players from 50s/60s/70s which sparks conversations.
Tom Wright also provides photos and videos and arranges former players to come along for a question and answer session which have proved popular.
They have had Eric Stevenson, Peter Cormack, Mickey Weir, John Fraser and hopefully Pat next month.
Last year Tom organised a bus to the Hampden museum and he is planning a trip to East Mains.

[Tom Hart RIP]

Ps Meant to say that new members and family will be made welcome. Best to contact Tom first and the only stipulation is that the participants must be able to get to ER either alone or with relative/carer.
We do have one private hire drives who gives a couple a lift back to Colinton free of charge each month.

[Fanforlife]

To me this is the most horrific illness, although he is still alive I lost my dad to it seven years ago, he has no idea of who he is never mind the rest of the family. Mother is now in middle stages of it so at least have experience, however unwanted in dealing with her condition. Heart goes out to anyone in this position.

[Golden Bear]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Just reading an article about this and it really was very sad. They were also linking it to heading the ball.


Did the ball used to be heavier in the 60s/70s or is that an urban myth?

It was but nothing compared with the leather,laced up balls that were used by the generations prior to the 1960's

[davy malcolm]

My dad had this illness it's horrible for the family watching your loved ones not speaking to you but my dad new who we were my biggest regret that he never seen hibs winning the Scottish cup but his spirit was with me and there's not a day goes by that a dont think about him prayers and thoughts to the family


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mr White]

Quite a few relatives on my mother's side in Ireland have suffered various forms of dementia at the end of their lives and I agree with the all of the above posts about how painful it is watching loved ones fade like that over a period of years.

Gordon Smith's son Tony gives a heartfelt account of watching his father succumb to dementia in his book The Prince of Wingers.

I wish Billy McNeil and his family all the best.

[21.05.2016]

Horrible disease not only for the person with it but its horrible for their loved ones as well.

Heart goes out to Billy and his family.

[hibby6270]

Thoughts go out to him and his family.
A horrible disease. A slow, slow killer. My mum suffered for 5 years before she died a few months ago.

On a positive note. If ever there was one player I'd have loved to have seen in our green and white colours - it was Billy McNeill. Of course, it was never going to happen. Celtic through and though.

A great defender nevertheless.

[Baader]

Sad news. I always liked Billy, seems a good man.

Yeah took charge of Hibs for a match after Duffy was sacked.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Sad news and a tough time ahead for him and his family.

My mum had dementia for a few years before she died and even though she never forgot who we ( her 4 sons ) were she forgot that she had grandchildren. It was pretty hard to have her ask me why I didn't visit when I was there at least 3 times every week .... and even worse when she would phone me in the middle of the night to ask where my wee brothers were because they hadn't come home and there was school in the morning ...... She would also ask me 'is this my house, what am I doing here?'

Bloody horrible illness not just for those who have it, but for those caring for people with it.

[Deansy]

My heart goes out to Billy McNeill and his family and friends. I looked after my mum for 3 years as she went through this evil, evil illness and it is truly heart-breaking - the person who made your world warm and safe when you were young but now doesn't recognise you and, on occasion, physically lashes out at you because she's frightened of the 'stranger' . Sadly due to my own health-problems, I eventually had to put my mum into a home - visiting her was hellish as this illness took her over completely. The only bright-spot (if you could actually call it that) was that in her mind, she was back in her own world, a world where she was young again - even one day telling me about the fantastic time she'd had at the dancing the night before with her (long-time dead) friend - it broke my heart but also pleased me at the same time because she was so happy. I long for the day that science finds a cure for dementia !

[tamig]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Sad news and a tough time ahead for him and his family.

My mum had dementia for a few years before she died and even though she never forgot who we ( her 4 sons ) were she forgot that she had grandchildren. It was pretty hard to have her ask me why I didn't visit when I was there at least 3 times every week .... and even worse when she would phone me in the middle of the night to ask where my wee brothers were because they hadn't come home and there was school in the morning ...... She would also ask me 'is this my house, what am I doing here?'

Bloody horrible illness not just for those who have it, but for those caring for people with it.

My dad's suffering from it. A horrid illness that I think society is only now beggining to acknowledge the scale of. My dad went into a specialist care home in September and there was a bit of a do on at the home on Friday. The area director of the healthcare company - they do a fantastic job there - did a speech at the end and said dementia research gets £85m a year. Cancer research in comparison gets over £700m a year. The sooner more funding is channeled into research for this terrible disease the better.