Former Ipswich Town and England striker Trevor Whymark has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, his family has announced. The 72-year-old played under Sir Bobby Robson at Ipswich from 1970 to 1979 – one of the club’s most successful eras. He was diagnosed in late 2019 after his family noticed “subtle changes” in his memory and mood, which they originally put down as a form of grief after his mother died. His son Craig, 46, has set up a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Society in his father’s name.
Whymark missed out on the 1978 FA Cup final win over Arsenal due to injury. Craig Whymark said his father’s diagnosis was in some ways a “relief” as they knew something was wrong. He said: “The specialist asked if there was anything dad wanted to ask, thinking it would be about what’s to come. And dad said, bearing in mind he hasn’t played football for a long time, ‘Am I still able to do my warm ups for football?'” His memory then further deteriorated over the first Covid lockdown.
Fellow former Ipswich Town player Terry Butcher, who has documented links between Alzheimer’s and football, said Whymark was “one of the best headers of a ball I’ve seen”. Craig Whymark said his dad’s heading skills were honed as a child with a leather football when he would do up to 1,000 headers against a neighbour’s wall. “With Alzheimer’s [and the] constant banging of the head with the ball,, that has got to have something to do with it,” his son said.
He said it was “hard” to announce his father’s diagnosis but after launching the fundraising page they have been inundated with support. Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope, who was coached by Whymark as a youth player at Ipswich, donated to the fundraiser and called him “an amazing coach and person”. Dr Adam White, head of brain health at the Professional Footballer’s Association, who have supported the family, said: “We know that footballers have a higher risk of developing neurodegenerative disease, most likely because of head impacts sustained in a footballer’s career, such as heading the ball. It is only right that they can get the support needed when suffering with this disease.”
Craig Whymark and his family have revealed Trevor Whymark’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s to help others and raise awareness. They have set up a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Society in his name and have been overwhelmed with support from former colleagues and players who were coached by him. His son Craig believes that his father’s heading skills, which were honed as a child with a leather football when he would do up to 1,000 headers against a neighbour’s wall, may have contributed to his condition. The Professional Footballer’s Association have also supported the family and highlighted that footballers have a higher risk of developing neurodegenerative disease due to head impacts sustained in their careers.