Wasn't aware of this but former forward Steve Elliott has been diagnosed with dementia at just 59. There is a feature running on Radio Lancs and the 2nd episode airs tonight. Think this link takes you to the first episode. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06zvtw4 Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton have got involved with the campaign for raising awareness, CS dad is in full time care with it from what he says in tonight's trailer. Steve Elliott was a great player for PNE and a shame he has been diagnosed with this illness
Steve Elliott
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2004
- Messages
- 16,887
He joined us in 1979 when he was 21 years old and stayed with us until the end of the 1983-84 season having scored 70 goals in 208 games, an average of 1 goal in less than every 3 games
Scored a hat trick in a 5-1 win at Scunthorpe in December 1983.
Bad news to hear about the diagnosis. Far too young!
| 1976–1979 | Nottingham Forest | 4 | (0) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–1984 | Preston North End | 208 | (70) |
| 1984–1985 | Luton Town | 12 | (3) |
| 1985–1986 | Walsall | 69 | (21) |
| 1986–1989 | Bolton Wanderers | 60 | (11) |
| 1988–1989 | Bury | 31 | (11) |
| 1989–1990 | Rochdale | 52 | (9) |
| 1990–1991 | Guiseley | ? | (?) |
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2011
- Messages
- 8,761
Ian Botham was playing for Scunthorpe that day.
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2004
- Messages
- 16,887
I was there, Botham was as quick as a super liner turning and I'm sure that it was because of this that we scored 5. Our supporters that day were fantastic and didn't stop singing throughout the whole game.
No question as to which was his best sport!
From what I have read his best sport was indoors 🙂
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2010
- Messages
- 39,352
Wow.
Like many of us, my head took it's fair share of pounding from (relatively) heavy footballs. Obviously a pro footballer would take twenty times more and you do have to wonder and worry that ex-pros are very vulnerable.
They've made the ball lighter now but what other measures should be taken. I've heard suggestions that heading shouldn't be allowed until players are 13 or 14.... but then the natural progression would be to ban it outright.
Like many of us, my head took it's fair share of pounding from (relatively) heavy footballs. Obviously a pro footballer would take twenty times more and you do have to wonder and worry that ex-pros are very vulnerable.
They've made the ball lighter now but what other measures should be taken. I've heard suggestions that heading shouldn't be allowed until players are 13 or 14.... but then the natural progression would be to ban it outright.
Cheers Norfolk... great scoring record
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2004
- Messages
- 16,887
It certainly was Ando
- Joined
- May 1, 2016
- Messages
- 6,061
I went to that one as well. It was over Christmas and I think we’d just beaten Port Vale 4-0 the day before, which was Boxing Day? Sounds odd to have played two days running but I’m sure that was the case. Alan Kelly was our manager at that time.
Very sad news about Steve Elliott especially at that age. It really can be a horrible condition for both the sufferer and those close to them. Very best wishes to him.
I have a friend who knows a very eminent neurologist, one of the top men in the country. His view is that if football was invented today, heading would not be allowed by anyone. That would finish the game but it’s an indication of how the experts fell on the subject.
I also worked with someone whose father died from Motor Neurone Disease, an ex professional footballer. I distinctly remember her telling me the doctors had long suspected a link between the lime used to mark the pitches and neurological conditions. I suspect they’ve moved on from that theory but I do wonder if there Ishtar be something in that still, although heading is clearly (and rightly) the focus of attention more recently.
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2019
- Messages
- 1
Don O’Riordan here ex player at PNE and played with Steve Elliott and wonder can anyone get me a number for him please
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2015
- Messages
- 7,869
Professional sport Is weird in that regard. There was a study into American Football which found that almost every NFL player will develop some form of CTE- a fairly unpleasant degenerative brain disease- later in life. Similarly, heading a projectile that travels at high speed repeatedly over a 15 year career, it makes sense why people want to remove heading from the game.
Whilst removing it from youth football might be viable, banning it outright would near enough break the sport. Unfortunately beyond improving ball technology there doesn’t seem to be any viable solutions
Hello Don I remember you well. I took your picture many times for the LEP (Kevin).
Do you know Ian Rigbys number, he organises the former player's dinners/reunions?
I know that Steve always attends them.
Do you know Ian Rigbys number, he organises the former player's dinners/reunions?
I know that Steve always attends them.
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2005
- Messages
- 111,045
Could i suggest contacting Radio lancashire. Im sure whilst they wouldnt give out his phone number, data protection, they would be able to contact him to get in touch with you?