Dean Windass' dementia diagnosis, call for change and desperate plea to Wrexham star son

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Hull City legend Dean Windass has spoken openly about his heartbreaking dementia diagnosis and troubled relationship with Wrexham star son Josh. The 57-year-old is best remembered for the stunning goal he netted against Bristol City in the 2008 Championship play-off final.

Windass, then 39, struck the match's only goal with a brilliant volley to fire his hometown club into the Premier League . Hull will be hoping to recreate Windass' moment of magic when they face Middlesbrough in this year's Wembley showdown on Saturday.

His eldest son Josh followed in his father's footsteps by pursuing a career in football and has flourished since signing for Wrexham last summer. Off the pitch, Dean has spoken frankly about his dementia diagnosis and his broken relationship with his sons. Here is a closer look at the play-off icon's life away from the game.

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In January 2025, it was announced that Windass had been diagnosed with stage two dementia. The news was shared by former Manchester United defender David May on BBC Breakfast after Windass gave him permission to speak publicly about his condition.

The former Middlesbrough and Bradford City frontman had been persuaded to undergo a scan by John Stiles, son of 1966 World Cup hero Nobby Stiles, who is involved with Football Families for Justice. Windass has since opened up about his battle with dementia, having received an early-stage diagnosis.

"They've said I could be like this for half a decade, a decade, or it could deteriorate," he told the Guardian. "I'm not happy about it; I wish they'd said I was all clear and then we wouldn't be having this conversation now. But look, I could go out and get run over by a bus tomorrow."

Windass partly put his diagnosis down to a career spent heading footballs. He has called for a cut in heading drills during training sessions to lower the risk of players developing dementia in later life.

"When I got the diagnosis, they asked me how many footballs I headed," he said. "It's not the fact of matchday, it was those crossing and finishing drills every day. Or for centre-halves, heading it as far as they could.

"After every session I'd do some finishing, head it in or volley it if they cross it in. I thought nothing of it. You couldn't think about dementia then, but now we can. So let's see if we can stop it at source now and reduce the damage."

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Earlier this year, Dean revealed he had lost contact with both of his sons and publicly appealed for Wrexham ace Josh, 32, to reach out. Reflecting on their troubled relationship, Windass admitted that keeping his dementia diagnosis from his children was the root cause.

Windass told the Clutch 9 podcast: "I don't speak to my two kids now, but probably because it's my own fault as well... not telling them about the diagnosis because I didn't want to worry them. Josh is in the public eye.

"I was trying to do the right thing but then it's backfired on me and it's breaking my heart. I put a post on Twitter the other day, 'Please get in touch, Josh' because of what's gone on and it's killing me.

"One and a half million viewers saw it, but I thought it's the only way I can get in contact because he's not answering the phone. I don't know where lives, he's moved to Wrexham.

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"My youngest son doesn't talk to me now because of other things that have gone on so my two kids don't talk to me. I think, 'What have I done that's that bad? I'm not that bad.'"

He continued: "Josh is very successful now and has got a wife and my granddaughter. I haven't seen my granddaughter for a year and it hurts. I look at Brooklyn Beckham in the paper the other day and think, 'Life's too short.' So if Josh does watch this, please ring me, because he's my little boy."

Earlier that month, Dean had penned an emotional message for his son Josh's 32nd birthday, urging him to make contact. On the field, the Wrexham star thrived during his maiden season, netting 15 goals in 41 league appearances as Phil Parkinson's team just missed out on the play-offs.

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