There is a very serious side to Chris Sutton, certainly when health and dementia is involved.
The former striker is never slow to indulge in a wind up or be centre of attention but the deaths of Billy McNeill and Stevie Chalmers has brought a horrible issue into focus.
So sad to lose two Celtic legends to dementia. Ex players from a golden era are dying and yet there are still people in a position of power who chose to do nothing about this issue and yet they are backed and protected by many in football… other industries would not accept this
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) April 29, 2019
Sutton knows about the illness first hand through his father Mike, one of many former players suffering from dementia.
In 2002 the death of former West Brom striker Jeff Astle at the age of 59 was diagnosed as death by industrial injury’ by the coroner.
Since then a number of cases have emerged alongside horror stories of players staying behind after training for extra sessions heading the old leather football which was often soaked to give the player extra strength.
Football as an industry has been slow to recognise the link between the game and dementia with Sutton highly critical of the role played by outgoing PFA chief Gordon Taylor.
As McNeill and Chalmers are laid to rest there are believed to be a number of other former players like Mike Sutton and their families suffering the consequences of a career spend heading footballs.