Allan Gilliver - Dementia & Us Programme BBC2

Very sad indeed.

I can see heading being a thing of the past within the next 10 years, with similar penalties to a handball.

 

Thanks for your post I was not aware of the programe, as you say Alan was Mr Bradford City during his time at Valley Parade could always spare a few minutes to talk football, as you say was a decent cricketer as was John Hall who played in the same team as Gilly in the early 70s.

 

As you say Broncs. Watched part one on Tuesday, complete tear jerker! By coincidence the T&A run a series of teams of the past and on Tuesday it was Brighouse where Gilly was Steward, grounds man and great batter. The teams featured included Gilly, Bobby Ham as captain, Bernard Ellison who was involved as physio and Youth team as I recall. Think John Hall played elsewhere in Bradford League but memory is going a bit.

 

I believe John played at Yeadon cricket club for many years and also attended most home games, unfortunatly a couple of years ago had one of his legs amputated, another great stalwart at Bradford City.

 

Yes, he was a postman in Yeadon, worked with the husband of a girl who sits with my wife at VP.

 

Yes Gilly was very involved in local cricket, not just with Manningham Mills. There were some team photos of Brighouse CC in the T&A the other night with Gilly featuring along with Bobby Ham, Bernard Ellison and Bryan Edwards. Any ex players (or umpires still living) would tell you that Alan Gilliver was a very "competitive" cricketer.

 

Forgive me but was he the bloke who used to get the kop going from the pitch before home games?

 

No mate I believe its one of these two Malcolm Scott, Mike Smith both Honorary Associate Directors.

 

I saw the programme advertised, but having lost my mother to this terrible illness, I always avoid these sort of things.
I know only too well how emotionally draining they are.
I just cannot watch.

 

I totally understand mate I am in a similar position

 

No that’s Mike Smith.

 

I personally dont think football will go down the "no heading" road as it's very different nowadays,the balls are like balloons not the heavy leather ones with the thick laces

 

Don’t forget the 2lb of dubbin too.

 

Know how you feel @Jayteebee I lost both my parents to it
A very cruel relentless disease that only gets worse
I will watch the programme on catch up as Gilliver and Ingram were one of my favourite striker partnerships
I also studied dementia to try and understand better what was going on its fascinating if you ever get the time or inclination to do so
Thoughts with Alan Gilliver and Family

 

Yes @Bantamsteve, happy days watching Gilly and Gerry Ingram. Both good goal scorers in their own right. I remember every throw in we got used to go to Gerry because he could hold up the ball so well. We used to see Gerry in the Heartbeat, above the skating rink. A very modest and polite guy on his nights out.

I watched the programme and it was so sad to Gilly suffering. He could barely walk down the stairs. Despite his illness, he's still retained his sense of humour. The whole thing has obviously taken a huge toll on Christine, who has done such an admirable job caring for him.

As you say. A cruel illness. After watching the programme, it took me ages to get to sleep.

 

Yes they are a lot lighter these days, heading modern balls may not be as damaging but I should imagine some research will be done into it.
Even when we started using footballs that were water proofed (Mitre Max) they were still quite heavy. I'm 64 now and played football into my early 40s and I can't believe how lightweight they seem to be now. I remember how heavy a laced ball used to get when wet.

 

Just posted the same on another part of forum “Where are they Now”

I never thought to look on the main forum.

Mods delete my post I’d required.

 

Thoughts with you both. Going through the same with my mother-in-law at the moment. Just awful.