An English football league legend who is battling a rare form of dementia has given his backing for Frank’s Law.
Chesterfield’s all-time record goalscorer Ernie Moss enjoyed three spells at his hometown club over an 18-year period, from 1968 to 1986 and scored 192 goals for the Spireites.
Moss was diagnosed with Pick’s Disease, a type of frontotemporal dementia caused by the destruction of nerve cells in the brain, which affects his memory and communication.
Proof is difficult, but his family, friends and former team-mates are convinced this early onset of dementia is related to heading the ball as often as he did throughout a 20-year career of 749 games.
The widow of Dundee United legend Frank Kopel suspects his dementia was likely caused by years spent heading a hard leather ball.
Concussions, possibly as his brain still grew, may have caused chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition usually found in boxers.
Mrs Kopel said it was “fantastic” to see Mr Moss wearing his Frank’s Law T-shirt and giving his support to the campaign.
She also urged people to get behind his daughter Nikki’s charity spectacular between Chesterfield FC legends and TV celebrities.
It will raise money for the Once Upon a Smile charity, which helps bereaved families at their time of need, and Dementia UK.
Nikki, 41, said: “It’s harrowing and such a cruel disease.
“I think dad can remember his days as a footballer – but his language skills are deteriorating rapidly so he can’t talk about them.
“The fact he can’t speak properly anymore is really difficult for me as I always used to enjoy having banter with my dad.”
Ernie Moss represented nine different clubs, making 749 Football League appearances, and many more as he played on in non-league, but it was at Chesterfield, his hometown club where he is a legend, and the record scorer with 191 goals in three spells at the club.
When the North Derbyshire club enjoyed their most glorious moments, he was usually around: for promotion in 1970 and 1985 and the Anglo-Scottish Cup win in 1981, when Chesterfield overcame Rangers on the way to winning the obscure trophy.
His love for the game continued in to management where, after an assistant role at Boston United, he held the hot seat at five different non-league clubs over 12 years, including Gainsborough Trinity, Matlock and Hucknall Town.
Mrs Kopel’s husband died in April 2014 having been diagnosed with dementia in 2009, when he was aged just 59.
He and his wife paid about £300 a week so he could have personal care in his Kirriemuir home because he did not reach the qualifying age for free services until weeks before his death.
Mrs Kopel is urging ministers to close the loophole – a bid The Courier is backing.
