The plight of Burnley's 1960 heroes proves dementia IS a football disease... Jimmy Robson is one of seven title-winning stars to be affected by the illness as he recalls flicking on headers because 'it needed to be done'

'The ball would disappear up in the sky and when it came down I’d head it,’ says Jimmy Robson, who pauses and adds: ‘There’s more than me that’s got this problem, you know?’

We know all too well, sadly.

This Burnley great is speaking to Sportsmail in a chat kindly arranged by his daughter, Dany, and today is a good day. Today, Jimmy remembers he was a footballer. He even remembers he has dementia.

Jimmy is explaining how for every goal-kick it was his job to flick the ball on, no matter how much it rattled his brain.