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Andy Townsend opens up on losing his father to dementia and wants protection for younger generations

Andy Townsend was at his father’s bedside during his final days this summer when thoughts turned to his own future.

His dad, Don, played more than 300 times for Charlton and Crystal Palace. When he died in July, aged 89, he had been suffering from dementia for 10 years.

Townsend is 57 now. He has two grandsons. He is renovating a property in the Cotswolds.

Don Townsend - who played over 300 times for Charlton and Crystal Palace - died aged 89 earlier this summer
His son Andy, who also had a lengthy career, wants to do more to tackle dementia in football

Talk to him, and there is a lot of living left to be done. He is as busy and brash as he was in midfield on the pitch.