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Dementia in non-league football
In a recent interview, Steve Norris speaks frankly about non league football, dementia and his own personal situation.
STEVE Norris was surrounded by trees and didn't know which way to turn.
He had been in the location close to his Meir Heath home plenty of times before, but on this occasion he felt scared.
It was an early sign that something wasn't right with the Leek Town legend.
Norris, aged 61, has been diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia - and the fact he has clarity shines through as he speaks during an hour-long interview.
Dementia runs in the family, while year after year of heading a football has ultimately taken its toll.
But he remains haunted by the day he couldn't work out which way led him back to the home he shares with wife Kerry.
"We have always had dogs. I walk through Hilderstone Level and there's a care home. Behind that is a wood - or a copse really, it's not that big," recalls Norris.
"I do walks in there and the dog has a run around. In the first lockdown, before I had a proper diagnosis, I got lost in that little wood.
"I was thinking 'don't be stupid' but I didn't recognise the place or how to get out. I had been there at least once a week for ages.
"There's two paths in and out and I didn't know which way to go. That was a scary experience.
"That's the only time that dementia has frightened me. But I've been told to keep active and I walk the dog for two-and-a-half hours a day. It helps my mental health."
Norris is at the start of a new journey - but for a time he didn't know what was affecting him.
But he says persistence paid off for himself and wife Kerry when they finally were given firm news.
"You know in yourself something isn't right. Probably my wife spotted it more than me," said Norris, who has two children.
"People do lose their car keys, but after a while when it's happened more and more, it can't just be down to a bit of memory loss.
"I worked in the fire service for 30 years and at the same time played non-league football.
"I took retirement and then went in to working with housing charities, particularly people that were homeless.
"I did that for three or four years and then changed jobs - something in the same mould."
Norris was - and still is - a huge fans' favourite at Leek Town, making 393 appearances across two spells.
He initially joined Leek from Port Vale on loan in 1978 and after a stint away from the club returned to help them to the league title in 1990 as well as playing in their 3-0 FA Trophy defeat by Barrow at Wembley.
You can read the full interview on the Leek Town website here.
He had been in the location close to his Meir Heath home plenty of times before, but on this occasion he felt scared.
It was an early sign that something wasn't right with the Leek Town legend.
Norris, aged 61, has been diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia - and the fact he has clarity shines through as he speaks during an hour-long interview.
Dementia runs in the family, while year after year of heading a football has ultimately taken its toll.
But he remains haunted by the day he couldn't work out which way led him back to the home he shares with wife Kerry.
"We have always had dogs. I walk through Hilderstone Level and there's a care home. Behind that is a wood - or a copse really, it's not that big," recalls Norris.
"I do walks in there and the dog has a run around. In the first lockdown, before I had a proper diagnosis, I got lost in that little wood.
"I was thinking 'don't be stupid' but I didn't recognise the place or how to get out. I had been there at least once a week for ages.
"There's two paths in and out and I didn't know which way to go. That was a scary experience.
"That's the only time that dementia has frightened me. But I've been told to keep active and I walk the dog for two-and-a-half hours a day. It helps my mental health."
Norris is at the start of a new journey - but for a time he didn't know what was affecting him.
But he says persistence paid off for himself and wife Kerry when they finally were given firm news.
"You know in yourself something isn't right. Probably my wife spotted it more than me," said Norris, who has two children.
"People do lose their car keys, but after a while when it's happened more and more, it can't just be down to a bit of memory loss.
"I worked in the fire service for 30 years and at the same time played non-league football.
"I took retirement and then went in to working with housing charities, particularly people that were homeless.
"I did that for three or four years and then changed jobs - something in the same mould."
Norris was - and still is - a huge fans' favourite at Leek Town, making 393 appearances across two spells.
He initially joined Leek from Port Vale on loan in 1978 and after a stint away from the club returned to help them to the league title in 1990 as well as playing in their 3-0 FA Trophy defeat by Barrow at Wembley.
You can read the full interview on the Leek Town website here.
