STAN-D AND DELIVER Stan Bowles: Time is sadly running out to organise salute to QPR legend Former England striker caught in the grip of Alzheimer’s and will soon need constant care and supervision BY NEIL ASHTON 23rd February 2017, 11:08 pm THE heart is willing him. Good god it is willing him to do it one last time. That flamboyant, stylish squiggle of his name, the sweeping brush across the page, the glint in his eye, that mischievous smile. please log in to view this image Cheers, Stan…thanks for the memories Sign this please, Stan. Best wishes, Stan. Thank you so much, Stan. But Stan Bowles cannot sign his famous name any more. The brilliant, crowd-pleasing QPR star of the 1970s is in the grip of Alzheimer’s. It is one game he will never win. Nothing really registers. Not really. The family – daughters Andrea and Tracy, son Carl – are battling to come to terms with that. Tracy has not seen Stan at her home in more than three weeks. One of the last times Carl saw his dad, Stan could not remember his name. Carl was in bits. please log in to view this image I’m in the money…but sadly Bowles isn’t any more please log in to view this image Messing around at the QPR training ground with defender Ian Gillard There are plans for Rangers to stage a testimonial in honour of their greatest-ever player. A farewell to QPR and, let’s be honest, a chance to raise a few quid to help pay for the constant care and supervision Stan will soon need. That day is coming because Andrea, the eldest, already has custody of her five-year-old grand-daughter Macie. She cannot look after dad for much longer. please log in to view this image Hooped hero…Stan was like a god to QPR fans Nobody at QPR, or any of the supporters’ groups who have fallen out with each other over this ambitious proposal, can get their act together quick enough. Tracy has not heard a dickie bird from Rangers in weeks. When you start talking to a family, when you start to make a fuss of them, you build their hopes up. Their imagination runs wild, with images of Stan walking on to the pitch at Loftus Road, blue and white scarf wrapped around his neck, turning to the stands to salute the fans. For one last time. One last time to salute Stan the Man. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/foot...running-out-to-organise-salute-to-qpr-legend/
Read that this morning and it brings a tear to the eye, I hope they can get their act together for a testimonial, perhaps against Man City his first club. Whatever happens no-one can forget the joy he brought to us throughout the 70s...
Read this at work earlier and like the article about Dave Thomas it is so sad to see our heroes succumbing to the frailties that beset us all with the passing of time. I wish them both well and hope they receive all the help they need and thank them for the immense pleasure they gave us all.
It's sadly not just Stan, here is an article on Celtic great Billy McNeill also in the grip of this horrible condition... http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...cneill-battling-9919324#ICID=sharebar_twitter
