Dementia-suffering former Premier League star Dean Windass has told of his upset at being ‘blackballed’ after he applied for membership of a prestigious golf club.
The former striker was a Hull City hero whose iconic Wembley goal secured the Tigers’ historic promotion to the Premier League in 2008.
Windass is now coming to terms with his Stage 2 dementia diagnosis, and was hoping to play regular golf as a form of therapy.
But the 54-year-old ex-striker, known for his blunt Yorkshire charm as much as his on-pitch prowess, was left stunned after his application to join the exclusive £1,200 a year Hull Golf Club was turned down without explanation.
Tagging the club on X, Windass – who bravely announced his diagnosis in January – fumed: ‘Woke up feeling a bit deflated yesterday after finding out my local golf club had blackballed me.
‘I was asked by some local pros that work there why I wasn’t a member and that I should join. I thought about it and decided that after my recent diagnosis it would probably do me good to join and spend my days enjoying one of my favourite pastimes.’
Former footballer Dean Windass revealed his upset at being ‘blackballed’ by his local golf club
Windass, who revealed his dementia diagnosis in January, revealed his upset on social media
Windass is best remembered for scoring the goal which saw Hull promoted to the top flight
He added: ‘This golf club is run by the members and the decision is ultimately up to them … so for some reason (as no reason is given) they have rejected my application. I have an idea who it is and I actually feel sorry for them because to have that much bitterness towards me is very sad.
‘Jealousy is an illness. But today’s a new day and just thought I’d reflect, move on and focus on the future.’
Windass, who enjoyed a long professional career with clubs including Bradford City, Aberdeen and Middlesbrough, has become a well-known pundit and after-dinner speaker since retiring.
Despite his jovial persona, he has also spoken candidly about his struggles with mental health, something that makes the latest snub all the more painful.
Windass’ 90,000 followers on X were quick to offer their support, amongst them ex Nottingham Forest and Wales goalkeeper Mark Crossley.
‘You would have thought a sport that helps people with mental health problems past or present would be reaching out to help,’ wrote the former player. ‘Obviously not in this case. I’m shocked Deano. Our golf club Tankersley love having you there. Chin up, their loss mate.’
Windass started his footballing career as a trainee at Hull City, signing his first professional contract there. He netted 64 goals in 205 games for Hull, and his departure brought a club record transfer fee at the time, doing on to play in the top levels of English and Scottish football.
Later, he returned to Hull City, scoring the only goal of the 2008 Championship play-off final to take them to the top flight for the first time in their history.
Windass had two spells at Hull in his career and netted the winner in the 2008 play-off final
Several fans voiced their support to Windass and suggested he play at their golf clubs
He was known as a controversial player, once being sent off three times in a game for Aberdeen, as well as grabbing another opponent’s groin in a match at Bradford City.
He scored his last Premier League goal at the age of 39, becoming Hull City’s oldest-ever scorer. He officially announced his retirement from the game on 19 October 2009.
On social media, fans voiced their support for Windass, with some branding the golf club’s decision as ‘elitist’.
Many followers suggested he could come and join their own golf clubs instead and their loss would be Hull’s gain.
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Dean Windass opens up on his dementia diagnosis and reveals how he’s taking it ‘a day at a time’
When Windass made his dementia announcement earlier this year, his usual wry humour shone through.
Writing about his diagnosis on X, he said he was ‘OK and joked: ‘I was delighted to find out I had a brain’.
He added: ‘I Just hope other families get the help what they want for the people they have lost.’
A spokesperson for Hull Golf Club told MailOnline that it had ‘no comment whatsoever to make on the matter.’
*While Windass did correctly add the X handle of Hull Golf Club in his post, he also mistakenly included another one belonging to a high school golf star called Teagen Hull in Eldon, Missouri, USA.
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