The fund will support footballers and their families who are affected by dementia

A dementia support fund is set to be created in memory of a footballing legend.

Celtic European Cup winning captain Billy McNeill died last year after a battle with dementia.

And now his family have created a fund which will provide support to other former footballers affected by the condition.

A recent study showed there are conclusive links between football and neurological diseases.

Liz McNeil, Billy’s wife, told the Herald: “When Billy was diagnosed, we saw a doctor who told us he had a small cognitive impairment in the frontal lobe, which would be in keeping with heading the ball. That was his forte.

“Many European footballers of his era had died with dementia and Motor Neurone Disease, big players and also from down south in their age group.”

The fund will be administered by the charity Battle Against Dementia and will be launched on 29 May at a charity event in Glasgow backed by Scottish football names, past and present and music and TV personalities.