Dean Windass has asked his son, Josh, to contact him in a heartbreaking birthday message.
Windass, 56, played for the likes of Hull City, Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United in a career that spanned more than 20 years.
In total, the former striker made 732 club appearances during his career, scoring 234 goals. He was part of the Hull team that earned promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs during the 07/08 season.
Last year, it was revealed that Windass was diagnosed with stage two dementia.
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Speaking after his diagnosis last year, Windass said to the Daily Mail: "If somebody asked me about the goal at Wembley and I can’t remember, then that is a worry. Then I’ll know that it has got worse.
"Honestly, I wish I hadn’t done the scan because then I wouldn’t have known, and we wouldn’t be talking about this now. I’d have just said I forget names and I am getting old. I don’t want to be a burden or for anybody to feel sorry for me. I am healthy, physically. But now, I overthink things."
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On Friday, Windass took to social media to wish his son, Josh, who plays for Wrexham, a Happy Birthday and also asked the 32-year-old to contact him.
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Windass wrote on X: "Just want to wish my Josh happy 32nd birthday good luck tonight against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup from a very proud DAD miss yeh.
"Life’s too short Josh this is breaking my heart please get in touch."
It is unclear why Dean and Josh are currently not in touch.
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Previously, Windass spoke about how proud he was to get the chance of watching Josh play.
He said: "When I first went to watch him at Glasgow Rangers I was the proudest man.
"People say when I scored the goal at Wembley that my dad was the proudest man in Hull. I went, "Yeah whatever". I realise now. My dad's not here anymore."
Windass continued: "I think it was the Aberdeen game when they played at Ibrox. When I went there and they started singing Penny Arcade and that… I'm a cry baby, me, and I had tears in my eyes.
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"Watching my son walking out for one of the biggest clubs in the country, with the best fanbase that you'll probably ever meet in your life - I was so proud."
Topics: Football
Marcus Chan