Former Cheltenham Town and Northampton Town striker Neil Grayson has shared the heartbreaking news that he is living with both dementia and motor neurone disease (MND). The 61-year-old, who played a key role in Cheltenham's historic first promotion to the Football League in 1999, disclosed his condition during a fundraising event at Whaddon Road, where his former team faced Colchester United.
“I've got dementia and motor neurone disease,” Grayson told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. “The worst thing is trying to remember names. When someone tells me their name when I go to a club or a pub then I go next day and I go, 'hello mate'. It's just a bit of a problem.”
Grayson enjoyed a distinguished career that began in his native Yorkshire with Doncaster Rovers and York City. He later played for Chesterfield before joining Northampton in 1994, where he helped the Cobblers secure promotion from Division Three in 1997, scoring 12 goals that season—including the club's fastest-ever hat-trick against Hartlepool United.
He moved to Cheltenham in 1998 and became a fan favourite, making over 195 appearances in four years. Under manager Steve Cotterill, Grayson was part of the side that won the Conference and earned promotion to the Football League for the first time. He was named Cheltenham's player of the year, Conference player of the year, and finished as the club's top scorer for three consecutive seasons.
Grayson retired from playing in 2004, leaving behind a legacy of determination and skill. His recent diagnosis has brought an outpouring of support from the football community, with fans and former teammates rallying around him.