Tuesday 25 July 2017 15:20, UK
Queens Park Rangers will hold a benefit match against Bournemouth this Saturday for Stan Bowles, one of their greatest ever players.
Bowles made over 300 appearances for Rangers in the 70s and was part of the team that came within 14 minutes of winning the First Division title in the 1975-76 season.
Capped five times for England, Bowles, now aged 68, is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
This week he was visited at home in the part of Manchester where he grew up with three old friends from the same era, Frank Worthington, Alan Hudson and Don Shanks, to reminisce.
Worthington is also suffering from the same condition, although Bowles' case is more advanced.
Former QPR team-mate Shanks recalled: "I wanted the ball to go to Stan all the time because he would bring a buzz."
Hudson added: "Something would happen every time. Football is all about getting it to your best player and if I'm in midfield, the first player I would give it to would be Stan because I'd knew he'd do something."
Shanks has been moved by Bowles' condition, and adds: "Three, four years ago you could have a conversation with Stan and then a year later it was 'did he hear me?' Now, unfortunately, he's got this condition where there is no conversation anymore."
Hudson is equally moved by Bowles' condition. "Coming up on the train I thought I am going to cry because it upsets me so much, so just be natural with him and we did last night and we kept laughing."
Bowles will be at Loftus Road for the benefit match which will raise funds for his future care.
There is high demand for tickets for the game which kicks off at 3pm but fans who cannot make it can buy a virtual ticket.
Shanks is hoping for a huge crowd: "To actually see him walk out there on Saturday and have a full house would be absolutely tremendous and he deserves it, he really does."
