Dean Windass: 'If you can cheer someone up every day then that’s brilliant'

Dean Windass is a Hull City legend and striker who also played for Bradford City, scoring a total of 198 goals in his career.

The former professional football player spoke with Annabelle Leith about playing in empty stadiums, pre-match rituals, and the importance of recognising mental health in the sport.

LIFE

How would you feel having to play in an empty stadium?

You just take it for granted that you've got 25,000 fans shouting and screaming at you. I think for me it would be very difficult to get motivated in the sense that you always want your supporters behind you. So I would find it very, very hard.

A lot of players, some players I know, can't handle playing in front of big crowds. It would never have suited me though - yeah you do it and you've got to get on with it but it's better when you've got crowds of people screaming at you. Even the negatives.

"I’d probably want Gazza to send me one cause I know how crackers he is" - Dean Windass

Did you have a lucky charm or ritual for your matches?

Yeah - I used to wash my face three times before I went out. I've got a bit of OCD, and I couldn’t do it just twice. I had to do it three times. I don't know how it came around, it just happened.

Have you got anything new and exciting in the pipeline?

It's hard at the minute because of Corona. I used to do all the after dinner speaking and of course all of that’s been cancelled because you can't get the numbers in, so that’ll start next year in February or March time. It's just one of those situations where you’ve got to get on with it and just wait for it to come around next year now.

MEMMO

What has been your favourite memmo request so far?

There was a lady who was about 65 - it was a birthday request. I think it's nice when they're older. So yeah it was a 65 year old lady who I sent a birthday memmo to which I really enjoyed.

Who would your ‘guilty pleasure’ memmo be from? And what would it say?

Well Paul Gascoin’s my mate so I’d probably want Gazza to send me one cause I know how crackers he is. He’d probably do it once he’s had a drink so it’d be even funnier. I don’t know what I’d want him to say in it though to be honest with you because you wouldn’t be able to trust him anyway.

"If you’re sending a video to someone and cheering them up for the day then you’re doing your job" - Dean Windass

Which kind of memmos are the most fun to film?

Well nearly all of them are birthday requests. But I do find it a bit awkward when they ask ‘Can you say this about him’ or call him a certain name. They’re the tough ones because you don't know if you're getting set up or not. But as long as you take it with a bit of humour then it’s not too bad.

How does it feel to be able to interact with fans in such a personal way?

I do already record videos for people for mental health, but I always think that if you can cheer someone up every day then that’s brilliant. There’s a lot of mental health issues in sport and a lot of people taking their own lives during this pandemic. So if you’re sending a video to someone and cheering them up for the day then you’re doing your job.

Dean Windass is available on memmo for personalised video messages - perfect for any occasion.