Norwich City legend Duncan Forbes dies aged 78 after long Alzheimer's battle
Norwich City legend Duncan Forbes has died at the age of 78 following a long battle with Alzheimer's.
The Scot spent 13 years at the club from the late 60s to early 80s after joining from Colchester United, and made more than 350 appearances.
During his time at Carrow Road, he captained the Canaries to their first ever promotion to the top flight in 1972, and also played in two League Cup finals for the club in 1973 and 1975.
In 2002, he was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.
Forbes was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2007 and was moved to a care home six years later.
He passed away surrounded by his family at the Woodside House Care Home in Norwich on Wednesday evening.
In a statement, the club’s joint majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones said "his legacy will live on forever."
“Duncan was a commanding figure, both on and off the pitch," the statement read.
"He was the backbone of our defence for many years. Unrelenting in the tackle and an inspiration to the rest of the team whom he would call out in a voice that could be heard way outside the ground.
“We have lost not only a club legend but someone who will forever be part of Norwich City folklore.
“City to the core, and one of the nicest men you could hope to meet, Duncan will be sorely missed by the club, but his legacy will forever live on.”
Norwich say they will announce details of how supporters can pay their respects in the near future.
His death comes in the week that new research found that ex-footballers are more than three times more likely to die of dementia than people of the same age range in the general population.
Forbes' wife Janette has told ITV News Anglia in the past that she believes years of heading a football may have contributed to his condition.