North East

Charlie Crowe's family have discovered a log kept by him which charts the games he played in and some thoughts about them.

Football legend Charlie Crowe.

Our report "hears" Charlie through his diaries and contrasts them with the impact on his memory today.

His family want to re-print one book previously written by Charlie to help raise £1.5m for a scanner to be used in the diagnosis and research into treatment for the disease at the specialist centre in Newcastle.

In this moving tribute his daughter Lesley describes her memories and feelings about her father.

Charile Crowe's daughter Lesley Edmondson writes...

My father has been described as a 'local hero', but for him the real' heroes' were the people of the North East, rising above hard times, keeping going.

He always said he was a 'lucky lad' to have had the opportunity to play for his beloved 'Magpies'.

And whenever he could, he tried to repay that with kindness to others through his charitable works.

My love for my parents is now coloured with the knowledge of how much they have struggled together to overcome the devastation of Alzheimer's disease - never complaining as they took each difficult step together.

I can no longer ask dad about his younger days, but his recently discovered journals have given me an insight into a simpler world - now just a distant memory.

They are a concise humorous record of football in those 'glory days', his pride at being a small part of that and his affection for his team mates in all clubs right across the country.

I feel privileged to write this tribute to a father I love and have great respect for.

If he is a 'hero' in any sense of the word, it is in his battle with Alzheimer's.

That makes him a 'hero' in my eyes.

His greatest wish now is to be able to raise money for this scanner which will provide research to help other sufferers with Alzheimer's, Dementia and other diseases.

Charlie Crowe and family.

That is why his first book is being reprinted with a tribute from one of football's greatest Sir Bobby Robson.

We will succeed in this battle to raise money - with the help of the people of the North East.

Dad's motto - 'Try your best, never give up'- is something I hope I can live up to.

Lesley Edmondson