Dave_Serella
Dave Serella
English footballer
David Serella (born 24 September 1952) is an English former professional footballer who played 376 league and cup matches for Nottingham Forest, Walsall, and Blackpool.[1][2]
Serella now lives and works in Lytham St Annes.[3]
He was one of the two players assaulted by Newcastle fans during the 1974 sixth round FA Cup tie on 9 March 1974, whilst playing in central defence alongside Bob Chapman.[4] Newcastle United fans invaded the pitch and although the match was completed the FA ordered that the game was scrubbed from the record books and replayed at Goodison Park.[5][6]
In May 2007 Serella stood for election in the Kilnhouse Ward of the Fylde Borough Council local council elections.[7]
In February 2017, Serella revealed to BBC Radio 2 that he was living with a form of pre-dementia caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy.[8] The disease is associated with repeated blows to the head and is well known for affecting boxers and American football players. Serella was discussing with Vanessa Feltz the results of a study that showed soccer players, particularly central defenders called upon to head heavy footballs frequently, to be at risk from the disease.