Former Cheltenham forward Grayson diagnosed with MND and dementia

Neil Grayson was part of the Cheltenham side that won a first promotion to the EFL in 1999 [Getty Images]

Former Cheltenham Town and Northampton Town forward Neil Grayson has been diagnosed with dementia and motor neurone disease.

The 61-year-old won promotion with both the Robins and Cobblers during his career and retired from playing in 2004.

Grayson was at Whaddon Road for Cheltenham's final game of the season, a 4-1 loss to Colchester United, for a fundraising event.

"I've got dementia and motor neurone disease," Grayson told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"The worst thing is trying to remember names. When someone tells me their name when I go to a club or a pub then I go next day and I go, 'hello mate'. It's just a bit of a problem."

• Listen: Neil Grayson speaks to BBC Radio Gloucestershire
• Cheltenham Town 1-4 Colchester United

Grayson was part of current Cheltenham manager Steve Cotterill's historic 1999 side that won promotion to the Football League for the first time.

He made more than 195 appearances for the club during a four-year spell between 1998 and 2002, winning Cheltenham's player of the year and Conference player of the year, and finishing as their top scorer for three seasons.

Grayson began his career in his home county Yorkshire with Doncaster Rovers and York, also playing for Chesterfield before moving to the Cobblers in 1994.

He was part of the side that secured promotion from Division Three in 1997, scoring 12 goals, including the club's fastest-ever hat-trick against Hartlepool United.