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Jimmy Hill will always be known as an energetic trail-blazer who revolutionised English football with his ground-breaking ideas.

But now, little remains of the eccentric personality adored by Coventry City FC fans after his life - and that of his family - was ripped apart by Alzheimer’s.

The 87-year-old first started showing signs of the disease when he still worked for Sky Sports as a football pundit, before it was diagnosed in late 2007, and the woman who adored him most of all described the effect of the illness as “devastating”.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Bryony Hill, Jimmy’s wife of 25 years, has revealed the struggles Jimmy has faced as he battles the disease and the emotions contended with as she came to terms with the effects of Alzheimer’s.

Many Coventry City FC fans will remember Jimmy as the club’s former manager, who led the Sky Blues to the old First Division during the 1960s.

But his impact on the game was much more far-reaching. He abolished the maximum wage for players, introduced all-seater stadiums and set the stage for today’s football pundits through his revolutionary presenting style on Match of the Day.

Bryony said watching Jimmy’s quick-witted, intelligent and charming personality deteriorate had been “heartbreaking”.

The two met in 1976 when she responded to an ad which read ‘BBC TV Sports Personality with a dog seeks super-efficient PA.’

She said: “I asked who it was, they said ‘Jimmy Hill’, and I said who?

“It didn’t mean anything to me. But I ended up getting the job and thoroughly enjoyed it. He even put up with my secretarial shortcomings!”

She added: “We first noticed something was wrong when he was working with Sky Sports in 2007. He still had a full diary, but spells of forgetfulness became more of an issue.

“But he was 80 then, so it didn’t ring any alarm bells. Because we weren’t looking for the illness or warning signs we just carried on.

“It was once he retired that things escalated and caused concern. He was diagnosed towards the end of 2007.”

Bryony explained how the illness affected Jimmy in spells at first, but eventually forced him to give up the things he loved such as tennis and bridge as he struggled to keep score or remember the cards.

She said: “It is absolutely devastating and heartbreaking. At a time when you look forward to growing old together, reminiscing and sharing experiences, you have the rug pulled out from under you.

“I had no experience of this illness, it was a huge learning curve for me and something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

“Sometimes, two minutes after eating lunch they won’t remember having lunch. You have to avoid asking questions.

“You have to go into their mind and go with the flow. If they think they are on an aeroplane, you have to let them believe they are on an aeroplane.

“You can’t contradict them or they can become confused and distressed.”

She added: “For me prevention of Alzheimer’s would be better than a cure. That would be my ultimate dream, it would be a miracle.”

In 2012, a statue of Jimmy was unveiled outside the Ricoh Arena as he made his last public appearance.

But Bryony has revealed that, while Jimmy enjoyed the occasion, he was not able to comprehend what was happening on the day.

She said: “He wasn’t aware of what was happening, but he saw the statue and he was amazed. It was a fleeting image during the day.

“What did affect him was the lovely warmth of the Coventry crowd. They all cheered and then he got the crowd to sing the Sky Blue Song.

“Tears flowed freely from many eyes, including his and mine.”

Bryony went on to explain that Jimmy had always maintained a deep connection to Coventry, even when his illness became advanced.

She said: “He would always look for Coventry’s results first, then Fulham, then Brentford.

“It was always Coventry first. He loved his time there and he loved the people.

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“Even when he became very ill, his favourite tie was still the Coventry City tie. That got more wear than any of them.

“He chose it even when everything else was falling by the wayside. He had enormous love and warmth for Coventry.

“To have his statue there is such a lovely tribute.”

Bryony has now released a book about her husband’s life entitled ‘My Gentleman Jim’.

Asked why she had decided to write the book, she said: “Jimmy had been in care for about two-and-a-half years and during the days I began to think of happy times and the experiences we have shared.

“That helped enormously through the very dark days. I found writing down memories from the special times we shared, and reminiscing, was extremely cathartic.

“I was able to live with Jimmy as if he was at his peak again.”

* 'My Gentleman Jim: A Love Story’ by Bryony Hill is available to purchase from the Book Guild at £15.99 plus postage and packaging.