Fernando Ricksen and his wife sit at a table in their house but the former footballer cannot feed himself.

Veronika lifts the spoon and does it for him. Regardless of the circumstances facing the couple, Fernando's "spirit is unbroken" and the couple have never been closer.

It is a familiar scene for Ronald Top, a Dutch actor and writer who has followed his ailing countryman for a number of weeks to produce a new documentary on his battle with motor neurone disease - The Final Battle.

Three years ago this week, the former Rangers defender revealed on Dutch TV he was suffering from the condition, also known as ALS.

His public announcement came as as a shock in both the Netherlands and Scotland, where he made his name in the game, and was an appearance Ronald described as "traumatic".

Speaking to STV, the director said: "I saw him then doing his announcement which was very dramatic and powerful and brought tears to my eyes, and to many people in Holland.

"Twitter exploded after the first two minutes where it seemed that he was drunk but then the presenter said 'you seem to have some trouble talking' and then he burst out in tears and said 'well I've just been diagnosed with MND'.

"That completely changed the show and the interview. It was clear to us that this great football player was basically going to die. He himself thought this was the end of his life and it wouldn't take very long.

"But here we are, three years later."

The documentary will focus on what has happened to the former Ibrox captain since his diagnosis at the age of 37.

A crowdfunding campaign has been set up and aims to raise 20,000 euros to enable post-production to begin quickly and a premiere to take place in the next few months.

The director may have only known his subject for a short period of time but he told STV that others say he is still the same Fernando despite everything that has happened.

The footballer is not shying away from this particular challenge.

Ronald explained:"I was very much intrigued by his situation. We all know him as the former Rangers star and his exuberant lifestyle we also know, of course, and his striking actions on and off the field.

"But with battling MND he is finding himself in a different ball game right now.

"So I'm intrigued by why he's not closing the curtains and suffering in silence - he's opened them up and shown what this muscle wasting disease is really doing to him. His spirit is unbroken."

Early in the film-making process, Ronald asked Fernando if there was anything he would prefer not to film.

After thinking about his response, Ricksen told him he could "literally film everything" except for him taking a shower.

Ronald added: "We've known him as a player of assert in his early days but he became famous also in our eyes when he started playing for Rangers.

"But I think the majority of Dutch people got to know him after his announcement of MND. And after that we really feel very sympathetic towards him.

"Fernando wants to give this illness a face and really show what the disease is doing to him."

The latest episode for the 40-year-old came when he was due to attend a black tie event in Glasgow but was rejected from a flight because the airline claimed he was too ill to board.

Because he needs a wheelchair to get on a plane he was initially prevented from boarding the Valencia to Amsterdam flight after staff said he would not be able to safely use his seat belt in an emergency situation.

A day later the airline performed a U-turn and allowed him to make the flight with no changes to the conditions Fernando originally faced.

"It is not a story about a man dying," says Ronald. "I really want to correct that if somebody thinks that.

"It is a story of hope. Fernando shares with us a message which is very simple but also very powerful: enjoy life as long as you can.

"Because he's not closing the curtains and not suffering in silence he shows people that you have to keep fighting and be out there and show yourself - be a part of society as long as you can - which is very inspiring I think for people who are in the same or similar situation."

While Fernando himself can sometimes face difficulty in speaking, the past few weeks and months have given Ronald the opportunity to speak to others in his life including four-year-old daughter Isabella and wife Veronika.

The disease affects not only those suffering but their families as well with many changes to lifestyle and everyday routine. Although in some cases it can even bring people closer together.

Veronika told Ronald: "Fernando and I love each other maybe more than before. Before I didn't see him a lot because he was a footballer playing all the time and now he felt ill which is a horrible and tragic situation.

"But we have grown to become one and we are in this huge, big love affair and we have grown to be one."

Ronald added: "That was very striking to me because if you see Fernando and he's not capable of doing a lot, he can't walk or talk, I think that is amazing.

"However tragic or dramatic a situation is there's always room for love and beauty."

Find out more about the crowdfunding below.

Additional reporting by Oliver Dickinson.