December 21 – With the debate over both concussion and dementia intensifying, the family of former England 1966 World Cup-winning midfielder Nobby Stiles say they have been told his brain was severely damaged by repeated heading of the ball.
Stiles (pictured right) died on October 30 at the age of 78, having been diagnosed with dementia as well as suffering from prostate cancer.
Sir Bobby Charlton (pictured left) was recently revealed to be the fifth member of the 1966 World Cup-winning team to be diagnosed with dementia. His brother Jack, Ray Wilson, Martin Peters as well as Stiles have all died of the condition over the last two-and-a-half years.
Stiles’ family told the Daily Mail newspaper they received the diagnosis after donating his brain to a study led by consultant neuropathologist Dr Willie Stewart looking at the possible link between dementia and football which found last year that footballers were three and a half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than age-matched members of the population.
His son John Stiles told the newspaper: “Dr Stewart told us that the damage to my dad’s brain was very severe and could only be explained by him heading the ball over the sustained period of his career.”
Last week English Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham confirmed that his organisation would be meeting with representatives from the Premier League and English Football League to discuss heading at professional level.
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