John Stiles, the son of England World Cup winner Nobby, who passed away in 2020 due to dementia, is campaigning to raise awareness among current football players about the risks of heading the ball. The cost of caring for footballers with dementia from heading balls could reach £1 billion, as a 2021 study found that former professionals were three-and-a-half times more likely to develop dementia than the general population, with defenders being even more at risk. The Premier League and Professional Footballer’s Association pledged £1 million for former players with dementia, with campaigners urging further support. John Stiles, who lost his father to dementia, is concerned about his own future and is advocating for better education on the dangers of heading footballs.
Stiles has joined 30 former players in legal action against football’s governing bodies to increase support for former players living with dementia. Members of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team, including Ray Wilson, Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles, Jack Charlton, and Bobby Charlton, have all developed dementia before their deaths, highlighting the severity of the issue. Judith Gates, who launched the charity Head Safe Football after her husband, former footballer Bill, was diagnosed with dementia, estimates that the cost of caring for footballers with the disease could be £1 billion over the next 30 years. Gates emphasizes the urgency of the situation and the need for sustainable funding to support former players affected by dementia.
Bill’s story and the crisis facing football are detailed in a new book, No Brainer, set to be released soon. Gates emphasizes that despite the wealth in football, the support for players with dementia is lacking and insufficient. Even with the Brain Health Fund set up by football governing bodies, Gates believes that more needs to be done to address the issue adequately. Bill expressed his wish to see other players and families spared from the suffering they endured and hoped to create a legacy that would benefit others. The call is for the creation of a charity with long-term funding to provide ongoing care for former players living with dementia, ensuring that they receive the support they need.
The campaign to raise awareness about the risks of dementia in football continues, with the son of World Cup winner Nobby Stiles leading the charge. The fear of developing dementia from heading the ball looms over former players and current professionals who face this potential danger on the field. The government has been urged to take action, with measures proposed to classify dementia in sport as an industrial disease, allowing retired players to access benefits to cover care costs. As the conversation around dementia in football grows, the need for more robust support systems for affected players becomes increasingly urgent.
The impact of heading footballs on players’ long-term health has sparked a movement to address the risks and provide essential support for those affected by dementia. With the high number of former footballers experiencing dementia-related issues, the call for better education, funding, and care for affected players has become a pressing issue in the football community. The stories of Nobby Stiles, Bill Gates, and others in the football world underscore the need for proactive measures to safeguard players’ health and well-being. As campaigns like No Brainer continue to advocate for change, the hope is to see a future where footballers are protected and supported in their later years, free from the burden of dementia.
