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      Risks of dementia could be greater for female footballers, says expert running ground-breaking study

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      WOMEN footballers are being urged to take part in a study to determine if they are at a higher risk of getting dementia than male players. 
      And its lead scientist believes female athletes heading the ball could be in greater danger of developing the condition diagnosed in five of 1966 World Cup winners. 

      University of East Anglia scientists are studying the effect heading a football has on female playersCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Retired Crystal Palace ace Mark Bright and ex-Norwich City players are among the former professionals involved in the SCORES Project run by the University of East Anglia (UEA). 
      Dr Michael Grey, the study’s chief researcher, revealed his team are desperate to see more women players over the age of 40 to volunteer to take part. 
      Their call-out comes less than a month after the death of Manchester United and England hero Nobby Stiles who lived with dementia in his later years. 

      Professional female players who are 40 are being encouraged to take part in research Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      And it follows University of Glasgow research, funded by the FA, which revealed that retired male players are five times more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s compared to the average person. 

      Dr Grey told SunSport three amateur women footballers are currently involved in the study, with netballers, swimmers, tennis and badminton players making up the rest of the 37 sportswomen taking part. 
      And Sky Sports News reports the project is yet to include a single former professional female player. 
      Dr Grey said: “We know very little about how this affects female players, but we think female players are at even greater risk of developing sport-related dementia than male players.
      “We have already signed up more than 35 professional male players but we have very few women footballers in the study so far. 

      “We know that there is greater risk of dementia in former professional footballers, and we think this is related to repetitive heading of the ball.
      “We know there are physical and physiological differences between male and female players and this could be important when it comes to the impact of repeatedly heading the ball.
      “But we don’t fully understand the impact these differences could have, so we are encouraging former amateur and professional female players to come forward to help us with our project.
      “We are looking for women and men over 40, who live in the UK and do not have a diagnosis of dementia. 
      “We are tracking their brain health over time. And we hope to follow these footballers for many years to come.”

      Sir Geoff Hurst is among leading football figures calling for a ban on children heading footballsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The issue of dementia in football has become a pressing concern for the sport with some of the game’s biggest names supporting a ban on children heading the ball. 
      1966 World Cup legend Sir Geoff Hurst is among the leading figures backing the call following his England peers’ struggles with dementia. 
      And the Professional Footballers’ Association announced its plans to create a new taskforce to analyse the issue of brain injury diseases in football. More

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      Brave dementia sufferer and Harrogate legend Jim Hague is lost without football while wife fears for his mental health

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      JIM HAGUE loves Harrogate Town and this lockdown is affecting his mental health far worse than most fans.
      For the 78-year-old suffers from dementia and being segregated from the club due to the government restrictions has had a detrimental effect on his life.

      Dementia sufferer Jim Hague is a legend on and off the pitch at Harrogate

      Jim is a club legend both on and off the pitch.
      The former striker – who started as a defender – remains their youngest first-team debutant at 14 and made a record 402 appearances, topping the Yorkshire club’s all-time scoring charts with 135 goals.
      He also served on the club’s committee and, six years ago, won an FA award as groundsman of the year.
      Yet – despite his condition – he is still involved with the Sulpherites and, right up to this second lockdown, was working at their Wetherby Road stadium with a team of maintenance volunteers every Monday and Friday.And that interaction with fellow Harrogate lovers gave him something to look forward to twice a week – especially with fans not allowed into the ground to watch games.

      Club record appearance holder and scorer Jim Hague helps tidy up ground
      Jenny – Jim’s wife for 54 years – told me: “He was sweeping leaves and cleaning the terraces out.“He had only just gone back after the first lockdown and they were doing so much work but now they’re not allowed in.“It’s been bad enough that he hasn’t been able to watch them play since March – although our son Jason has been able to stream the games for Jim.“But it’s been a hard time. Being able to watch games and go to the ground to meet old friends and lovers of Harrogate gave him a reason to get out of bed.“Harrogate has been his life and, for people with dementia, taking away something from them that they love and are used to is not good. It has a seriously negative impact. It’s the worst thing that could’ve happened to his life.“People with dementia need stability and anything out of the ordinary throws them into a downward spiral.“For Jim, his life revolved around watching Harrogate Town and being able to go down there to help.”

      People with dementia need stability and anything out of the ordinary throws them into a downward spiral.’
      Jenny Hague, Jim’s wife

      Jim left Harrogate when he was 16 to join Bolton Wanderers as a youth player. And he was such a promising talent, the legendary Nat Lofthouse spent a lot of time with him on the training pitch.Jenny, 76, said: “Nat would teach him how to head the ball – which is probably why he has dementia.”

      Bolton and England legend Nat Lofthouse taught Jim how to head the ball
      After around 18 months with Bolton, he joined Leeds but failed to make the grade there and returned to his beloved Harrogate to play in the Yorkshire League.Jim has a great story about his favourite Town manager – former pre-war Chelsea and England star John Townrow – that would send a modern-day HR department into meltdown.
      He said: “If we did something wrong in a game he used to punch us! It certainly taught us a lesson.”

      Jim loved playing for Harrogate “because the team was close-knit and had a real camaraderie.”

      Jim, far left, with Harrogate team after winning the West Riding Cup in 1973

      Jim, front row, far left, poses for Harrogate team photo in the 1967-68 season

      Harrogate Town celebrate winning promotion to League TwoCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Jim had to call time on his playing career with Harrogate in 1973 at the age of 32 after he passed out while with his wife on a visit to the Yorkshire coastal village of Sandsend, near Whitby.Jenny explained: “He had a heart problem and that finished his playing days there.”But, incredibly, he made a comeback and went on to play into his early 40s for Collingham – a local village team.However, he was serving on Harrogate’s committee and later became the groundsman.And there is a great tale from December 2012 ahead of a crunch FA Cup second-round match with Hastings United.The club were struggling with a newly-laid pitch because Harrogate got 340 per cent more rain that winter compared to the previous year – and had five home games called off in a row.Ten minutes before what was then Town’s biggest match in their history, the referee threatened to postpone the match unless there was more sand treatment to the pitch.

      Jim had been given the day off to enjoy the occasion with his grandson Alfie but, as soon as he heard, he rushed out of the stand and, along with the under-17 squad that he had taught how to replace turf and repair diverts, got to work.And they got the pitch playable with one minute spare.Jim’s grand-daughter Olivia, 17, has also proudly represented the club in the girls’ section.

      Jim and Jenny Hague have been married to each other for 54 years
      Despite having dementia, Jim still was able to talk to me about his love of the club that is playing in the EFL for the first time in their history.He said: “I’m delighted and proud we’re in the Football League and playing well too.“Going way back to when I was playing in the old Yorkshire League, I wanted the club to go further and they certainly have done that.“When fans are allowed back, we will have a big crowd for the first game there for sure.“The club will always have a special place in my heart.”And Harrogate will always have a special place in their hearts for Jim Hague too.

      Elliott has a cheek claiming he owns Charlton

      WHAT a cheek of Paul Elliott to demand Thomas Sandgaard leaves Charlton Athletic – claiming he does not own the club.It’s almost as mad as Donald Trump claiming he won the US election.Elliott – along with lawyer sidekick Chris Farnell – are hated by the vast majority of the Addicks’ fan-base.I ran a poll on my Twitter page the other day and asked supporters what they would do if these two gentlemen somehow regained control – and 75 per cent said they would “boycott all matches”.Both of them enjoyed driving around in flashy £90,000 Range Rovers at Charlton’s expense while the club was on its knees.In fact, when Sandgaard took over they were days from going into administration.East Street Investments – the previous owners – took almost £1million out of the club on a fleet of cars for their executives. Meanwhile former chairman Matt Southall enjoyed a luxury £12,000-a-month Thames-riverside apartment, paid for by the club.It is clear to any reasonable person that the aim of Elliott and Farnell serving “sealed court orders” to Sandgaard’s legal team is to try to scare him into paying more money to them.Sandgaard, who says he is paying £1m a month at the moment to fund the club without fans, in the coming weeks wants to lobby the EFL in a bid to rid the game of dodgy owners.And, if they are not able to achieve that, then he will start a parliamentary petition with the aim of the government bringing in legislation.We should not allow another club to suffer the same fate as Bury.If football cannot self-regulate itself effectively, then the government most certainly can do it for them. More

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      Jack Charlton’s widow refuses to blame football for his dementia diagnosis amid heading ban

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      ENGLAND’s victory in the 1966 World Cup is a moment so ingrained in the nation’s consciousness that it seems destined never to be forgotten.
      But for many of the heroes of that glorious day at Wembley Stadium it has now faded into a hazy mist, hard to recollect.

      Jack Charlton, pictured in 1970, died aged 85 earlier this yearCredit: Rex Features

      The towering defender was famous for his ability in the airCredit: Rex Features

      He was one of many players to be diagnosed with dementia, although his wife Pat believes the beautiful game isn’t to blame

      Nearly half of manager Sir Alf Ramsey’s illustrious 11 have succumbed to dementia, with Sir Bobby Charlton the latest to be diagnosed.
      This has reignited the long-running debate within the game about the link between heading the ball and brain disease, with England World Cup hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst calling for a ban on children using their heads to strike a football.
      He has even offered to donate his own brain for dementia research after a year that has been “unbelievably brutal” for his 1966 team-mates.
      In the last 12 months 78-year-old Geoff has not only seen Sir Bobby diagnosed with dementia but also the deaths of team-mates Nobby Stiles and Bobby’s brother Jack, who both had the disease.

      The cruel reality of what this meant for the men involved is revealed in an intimate new documentary about Jack, who died in July.
      When he was recently shown his gold World Cup winner’s medal from 1966, he showed only ­surprise, saying: “Good grief, it’s me.”
      Towering defender Jack, 6ft 1½in, was famous for his ability in the air, often scoring goals with his head. But his family refuse to blame the beautiful game for his demise.
      His widow Pat says: “It’s like ­boxers getting hit in the head, nobody can actually prove it.

      “He’s enjoyed his football, would you take that away from him? I don’t think so.”
      BAD MEMORY
      In the film, Finding Jack Charlton, the star’s son John predicted it would not be the dementia which killed the England legend — and he was right. It was cancer which ended Jack’s life at the age of 85.
      The family were keen to show that while brain disease had diminished the once gregarious man, he was still living an active life to the end.

      Sir Geoff Hurst has called for a ban on children using their heads to strike a footballCredit: Getty

      Nearly half of the World Cup winning squad have succumbed to dementia

      Nobby Stiles (right), who also had the disease, died aged 78 in OctoberCredit: PA:Empics Sport

      Sir Bobby Charlton is the latest in the team to be diagnosedCredit: PA:Press Association
      In the documentary he is seen meeting fans at an event for his ­fishing charity, having fun with his grandchildren and going for a drink.
      The film, which will be released on DVD and streaming sites on ­Monday, was made by ITV football reporter Gabriel Clarke, who spent several days with Jack at his home on the outskirts of Newcastle in the year prior to his death.
      During that time medical experts recommended using music and archive footage as “trigger points” to help Jack to remember the past.
      If someone said the name Geoff Hurst he would go blank, but if he saw a picture of Sir Geoff he would recall his team-mate.

      He enjoyed his football, would you take that away from him? I don’t think so.
      Pat Charlton

      Pat did not tell Jack, her husband of six decades, that he had the ­condition because she didn’t want him to worry about it getting worse.
      She says: “I just wanted him to think he had a bad memory.”
      Gabriel believes brain damage may have been worse in the past, as the balls were heavier and players often played on, despite being concussed.
      And he tells The Sun: “My personal feeling is that there has to be more research, because five of the ten ­outfield players of the ’66 team have or had dementia.”
      As well as the Charlton brothers, holding midfielder Stiles, goal-scoring hero Martin Peters and left-back Ray Wilson also suffered from the disease.
      Yet in the population at large, only one in 14 people aged over 65 develops the condition.
      The other tragedy that Gabriel’s film highlights is the fall-out between the Charlton brothers.

      The link between heading a ball and brain disease is explored in new documentary Finding Jack Charlton

      Pat reveals she didn’t tell Jack that he had the ­condition because she didn’t want him to worry

      The pair had been married for six decadesCredit: PA:Press Association
      They might have been on the same side at Wembley against West Germany, but off the field the sibling rivalry was toxic.
      Jack admitted to resenting looking after his little brother, who was two years younger than him.
      And in one old interview Bobby told how his fiery sibling had punched him hard for questioning his decision-making.
      DIVIDED BROTHERS
      Bobby, 83, recalled: “I said, ‘You were stupid, giving that goal away’, and he punched me in the mouth straight off the couch.”
      The shy, softly spoken Bobby could not have been more different from the charismatic Jack, whose bellowing voice rang out along the corridors.
      In one interview Jack said of his brother: “I could have done more things without him than I could have done with him. I liked the sea, the countryside. Bobby didn’t.”
      Publicly those differences were glossed over. Jack chose Bobby as his best man at his wedding and presented him with the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sports Personality Of The Year ­ceremony in 2008.
      But in recent years the brothers stopped meeting altogether.

      I just wanted him to think he had a bad memory.
      Pat Charlton

      Jack’s son John reveals: “I haven’t seen uncle Bobby for a long, long time. It’s a shame.”
      Gabriel, 56, had asked if Bobby would be in the film but was told he couldn’t, due to his dementia.
      The documentary focuses on the brothers’ post-player managerial careers, in which Jack proved ­superior to Bobby, whose time as a soccer boss was over in three years.

      The documentary also looks at Jack’s relationship with brother BobbyCredit: Getty

      In recent years the brothers, pictured with Nobby Stiles, stopped meeting altogetherCredit: Getty

      While Jack was charismatic and loud, Bobby was softly spokenCredit: Getty
      Jack’s coaching prowess took him to Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United and finally the Republic of Ireland.
      While some pundits initially ­questioned the decision to put an Englishman in charge of the Irish national team in 1986, they soon changed their minds when he started winning games.
      Not only did Big Jack take the Republic to their first European Championship and two World Cup finals, his side also beat England 1-0 at Euro ’88.
      He was venerated in Ireland, becoming only the eighth person to be awarded honorary citizenship.
      Previously unseen footage shows Jack singing Irish songs, meeting the Pope at Italia ’90 and visiting Northern Ireland to try to smooth relations during the Troubles.
      These memories, though on film, are lost to him.
      While Jack looked through letters from Irish fans in the film, Pat said: “They think a lot of you in Ireland, don’t they?” and he replied: “I’ve no idea.”
      MISCHIEVOUS TWINKLE
      The first signs of dementia stretched back to the World Cup in the United States in 1994.
      Jack struggled to remember some of the players’ names and went for a brain scan, although the disease was not detected at that time.
      After Jack resigned as Ireland manager in 1996, when his side failed to qualify for the Euros, he suffered more health problems.
      In 2009 he fell during a holiday in Spain and three years later had a hip replacement following a collapse at home.
      The documentary shows him struggling to walk ­during a day out with the Jack Charlton Disabled Anglers Association in the summer of 2019.
      Despite being unsteady on his feet, he says in a jolly voice: “I’m falling down.”

      Players’ risk rates soar

      By Dr Willie Stewart

      By Dr WILLIE STEWART
      WE have shown that professional footballers are at high risk of death from neurodegenerative diseases – a five times higher rate with Alzheimer’s, four times higher with motor neurone ­disease and double with Parkinson’s.
      Other research we have conducted on the brains of former footballers with dementia often reveals a pathology that we recognise from boxers, rugby players and American Footballers whose only common denominator is exposure to brain injury and brain impacts.
       Dr Stewart, of Glasgow University, is a researcher into the dementia/football link.

      The film comes after a new study in the journal Science And ­Medicine In Football revealed heading a football just 20 times could affect the brain’s working memory by as much as 20 per cent.
      As for Jack, dementia did not rob him of that mischievous twinkle that fans came to love. It is just that as he said: “I could not remember a lot of the memories.”
      But now those moments will be stored forever on film.
      Finding Jack Charlton is available on DVD and download from November 23.

      Finding Jack Charlton is available from November 23Credit: Getty

      Trailer for Finding Jack Charlton
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      England World Cup hero Nobby Stiles’ family call on football chiefs to ‘address the scandal’ of dementia in the sport

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      THE FAMILY of 1966 legend Nobby Stiles have slammed football chiefs saying the sport needs to “address the scandal” of dementia in the beautiful game.
      Relatives criticised the Professional Footballers’ Association, saying there had been a lack of support for players.

      England hero Nobby Stiles playing for Man Utd in 1968Credit: Rex Features

      The ex-Manchester United and England midfielder died in October, aged 78. He had dementia and prostate cancer. 
      Stiles is the fifth member of England’s World Cup-winning squad to have been diagnosed with dementia.
      Stiles’ family said they were proud of “what he achieved, but more importantly, the man he was”. 
      But they added: “There is a need for urgent action.

      “These older players have largely been forgotten and many are in ill health, like dad.

      Nobby, who died in October, was the fifth of England’s 1966 team to be struck with dementiaCredit: PA:Press Association/PA Images
      “How can it be that these players are left needing help when their own union has tens of millions of pounds available today?
      “How can it be that these players are struggling when the Premier League receives £3billion a year?
      “The modern player will never need the help required by the older lads. How can it be right that some of the heroes of 1966 had to sell their medals to provide for the families?

      “These older players are dying like my dad – many don’t have medals to sell.
      “It is right, of course to seek to identify the cause of dementia in older players but in truth the cause is irrelevant to the older players – whatever the cause, they need help now.

      “I hope dad’s death is the catalyst for this scandal to be addressed.”
      Stiles won 28 caps for England and made 397 appearances for Manchester United between 1960 and 1971 and later played for Middlesbrough and Preston North End.
      He had a minor stroke in 2010, and was then diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and prostate cancer.

      Iconic moment late Nobby Stiles danced with trophy after England won 1966 World Cup
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      England World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst pays tribute to lifelong friend Sir Bobby Charlton after dementia diagnosis

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      ENGLAND World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst has paid tribute to lifelong friend Sir Bobby Charlton following his shock dementia diagnosis, as well as late teammate Nobby Stiles.
      The sporting icon opened up after 48 hours of tragedy for the triumphant 1966 squad following Nobby’s passing from prostate cancer and dementia on Friday, aged 78, and Sir Bobby’s brave revelation on Sunday.

      Sir Geoff Hurst, left, pictured with the late England goalkeeper Gordon BanksCredit: Paul Tonge – The Sun

      Sir Bobby Charlton with his wife Lady Norma, who revealed the England icon’s dementia diagnosis Credit: Getty – Contributor

      Speaking for the first time about Sir Bobby’s health battle, Sir Geoff, who works closely with the Alzheimer’s Society, told The Sun: “Dementia is a cause that is very close to my heart having seen it affect my 1966 World Cup-winning teammates.
      “I was deeply saddened by the recent passing of Nobby and the announcement that Sir Bobby, has been diagnosed with the condition. I played with Nobby for England under 17s and under 23s as well as the national team so we go back a long way.
      “I’m also sending my thoughts and best wishes to Sir Bobby and his wife Lady Norma and want to thank them for shining a spotlight on dementia, so that other families don’t feel alone during this difficult time.
      “The England team of 1966 had a special relationship that will always remain special because of what we achieved as a group of people. That was down to our camaraderie and I hope that people across the country will embrace that team spirit and come out in force to unite against dementia.”

      Nobby Stiles passed away after suffering from prostate cancer and dementia on Friday, aged 78Credit: Getty – Contributor
      In a sad twist of fate, Sir Geoff, 78, recalled that one of his final meetings with Nobby, who played every minute of England’s 1966 campaign and was made in MBE in 2000, was at the funeral of their teammate Martin Peters, who died in December 2019 aged 76 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
      He said: “I think the last time we were in touch was sadly at Martin’s funeral where his wife Kay was there and his son, so we spent a fair bit of time with them afterwards having a glass of wine. It’s tough losing these players. I know it’s been very difficult for his family.”
      In July, Sir Geoff, 78, told The Sun of his wish for Sir Bobby’s older brother Jack, who lost a battle with dementia and lymphoma in July, aged 85, to receive a posthumous knighthood.
      He said: “You couldn’t get a better character to be put forward with his warmth, character not to mention the success he achieved on the pitch.

      England captain Bobby Moore holds aloft the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy as he sits on the shoulders of his teammates, from left to right: Jack Charlton, Nobby Stiles, Gordon Banks (behind), Alan Ball, Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore, Ray Wilson, George Cohen and Bobby CharltonCredit: Popperfoto – Getty
      “You could argue that all the team should be knighted.”
      A fifth member of the 1966 World Cup squad, Ray Wilson, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s prior to his death in May 2018.
      Kate Lee, Chief Executive Officer at Alzheimer’s Society said: “We send our heartfelt thoughts and best wishes to Sir Bobby Charlton and his family following the announcement that Sir Bobby is living with dementia, which can be such a devastating condition for so many.

      “Their bravery in speaking out helps so much to shine further light on the condition, for which we are hugely thankful.
      “The team of ’66 will never be forgotten – sadly it’s now for another reason as well, but we hope that this can be put to good use in highlighting the help that is out there.”
      Sir Geoff is supporting Alzheimer’s Society’s Christmas appeal, which aims to raise funds for the UK’s 850,000 dementia patients who are suffering from the isolating effects of Covid, in tribute to his teammates. 
      Donate to Alzheimer’s Society’s Christmas Appeal at alzheimers.org.uk. For information and support about dementia you can call Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Connect Support Line or visit their website.

      Sir Geoff Hurst makes surprise call to football superfan with dementia
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