Jeff Astle's family calls for players to fund dementia care
Premier League footballers should donate a small percentage of their wages to held fund dementia care for ex-players, according to the daughter of a former West Bromwich Albion player Jeff Astle.
Dawn Astle said just one per cent of footballer's wages could go a long way towards setting up care homes for those suffering with the disease.
Her father, who played 361 games for West Bromwich Albion and scored 174 goals, died in 2002 aged 59 due to a degenerative brain condition.
Ms Astle, whose family set up a foundation in her father's name in 2015, said dementia affects hundreds of former players.
She said: "Our dream was to have a series of care homes to provide respite or long-term care.
"A one per cent levy on the wages of Premier League players would raise millions to do that.
"Surely today's players, who have so much money, wouldn't begrudge that so those who laid the foundations for everything they have can be looked after."
Her mother Lorraine, and wife of Jeff, called the initiative 'a lovely idea' and said she backs it '100 per cent'.
Earlier this year new research suggested footballers who repeatedly head the ball can end up suffering from dementia.
This prompted calls for more investigations to be carried out into a long-suspected issue in the sport.
Authors of the small study said the results provided a platform for a 'pressing research question' on whether dementia is more common in footballers than the general population.
Following the publication of the findings, the Football Association said it was committed to supporting further work in the area and had agreed, alongside the Professional Footballers' Association to jointly fund more research.
The ultimate goal of The Jeff Astle Foundation is to establish a care home for former sports people with dementia or chronic neurological impairment.
