Belfast born Harvey was a one club man full-back who played more than 300 times for Sunderland over the space of 13 years.
Former Sunderland and Northern Ireland legend Martin Harvey has died aged 78. Tributes have poured in for Harvey who bagged 34 international caps and was also assistant manager to Billy Bingham when Northern Ireland reached the World Cup in 1982.
For many years, anecdotal evidence has suggested a link between heading footballs and long term brain injury. When The Jeff Astle Foundation was set up four years ago one of its primary objectives was to lobby for proper research into this issue.
A landmark study funded by the FA and PFA has revealed that professional footballers have a massively increased risk of dying from dementia and other serious neurological diseases. Speaking for The Foundation, Dawn Astle said, “Through former professionals and their families coming forward to share their harrowing stories everyone at The Foundation was aware that the problem was potentially bigger than anticipated. This study is an important first step for sport because it forces governing bodies to take this issue seriously.” The findings of the study have already led the PFA to urge the Premier League to help create a fund to cover care costs for former professional footballers affected in later life.
The Jeff Astle Foundation wishes to pay its respects to Gordon Banks OBE who died aged 81. We don’t need to remind anyone of Gordon’s achievements as a goalkeeper.
He will be remembered simply as a legend and arguably the best keeper that ever played for England. But what you may not know is Gordon was one of the first people to offer their services as a patron of the charity and for this we will be forever grateful.
Gordon was a top table VIP at the first important event held by The Foundation – a Gala Dinner on the 13th May 2017, to celebrate what would have been Jeff Astle’s 75th birthday. There is no doubt that having Gordon’s name associated with The Foundation elevated our credibility as an organisation and made people take notice of the issues we have raised. Speaking for The Foundation, Dawn Astle said, “Gordon was a wonderful and humble man who will be sadly missed. The many tributes that have flooded in since Gordon’s death say it all.” Everyone at The Jeff Astle Foundation would like to pass on their condolences to Gordon’s family and friends.
The Jeff Astle Foundation is pleased to announce that Robbie Savage is now a patron of the charity. And Dawn Astle is delighted that Robbie has joined the team.
Dawn met Robbie when she appeared on Saturday Morning Savage live on BT Sport, where Dawn and former player Chris Sutton were interviewed about the PFA. Robbie Savage, who made 537 league appearances and was capped 39 times by Wales, joins a list of patrons that include Alan Shearer, Gary Neville and Gordon Banks OBE.
Former player and manager John Haselden was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s aged just 71. For his wife, John Haselden’s dementia has been a very difficult journey, which led to the launch of a fund raising campaign – Together We Can.
Sports-related concussions occur about 2 million times a year in the United States and recent findings from the American Academy of Neurology suggest women face a 50 percent greater risk than men.
With a growing body of research into the long-term dangers of concussions, neuroscientists have increasingly looked to find a biological explanation for this risk disparity between men and women.
http://www.phillyvoice.com/penn-study-finds-potential-cause-higher-concussion-vulnerability-women/
Former England international Alan Shearer investigates the potentially devastating link between football and dementia in this one-hour documentary. Recent scientific reports from around the world have revealed that the link between football and dementia could be a result of brain damage caused by heading the ball.
Shearer remains the Premier League’s all-time top scorer, with 46 of those goals from headers alone. With recent reports of a worrying number of the England ’66 team suffering from dementia, the former Newcastle forward has a vested interest regarding football’s potential links with brain injury.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2017/46/alan-shearer-dementia-football-and-me
New research now links soccer to brain injuries, after CTE was found in the brain of a soccer player who was originally diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease and died aged 29.
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/explorer/videos/a-blow-to-the-header
As a specialist of heading the football in the modern era, Alan Shearer is an important addition to our cause.
With research into the link between heading footballs and degenerative brain disease still not undertaken and little or no support from relevant governing bodies, the former heroes of our great game feel let down. Read the article.
I can’t begin to imagine the pain felt by Billy’s parents.
Another busy day but another great day continuing Dads Legacy.
💙🤍 Baggies, let’s get behind Eli!
Study on degenerative brain disease finds CTE in 31 former rugby league players.
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Regardless of what’s happening now, it won’t bring their boy back. All too late.
Keith and Camilla Vigar speak about their son, their hurt and their anger towards the FA.
This morning I had the privilege to deliver our #HealthyBrainHealthyGame education programme to the @WBA Under 18’s squad.
A huge thankyou to Ian, the @WBA Academy staff and all the young guys for your attention and
He’s walking an incredible 45 MILES to Pride Park ahead of Derby v West Brom! 🚶♂️
All money raised will be donated to the Jeff Astle Foundation. ❤️
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