BristolUK

If it really was as stated it's an interesting one, because there's much talk about the danger of heading footballs (back then) - Geoff Astle and others - and one of the recent deaths put forward, in support, was a goalkeeper and Frank Worthington probably never headed a ball in his life. That was for less skilful players. Those who could "trap a ball further than he could kick"

Nutmegger

There was a very good article about Worthington and his illness in The Athletic in October 2019. If I'm allowed to quote, it said in part:

"The obvious question is whether his dementia can be traced back to his football career and, specifically, repetitive heading of the ball. So many old pros have suffered this disease — Jeff Astle, Tony Hateley, Nobby Stiles, Martin Peters, Ray Wilson, Stan Bowles, Jimmy Hill, Eric Harrison and countless others — the Football Association and Professional Footballers’ Association commissioned a study in 2017 to investigate whether “the incidence of degenerative neurocognitive disease is more common in ex-professional footballers”.

"For Worthington’s family, there are no clear answers. “I can understand people thinking there might be a link,” [his brother] says, “but it affects people from all walks of life and, in terms of the footballers, not just ones who would be going up for headers. I used to play with Charlie Crickmore at Notts County. He had dementia and passed away last year. But Charlie was a flying winger. He might have headed the ball once in a blue moon.”

"It isn’t clear when the study will be completed and it shouldn’t be overlooked that the PFA and FA originally announced a joint 10-year research programme in 2002 but never saw it through — the twist, in Worthington’s case, being that he was once a team-mate of Gordon Taylor, the much-criticised PFA chief executive, in their days at Bolton."

BristolUK

You may

I'm not a sceptic I just feel that nobody seems to be taking into account the massive changes in tactics, frequency in heading and equipment since those days and making a study in which one player repeatedly and unchallenged heads corners bears no comparison to anything in the modern game.

*gets off soapbox.

Nutmegger

No one (at least that I have read) appears to have suggested that he developed Alzheimer’s because of anything that occurred while he was playing football — it was just luck of the draw, as with any of us. In fact the family have said in the past that, while the correlation may be under general investigation, they don’t think it relates to Frank’s case.

BristolUK

True enough but then Martin Peters and Stan Bowles were not exactly known for heading either. Nor shortarse Nobby Stiles but all three are included in the "look at these, so it must be true" list.

Lion in Winter

Today is in memory of six million Jewish people murdered.

Yom HaShoah.

Jerseygirl

Prince Philip age 99

mikelincs

This morning, peacefully at Windsor Castle. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-11437314

BBC newscasters all in black to make the announcement, we know that all presenters have to have black clothes available at all times in case this happens.

Lion in Winter

Just short of his century. The Queen will miss him - that's all her adult life right there. And a nod for his wartime service.

Jerseygirl

They were together over 70 years.

Lion in Winter

She should get a medal. I wonder if she would have sent him a letter on his 100th?

Still, it's sad for her.

Expatrick

He should have had the medal, being married to the boss for over 70 years!

Lion in Winter

He got a considerable dowry...

BristolUK

Would someone from the DWP have been along in the usual way to see if he'd 'appreciate' it?

Lion in Winter

"WOULD YOU LIKE A CUP OF TEA, DEAR???"



That sort of thing.