Football players’ health matters
THE World Cup getting under way has reminded me of when I first met Manchester United and England footballer Nobby Stiles in 1965. He was living across the street from my digs with a Mrs Smith in Hillingdon Road, Stretford, Manchester. Nobby was a lovely man off the football field but on it he was a warrior. He was only 5ft 6in tall, skinny and wore strong contact lenses, but he was as brave as a lion. In a side containing the likes of Denis Law, George Best, Bobby Charlton and Paddy Crerand, you needed that type of teammate to win the ball back, so the ‘flair’ players could demonstrate their skills. Alf Ramsey, England’s 1966 World Cup manager, knew this. How sad I am that what we still call ‘the beautiful game’ has become so corrupt. Football pays incredible salaries but who is responsible for those numerous former players who now have dementia and were paid a pittance? Since the late West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle’s daughter first brought the subject of dementia resulting from heading footballs to public attention, there has been a merry-go-round of passing the blame to avoid responsibility. I personally suffered two broken jaws caused by swinging elbows and a depressed fracture of the cheekbone. Being kicked in the face not only knocked out all my front teeth but punctured an artery — and that’s not to mention the numerous clashes of heads. Forty years ago, I walked away from football and, at 73, feel in reasonably good health.
But do those who now hold power in the game really care about players and their health? With the World Cup about to start, I know what I think.
S. JAMES, Stourbridge, W. Mids.