WE MUST ACT NOW

Peters is 5th ex-footballer with dementia to die in just 2 weeks

ENGLAND World Cup hero Martin Peters is the fifth ex-footballer with dementia to have died in two weeks, a campaigner has warned. Paying tribute to the midfielder, who died on Saturday, Dawn Astle called for an urgent inquiry into dementia in football. Her dad Jeff Astle, a former England striker, died of dementia aged 59 in 2002. The West Bromwich Albion legend’s inquest recorded a verdict of death by industrial injury after hearing how repeatedly heading heavy leather footballs had been a factor. Yesterday Dawn, 51 – who campaigns to raise awareness of brain injury in sport – revealed Peters’ death closely follows those of four other players with dementia.

They include Birmingham City manager Jim Smith and Aston Villa legend Ron Saunders. She said the death of Peters, 76, after a three-year battle with Alzheimer’s should serve as a warning to sporting bosses to act now. Dawn told the Mirror: “We knew my dad couldn’t be the only one.

“What makes us so angry is that it’s been 18 years and we’re only just starting to see proper research. It’s unforgivable given that players are dying.”

A study revealed in October players face greater risk of Parkinson’s and are three times more likely to die of dementia.

Spurs and West Ham star Peters scored England’s second goal in the 1966 final against West Germany.

Fans at yesterday’s Spurs match against Chelsea honoured him with a minute’s applause.

Sir Bobby Charlton, who was also in England’s 1966 winning team, said: “The fact

Martin is one of only two

Englishman to have scored in a World Cup final gives him a special place in England’s history of the game.”

DAUGHTER OF LEGEND JEFF