I blame football headers for my brother’s Illness
Family say hero goalie’s dementia was caused by heavy leather balls
patrick hill and peter robinson the brother of legendary goalie peter bonetti believes he developed dementia from heading heavy footballs.
Phil Bonetti saw his brother’s memory deteriorate after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011 and is convinced it was caused by the game he loved.
He was devastated when Peter, nicknamed The Cat because he was so agile, died in April, aged 78.
Best known for two spells at Chelsea FC, Peter won seven England caps and was in the 1966 World Cup squad.
Only the team who made it on to the pitch received a winner’s medal but he was presented with one of his own by then prime minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street in 2009.
He also played in England’s defeat by West Germany in the 1970 World Cup quarter-final in Mexico after team No1 Gordon Banks fell ill.
Peter played a short spell with
Dundee United in 1979 and worked as a postman on Mull before heading back south to be a goalkeeping coach.
Brother Phil, once a junior goalkeeper himself, said: ‘ In
Peter’s day, goalies would train with the outfield players and that involved heading.
“It was the lace-up leather balls of the 60s. Once they got wet they were really solid and heavy. The players trained every day and headed balls.”
Phil, 67, added: “Because Peter was so agile he would also come out head first and dive at people’s feet. Many times he was knocked unconscious.”
After the diagnosis confirmed family fears, Phil said Peter looked just the same but used to say: “My head is a bit fuzzy… I can’t remember things.”
Last year, a study funded by the Professional Footballers’ Association and the FA proved a link between dementia and football, causing a five-fold increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s.
This month it was revealed that Sir Bobby Charlton, 83, has become the fifth member of the 1966 World Cup team to suffer dementia. The others include his brother Jack, 85, who died in July.
When Peter was diagnosed, wife Kay sought advice from relatives of fellow
England hero Jeff Astle, whose death in 2002 at 59, f irst seriously l inked dementia with heading balls. Jeff ’s daughter Dawn is asking the Industrial Illness Advisory Panel to classify dementia as an industrial disease in football.
Chelsea are planning a memorial day for Peter when his family, including his five children, will carry out his wish to have his ashes scattered in a goalmouth.
In 2017, the Sunday Mail launched a campaign calling for more research into links between dementia and ex- pro footballers heading the ball.
Celtic great Billy McNeill’s family spoke out about his battle with the disease before his death last year. It led to a fundraising drive for dementia research.
Dementia has also afflicted ex- Celts Bil ly McPhail and John McNamee, Rangers star Jimmy Mil lar, former Scotland boss Ally McLeod and exDundee Utd defender Frank Kopel.
Goalies then would the train with players, outfield and that included heading