Dementia debate Young players do not need to head the ball, says Duff
YOUNG footballers “do not need to head the ball,” says Cheltenham Town manager Michael Duff as the debate over a link between the skill and dementia in footballers continues.
Cheltenham-based World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst said he supports a ban on children heading footballs in the wake of sweeping dementia diagnoses and deaths among his teammates.
Sir Bobby Charlton, his brother Jack, Ray Wilson, Martin Peters and Nobby Stiles - all members of the 1966 side - have all been diagnosed with the disease, and Jack Charlton, Wilson, Peters and Stiles have died over the last twoand-a-half years.
Former Robins and Burnley centrehalf Duff said “I think anyone who knows me does worry because I am quite forgetful at this age now.
“It’s a concern, but the balls are different to how they were when for example the 1966 World Cup squad played.
“They need to do more studies, with more funding, so it’s not on a whim and to evidence what people are saying.
“There have been some back then, but the balls are totally different.
“Even when I was at school the balls were hard and when they got wet they were heavy.
“It’s not like that now, but it definitely needs investigating because it is a concern. I haven’t got the knowledge to have a valid opinion to be honest.
“There is a technique as well. Everyone knows if you head it at the top of your head it does hurt.
“Until there is real scientific studies and facts, then people can take appropriate measures because I don’t think Under-12s and 13s need to head the ball.
“My best mate lives in America and at a certain age they can’t head it there. If needs be that’s what we’ll have to do.”
Sir Geoff, 78, told the Daily Mirror, he believes frequently heading the ball in matches and training contributed to a large number of players from that era ultimately developing Alzheimer’s.
“Just look at the team, not just the team but the squad itself and it seemed to be higher than the national average. There seems to be a particular group of people who were suffering.
“I go back to my practice days at West Ham, we had a ball hanging from the ceiling, we would head it for 20 minutes.
“Then we’d play head tennis in the gym and, in the practice on the field, we’d be practising near post, far post headers and you could head 20 or 30 balls in the space of half an hour. I personally feel it’s more about the practice.
“I think kids heading the ball now when their brains are not fully developed or have fully matured and that is obviously a very serious and sensitive issue that’s got to be addressed as well.
“I think stopping at that young age, when the brain has not matured, must be looked at.
“I don’t think it would destroy the enjoyment of kids’ football or grassroots football. That would be a very strong and sensible suggestion.”
My best mate lives in America and at a certain age they can’t head it there. If needs be that’s what we’ll have to do
Michael Duff