Grassroots club first in country to protect players from brain damage linked to heading

Killingworth FC is the first to take extra precautions to protect their players from brain damage linked to heading footballs, raising awareness around the dangers of concussion

A grassroots club has become the first in the country to protect its players from brain damage linked to heading the ball. Killingworth FC partnered with the charity 'Head Safe Football' to become its first 'trailblazer'.

The aim is to increase awareness of the danger of concussion and head impacts. But the drive will also educate coaches, parents and players about the signs of head injury. The campaign 'Football United vs CTE' is looking to 'futureproof football' to prevent brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Killingworth FC has almost 80 teams across all age ranges and has become the first in the UK to formally back the crusade. Donna Rooke, club secretary, said: “We take the welfare of all our players really seriously, and while we want them to play and enjoy their football, we also don’t want the sport we love to have negative repercussions on their future and wellbeing.

“Through partnering with Head Safe Football, we have become the first grassroots club in the country to pledge our commitment to making positive change through educating, informing and supporting our players, coaches and parents to make the game safer. We are really proud to be doing this and hope many others follow suit in proactively prioritising the welfare of the whole footballing community."

Head Safe Football’s coaches and brain health team will work closely with the North Tyneside club. Their Oranges Under 15 team will also wear the Head Safe Football logo on their shirts.

The creation of Head Safe Football was inspired by former Middlesbrough defender Bill Gates, the first footballer to earn £50-a-week, who died last year aged 79 as a result of CTE. He never headed a ball after the age of 29.

His wife Dr Judith Gates, the charity's founder, said: "Football is a sport for absolutely everyone, whatever their age, gender, level of ability or circumstances, and this is the sport we all love. But we need to make it safe for those we love the most.

"It was Bill’s wish that what happened to him because of his involvement in football should not happen to anyone else. By tackling the elephant in the room, we want this to be his legacy."

Football legends Gary Lineker, Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer, and Graeme Souness support the need for more research into the link between heading the ball, and dementia. Law firm Slater and Gordon has sponsored the Killingworth Oranges' shirts.

Jordan Bell, their head of industrial disease, said: “There are irrefutable links between CTE and football, and its prevalence in former footballers, both professional and amateur. This is deeply concerning for those playing the sport now and into the future.

"This is why it is so important that we see leadership and inspiration from those who are willing to adopt change to protect players and safeguard the future of the game itself.

"By engaging young people, and educating them and their coaches in small changes that can make a huge difference, we can change the reality in avoiding the absolute heartbreak that Bill, Judith and the Gates family -and many other families - have suffered."