The family of the late Nobby Stiles have been told the England World Cup winner’s dementia was caused by heading footballs.
In a brave move aimed at assisting research and finding answers, the 1966 legend’s wife Kay and three sons donated his brain to Dr Willie Stewart’s FIELD study, which is examining links between the disease and the sport.
They have long believed that Stiles’s dementia was due to head trauma inflicted during a glittering career which also saw him lift the European Cup with Manchester United. And in an emotional Zoom call with Dr Stewart, their fears were confirmed.