FA chief to meet Jeff Astle's family

Daughters Claire and Dawn and wife Laraine have for months been trying to meet Mr Dyke and previously expressed their disappointment at a lack of a response.

But now Mr Dyke has invited them to next month's Community Shield match at Wembley, where Arsenal will take on Manchester City.

However they want reassurances that the invite will see them discuss medical issues and the Justice for Jeff campaign rather than just watch a football match.

It is hoped top British neuropathologist Dr Willie Stewart will join the Astles as they raise the issue of head injuries and concussion with Mr Dyke.

Daughter Claire said the acknowledgement from Mr Dyke was a positive step forward in what they were trying to achieve.

"We want to look at how the FA educate players.

"We'll ask them to revisit the work they've done so far, but the fact we've been invited is a step forward."

Dawn has previously said she was 'disgusted' by the way the FA had treated the family and that they wanted the football body to formally and publicly acknowledge that football killed Jeff.

It comes after it was revealed West Bromwich Albion are to introduce a range of initiatives to support the campaign.

Claire said a positive meeting had been held with club officials on Friday and that she was delighted to have the club's full support.

They will now hold monthly meetings with the Baggies.

The family have previously written to Mr Dyke urging him to help set up a Jeff Astle Foundation.

The foundation would be aimed at supporting ex football players suffering with dementia and their families, better educating people about the long term risk from head injuries in sport.

Claire said the issue needed reinforcing after what she called a 'disappointing' World Cup in terms of concussion.

In particular an incident in the semi final between Argentina and the Netherlands when midfielder Javier Mascherano was dazed after a clash of heads but played on, was handled incorrectly, Claire said.

She added: "I think everybody, certainly people who know about concussion, was surprised when Mascherano carried on playing.

"He was certainly concussed and these decisions need to be taken out of the hands of the players and coaches, as they'll always want to play on.

"Things have to change and we're determined to help."

Examinations on the former striker's brain revealed that he died of the same disease found in brain damaged boxers – not Alzheimer's as he was originally diagnosed.

Research emerged in 2011 that frequently heading a football could lead to brain injury.