Foundation to be set up in name of West Bromwich Albion legend Jeff Astle
A charitable foundation will be established in honour of West Bromwich Albion legend Jeff Astle as part of his family's tireless campaign to raise awareness over head injuries.
The Jeff Astle Foundation will support former sportsmen and women diagnosed with brain conditions occurred throughout their careers.
Charity galas and dinners will be supplemented by grant applications to help fund care facilities, research into conditions and education for up and coming sports stars.
The foundation would ultimately aim to open a convalescence centre to help sports people and their families.
Discussions are being held to finalise patrons and trustees of the foundation which should be complete by early spring.
The footballer's daughter Dawn today said that foundation would be a 'lasting legacy' her father known as 'The King' to devoted Baggies fans.
"Although he was quite possibly the first to have been found to have suffered from this brain injury we do not think he will be last," she said.
"It is something we have been building towards for a long time and we always hoped to open a foundation in his honour.
"The dream is to actually have a purpose built home for former footballers suffering from conditions like dementia.
"It has been a lot of hard work so far. The fans have been fantastic and have supported us so well."
The foundation will aim to have a couple of main sporting dinner events a year to bring in funds for its vital causes.
His family have already registered 'The Jeff Astle Foundation' at Companies House with the final paperwork to be completed shortly.
Artwork has been designed for the foundation and a website will be online within weeks.
It comes as a long-awaited research project, which has been the focus of the family's Justice4Jeff campaign, should be established by the end of this month (JAN).
Governing body, The FA, has told the family a small panel of experts will be formed to lead the research looking at brain injuries and conditions in former players..
It will include Dr Willie Stewart who carried out a new examination of the former player's brain.
The 59-year-old's brain disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), was linked to repeatedly heading the ball throughout his career.
Baggies fans have been backing the family's cause by applauding on the ninth minute at each game this season in his honour.
