FA finally backs Jeff Astle campaign
The wife of West Bromwich Albion legend Jeff Astle today declared the 'black clouds had lifted' in their bid for justice to raise awareness of head injuries in football.
They were told by the FA's chief that footballing governing body will look into researching the long-term effects of head injuries in the game and that his family should have been given more support.
And later during a pre-match gathering ahead of the Community Shield attended by around 800 dignitaries, Mr Dyke paid tribute to the former striker known as 'The King' and the family's 'Justice4Jeff ' campaign.
During the meeting the family made a case for more independent research into the effects of heading balls.
The Astle family were joined by Dr Willie Stewart who explained findings from a recent re-assessment of Jeff Astle's brain.
See also: Jeff Astle family supports report into concussion
Jeff Astle's widow: FA does not care
The 59-year-old's brain disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), was linked to repeatedly heading the ball throughout his career.
New tests confirmed he died in 2002 from the same disease found in brain damaged former boxers.
Mrs Astle today said the FA boss accepted CTE had been the cause of Jeff's death and promised his organisation would look into the findings.
"It has been 12 long years of fighting with a huge black cloud over our heads but after coming here today I feel like that has begun to be lifted off our shoulders," she said.
"We felt that no-one had bothered to listen to us but now they are.
"When he gave his speech he spoke about Jeff, how he played for West Brom and England and also said how he died.
"He said not enough had been done and he said a big thank you to us for bring it to their attention through our campaign. We said we hadn't been given enough support and he agreed and said they had not done enough for us.
"I just wish that the 27,000 Albion fans who had raised those Justice4Jeff cards at The Hawthorns could have been there with us because without them we wouldn't have got here today."
The Astle family wanted more support from the FA for former footballers and families and to educate all those in the game over possible risks including dementia.
And Dawn Astle said that Mr Dyke had given assurances that the FA would do more to look at the issue.
"He said yes they would speak to the Professional Footballers' Association," said Dawn.
"There will be more meetings in the future." The family were given seats in the Royal Box for the game where they also met Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and former Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson who both paid tribute the family's campaign.
