The family of a former Manchester United player say they believe he may have been one of the first players to die of a brain injury caused by headers.
Centre-half Thomas Albert Parker played for the Reds 90 years ago, from 1930-32, and was renowned for his ability to head the old-fashioned heavy leather balls nearly half the length of the pitch.
Eccles-born Thomas died in 1964 at the age of just 54, with “cerebral thrombosis” a factor.
His son Stuart has now spoken out in an interview with The Mirror, after a damning report into dementia in football slammed FA chiefs and the players’ union over failure to act.
Thomas played for the Red Devils at the start of his footballing career from 1930-32, before moving on to lower league clubs Bristol City and Carlisle United before ending his career at Stalybridge Celtic in 1935.
Stuart, 74, said “I suspect he was one of the first affected by heading the ball.
“When he was playing they were heavy, like medicine balls.
“He complained of headaches, but no one had heard of brain injuries from heading.”
Now, nearly a century on, a report by the Commons’ Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Committee says “urgent action” is needed to cut brain injury risks.
It comes after a campaign led by Dawn Astle, whose West Bromwich Albion hero dad Jeff died at 59 of dementia caused by heading.
She believes thousands of ex-players have been affected by chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain degeneration caused by repeated head trauma.
Now Stuart backs her calls for more support for victims.
He said of his dad: “After his career, he was a joiner but still had headaches.
"We always thought it was because he was a hard worker. When he died he’d been in bed with flu.
“We heard a bang. He’d fallen.
“In hospital he was in a daze, dribbling from his mouth.
"The cause of death was cerebral thrombosis and broncho-pneumonia. Dad wasn’t... old when he died. What happened to him has affected me all my life.
“Now there are loads of ex-players who need help. With all the money in the game, more should be done.”
Last week football bodies stated amateur and professional players will be limited to 10 “higher force” headers a week in training.
Dawn, who runs The Jeff Astle Foundation, said: “Football must set up a trust fund to care for players suffering now.
"The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council must accept dementia in football is an industrial disease.”
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