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Someone looking for some compensation probably,cash is generally the common denominator in these situations.

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Cal,
I totally accept what you are saying but it still doesn't answer the question of why bring something up now that occurred 50 years ago and has indeed been happening since football started over 150 years ago.

How can any blame be placed on the administrators of the game when no one had any idea 50-100 years ago that heading a ball might cause problems - they didn't have the benefit of our technology of today.

How far can you take these historical issues and lay the blame at the feet of those running sport today - you can't no matter how emotive it is.

I'm completely with Baggie Man on this. Jeff Astle was every Baggies fan's hero in the 1960s, but I'm not sure either what Astle's family's objectives are. What would be justice for Jeff, exactly? As Baggie Man says, how about justice for all industrial injuries suffered across the board, like coal miners? Where do we draw the line? Technology has moved on, and we live in a different and hopefully safer world now.

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I agree with Baggieman and Aries. It's a slightly odd campaign. It all seems a little tenuous!

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Jeff is a legend.
Bit confused with the campaign and what Cal has said though. Surely every sport has a certain risk otherwise it would not be competitive.
The 'industry' in this case is exactly who? The FA or the club? The FA don't employ players and players can play for many clubs. Which club would be responsible for Kev Phillips, for example? Or, should players be advised not to take risks on the field of play?
The FA and West Brom seem to be keeping this at arms length and I'm just trying to figure out why.

Very good points there Berg.

We were only looking at the Jeff Astle issue but as you rightly say, what about the multi club player and also remember 'The King' also played for Notts County and four other clubs after leaving West Brom.Would he have not played if he had known the dangers? Of course he would have played.

There must be more to this campaign than is being disclosed. Is it an attempt to change the game we all love by forcing the players to wear helmets and body armour? Are there more sinister motives? Is it, as someone suggested on an earlier post, compensation driven?

I still don't get it.....

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I get all that, Cal.
What happens when the FA admit that heading a football can cause brain injury?
There must be a reason why the FA are reluctant to pursue this because it's not like players safety isn't paramount.

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I'm sure everyone agrees that to make sport safer for the participant and indeed for the observer/crowd, would be very welcome.

If even heading the modern day lightweight footballs could be a cause of DBD, then should not a law be introduced that ALL players, from infancy upwards, must wear a helmet at all times when playing the game. It would have to be a fairly substantial helmet in the mode of those used in American football to minimise any damage caused by clashes of heads. Alternatively, should the heading of a football in the game be outlawed totally and a foul and yellow card given if it is ? If this was the case, then should consideration not be given to the banning of tackling or indeed any physical contact as the risk of injury is greatly increased.

Take it a step further. Should the use of a leather cricket ball be banned in favour of a soft tennis type ball that would protect players and indeed protect the crowd when balls are hit into the stands. Scrums and tackling in rugby would also have to be outlawed as there are many recorded cases of serious injury occurring in a collapsing scrum and heavy tackles.

All this and not to mention the dangers involved in motor-racing, motor-cycling, ski-ing, hockey, being hit by a golf ball, ice skates have sharp cutting edges, archery, shooting, baseball, darts, gymnastics, squash, weightlifting..... the list is never ending.

Of course, all of this is a nonsense and will never happen as virtually all participant sports contain a certain degree of risk and we still readily participate and that will never change. Thankfully, things like heavy wet footballs have long ago disappeared into the mists of history and rules have been changed in certain sports to protect the participant where it is feasible and practical.

So, with all that has been said, I still don't get the real objectives of the 'Justice for Jeff' campaign and I wish they would come out, explain, and make them clearer.

.

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Cal....

So you are suggesting that even the far lighter modern day balls used today as opposed to the old water retaining leather ones, could be a cause of DBD. If its determined there is a link, what do you suggest is done?

If you know of any former pro footballers,you will note that majority who had long careers are bandy legged,perhaps the pc brigade will outlaw heading a ball, and eventually kicking it.
Most trades or professions leave some signs of a lifetime of work,i have a large arris which says it all.

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dastle
WBA Newbie
Posts: 1

Firstly, apologies for the long delay. We have been incredibly busy.
I feel , having had your post brought to our attention, that I should respond to your questions on behalf of my family.
" Justice ". A powerful word , with many meanings and concepts. The administration of law, reward or penalty as deserved, impartiality , fairness , the quality of being right or correct , to name just a few.
The concept of " Justice" in The Justice For Jeff Campaign is again, powerful yet simple.
- people trying to get what is right, fair and appropriate and , perhaps more importantly, - righting wrongs.
There have been many wrongs, or injustices following the death of our dad, and we make no apologies for doing whatever we can to fight for him , whenever we can, however we can.
I'm not sure whether you are aware of the facts surrounding his death back in 2002, but H.M. Coroner ruled " Industrial Disease". In other words, a man, whose job is to find out what causes death to human beings, ruled dad's job killed him.
A landmark ruling, a ruling that sent shock waves around the footballing world.
The FA and PFA announced there would be a 10 yr study into the links of heading footballs and degenerate brain disease. It never happened.
THATS WRONG.
In any other industry, an inquest finding such as dad's would undoubtedly had earthquake like repercussions for that particular industry in question. But not football. Football and it's privileged status of self governing seems to wriggle itself out of such situations. Why should it ??
It is also about acknowledgement. Football has tried to sweep my dad's death under a carpet. Footballing Authorities have never acknowledged how dad died. Even after dad's brain was re examined earlier this year and he was to have CTE ( boxers brain). Nothing.
THATS WRONG
So, the justice is about righting the above wrongs and awareness.Making them do what they promised to so as to make a difference for those, unlike dad, it's not too late for. Those already suffering as he did, and those who are, or maybe, a ticking time bomb for the future.
We need to know, football needs to know. Football should not and must not be allowed to shy away from what is an uncomfortable and unsettling reality - that's why the whole game should be united in wanting " Justice for Jeff".

If you don't think what we are asking for is justifiable or you just don't care, then that's fine. We would never tell people to do this or the other , we ask them. If you choose not to applaud for 1 minute in support of what we are trying to achieve then that's upto you.

Dad was an ordinary man with an extraordinary talent, who effectively lost his life due to football. Everything football gave him , football took away.

Someone who ALWAYS had time for the fans.
Someone who would step in at the last minute at Supporters Branches when others had let them down.
Someone who followed our Club home and away through the bad old days, let alone being one of the Clubs greatest and most loved players.

Hopefully , for those points alone , he may be worthy of a minute of your time.

Dawn and Claire Astle

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comment by Cal Neva (U11544)
posted 23 hours, 49 minutes ago
Thanks for taking the time to post here. I wish you every success in your campaign.
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Thanks Cal Neva, your support is very much appreciated, and your efforts trying to explain !!!

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