Football club first to back brain disease campaign

A grassroots football club has become the first to back a campaign to eliminate a brain disease from the sport.

Killingworth FC, based near Newcastle, has partnered with Head Safe Football to increase awareness of the danger of head impacts and signs of head injury.

The charity was inspired by former Middlesbrough defender Bill Gates, who died last year aged 79 as a result of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

His wife Judith Gates, founder of the charity, said: "This is the sport we all love - but we need to make it safe for those we love the most."

CTE is a progressive and incurable brain disease caused by repetitive head impacts, including headers, and the charity said those who played contact sports were more at risk.

Killingworth FC, which has almost 80 teams across all age ranges, has become the first in the UK to back Head Safe Football's campaign, meaning it will work to educate everyone at the North Tyneside club.

Donna Rooke, club secretary, said: "We are really proud to be doing this and hope many others follow suit in proactively prioritising the welfare of the whole footballing community."

Head Safe Football’s logo, an elephant standing on a football, was chosen to represent the fact that CTE remains the "elephant in the room", the charity said.

Dr Gates added: "It was Bill’s wish that what happened to him because of his involvement in football should not happen to anyone else.

"By tackling the elephant in the room, we want this to be his legacy."

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].