Industrial Disease: Two former footballers die on same day after suffering from dementia

Two former football players have died this week after suffering from dementia.

Chris Nicholl, 77 who had played for Aston Villa, Southampton and Northern Ireland died on Saturday (February 24), the same day as former QPR and Manchester City player, Stan Bowles, aged 75.

The players had made their mark on the football scene in the 70s, but revealed they were suffering from dementia decades later.

Nicholl revealed that he had been diagnosed with the disease in 2017 after experiencing memory loss for five years, and Bowles announced he was suffering in 2015.

The deaths come after research found that former professional footballers were five times more likely to die of Alzheimer’s Disease than the general population.

Nicholl played as a centre-back, a position which saw him frequently head the ball, as research shows that players in defending were most likely to suffer neurodegenerative disease in later life. Whereas Bowles played as a forward and midfielder during his career.

New heading guidelines were introduced for professional clubs in training in 2021, to limit the impacts of heading the ball.

Some of the guidelines for adults recommend that heading practice is limited to 10 headers per session and only one session a week where heading practice is included – but this is too late for footballers who made their careers decades ago and are now suffering from the impact.

In 2017, Nicholl appeared in Alan Shearer’s documentary ‘Dementia, Football and Me’, to explain the impact that dementia has had on his life.

“I am brain-damaged from heading footballs,” Nicholl said. “My memory is in trouble – everyone forgets regular things – where your keys are. But when you forget where you live, that’s different.”

Nicholl’s daughter, Cathy, announced his passing on behalf of the family on Saturday, February 24. “It is with a heavy heart that we write this,” she said.

“Chris Nicholl (our dad) sadly passed away peacefully on Saturday evening in hospital. He fought a very long battle with CTE, caused by his dedication to football. Words can’t describe how much we’ll miss him.”

CTE is the acronym for the disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a type of dementia caused by repeated head impacts.

Meanwhile, QPR released a statement on behalf of Bowles to say they are planning a “fitting tribute”, calling Bowles “a darling of the Loftus Road terraces [and] undoubtedly one of the greatest players to have ever pulled on the famous blue and white hoops. Many would argue that he is the best.”

Experts are now calling for the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to recognise dementia as an industrial disease.

Dr Adam White, head of brain health at the Professional Footballers’ Association said:

“We are doing all we can to improve the management of head trauma by lobbying for temporary concussion substitutions and working towards a reduction of heading in training.”

Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

“We now urgently need more answers to determine what lies behind this link – why dementia would start to form, how the type of injury, frequency and age at which head injuries occur may influence risk, and how we can accurately predict who is likely to go on to develop dementia after a traumatic brain injury.

“Sporting bodies need this clarity so they can put in place appropriate measures to protect players.”

Further reading

475 ex-athletes seek to combine concussion lawsuit against 3 major sports organisations – Oakwood Solicitors

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.