News

England World Cup legend Nobby Stiles' died with dementia caused by heading 140,000 footballs during his iconic career, coroner rules

1 hour ago
by Live Sports

By HENRY CLARK, SPORTS NEWS EDITOR

Published: | Updated:

England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles died with a brain condition caused by repeatedly heading a football, a coroner has ruled.

Stiles, 78, a former Manchester United footballer and 1966 World Cup winner, died with severe dementia and had headed a football around 140,000 times during the course of his career, Stockport Coroner’s Court heard at the inquest into his death.

Expert analysis of his brain showed his severe dementia was as a result of Alzheimer’s disease but also the condition, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which has been associated with head trauma from heading a ball.

Neuro-pathology expert, Dr Daniel Du Plessis told the court: ‘I’m quite convinced his heading the football that many times has caused his CTE.’

Nobby Stiles won 28 caps for England and was part of the team that won the World Cup in 1966

The former Manchester United midfielder passed away in October 2020 at the age of 78

The former Manchester United midfielder passed away in October 2020 at the age of 78

Alison Mutch, senior coroner for South Manchester, asked Dr Du Plessis: ‘You are saying repeated heading of the ball is the cause of his CTE?’

‘Yes,’ Dr Du Plessis replied.

More to follow. 

England’s 1966 heroes – with just one left alive 

Gordon Banks – The goalkeeper, who made one of the greatest saves ever seen to deny a certain goal by Brazil’s Pele in the 1970 World Cup, died in February 2019 at the age of 81.

George Cohen – The right back and vice-captain died in December 2022 at the age of 83. He had battled bowel cancer twice and suffered years of ill health before his death.

Nobby Stiles – The tough midfielder, who danced on the Wembley pitch with the Jules Rimet trophy in one hand and his false teeth in the other, died in October 2020 at the age of 78. He had prostate cancer and advanced dementia.

Alan Ball – The hard-working midfielder died of a heart attack in April 2007 aged 61.

Martin Peters – The West Ham player scored England’s second goal in the final. Another to suffer from Alzheimer’s in later life, he died in December 2019 aged 76.

Roger Hunt – The forward passed away at the age of 83 in September 2021. He had suffered from a long illness.

Jack Charlton – The centre back died in July 2020 at the age of 85 after suffering from lymphoma and dementia.

Bobby Moore – The captain who famously wiped his hands so as not to dirty the Queen’s white gloves as he went to collect the trophy. He died aged 51 in February 1993 after suffering from bowel and liver cancer.

Ray Wilson – The left back died in May 2018, aged 83, having suffered from Alzheimer’s disease for 14 years.

Nobby Stiles – The tough midfielder, who danced on the Wembley pitch with the Jules Rimet trophy in one hand and his false teeth in the other, died in October 2020 at the age of 78. He had prostate cancer and advanced dementia.

Geoff Hurst – The hat-trick hero is the only one of the team still alive aged 81.

𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄/𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

You may also like