West Bromwich Albion to dedicate home game to Jeff Astle to help family's head injury awareness campaign

Jeff Astle was nicknamed 'the hero' by fans for his goalscoring between 1964 and 1974 Credit: PA

West Bromwich Albion will dedicate one of their home games this season to club legend Jeff Astle, who died as a result of heading heavy footballs during his career.

Jeff's widow, Laraine, and her daughters Dawn and Claire, are campaigning to get more awareness of the issue, after Jeff died aged 59 from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a brain condition normally linked to boxing.

The coroner at the footballer's inquest ruled Astle's brain had been damaged by heading heavy leather footballs in the 1960s and 70s.

Jeff Astle out jumping Manchester City players in the 1970 League Cup final Credit: PA

Earlier this week the family me with FA chairman Greg Dyke, as the Football Association agreed to carry out research into head injuries in the sport.

West Bromwich Albion says it's meeting monthly with the Astles who launched the ‘Justice for Jeff’ campaign earlier this year.

The club has agreed to dedicate a Hawthorns fixture this season to Jeff, when they will help the family promote potentially life-saving messages surrounding the issue.

Jeff Astle with his wife Laraine before his death in 2002 Credit: BPM Media

Also, at every home game this season, the club will show a photo of Jeff on big screens nine minutes into each match as Jeff wore the No.9 shirt, to coincide with the minute-long applause supporters have been honouring since the Justice for Jeff campaign was launched in March.

West Bromwich Albion Chairman Jeremy Peace said: