Grassroots club becomes trailblazer in protecting brain health

A grassroots football club in the North East has become the first in the country to commit to taking positive action in protecting its players from neurodegenerative disease by becoming a trailblazer for a change-making charity.

Killingworth FC has partnered with Head Safe Football to become its first HeadSAFE Trailblazer, to increase awareness of the danger of concussion and head impacts, and to educate coaches, parents and players around the signs of head injury and safety protocols, as well as how to ensure good overall brain health.

Head Safe Football, created with the ambition to futureproof football and eliminate the brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) from the game, is using its campaign, Football United vs CTE, to unite the footballing community behind the need to take action to better protect players.

Killingworth, which has almost 80 teams across all age ranges, has become the first in the UK to formally commit its backing to the campaign, and will work closely with Head Safe Football’s coaches and brain health team in delivering education to everyone at the North Tyneside club.

One of Killingworth’s teams - Killingworth Oranges Under 15s - will also wear the Head Safe Football logo on their shirts, in a further display of the club’s backing for the charity and its message.

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’ for many involved in the sport - barriers the charity is determined to break down, to ensure a safer playing environment for everyone involved at all levels and ages of the game.

Recent research revealed that CTE can set in before the age of 30 for those involved in contact sport, and that the strength and repetition of head impacts is the biggest risk factor in the disease. Growing calls are being made for CTE to be classified as an industrial disease for sports people who suffer from the neurodegenerative disease as a result of their jobs.

The creation of Head Safe Football was inspired by former Middlesbrough defender Bill Gates, who died last year aged 79 as a result of CTE, although he never headed a ball after the age of 29.

“Our HeadSAFE Trailblazer programme has been created for those who are committed to making football as safe as possible for everyone involved, and to lead the way in changing the future - the fact Killingworth are the first to do this is fantastic news for this club and for grassroots football more widely,” says Dr Judith Gates, founder of the charity and Bill’s wife.

“Football is a sport for absolutely everyone, whatever their age, gender, level of ability or circumstances, and this is the sport we all love - but we need to make it safe for those we love the most. 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.

“The fact Killingworth are working with our coaching and brain health teams to help make this a reality marks another step in making positive change across the world of football, as we unite behind the need to eliminate the risk of such a cruel disease as CTE from the game.

“We are delighted to work with such a responsible and forward-thinking club, who are doing all they can to protect the brain health of their players both now and into the future.”

Donna Rooke, club secretary of Killingworth FC, said: “We take the welfare of all our players really seriously, and while we want them to play and enjoy their football, we also don’t want the sport we love to have negative repercussions on their future and wellbeing.

“Through partnering with Head Safe Football, we have become the first grassroots club in the country to pledge our commitment to making positive change through educating, informing and supporting our players, coaches and parents to make the game safer.

“We are really proud to be doing this and hope many others follow suit in proactively prioritising the welfare of the whole footballing community.”

The sponsorship of Killingworth Oranges Under 15s’ shirts has been funded by law firm Slater and Gordon.

“There are irrefutable links between CTE and football, and its prevalence in former footballers, both professional and amateur. This is of course deeply concerning for those playing the sport now and into the future,” says Jordan Bell, head of industrial disease at Slater and Gordon.

“This is why it is so important that we see leadership and inspiration from those who are willing to adopt change to protect players and safeguard the future of the game itself.

“We are delighted to support Head Safe Football in helping to ensure change is made from grassroots level up – by engaging young people and families, and educating them and their coaches in the small changes that can make a huge difference, we can change the reality for so many in avoiding the absolute heartbreak that Bill, Judith and the Gates family - and many other families - have suffered.

“We commend Killingworth FC for being the first to adopt this, and for their Under 15s’ team to proudly bear the Head Safe Football logo. Together, everyone can help to make a positive difference, and we are really proud to support the first HeadSAFE Trailblazers in their work.”