Kevin Doyle retirement 'shocking', say family of late Albion legend Jeff Astle
Kevin Doyle’s retirement from football suggests modern balls are just as dangerous as the old leather ones, according to Jeff Astle’s daughter Dawn.
Albion legend Astle was killed at the age of 59 by a disease brought about by heading heavy footballs, and for the past 16 years his family have been campaigning for research into the issue.
This week, former Wolves striker Doyle retired aged 34 because heading the ball had become ‘problematic’ following two concussions in this season alone.
He decided to hang up his boots after consulting with medical experts.
“It’s shocking, but I’m not surprised,” Dawn told the Express & Star.
“They keep saying it was the old leather footballs that did the damage and dad used to say when it was wet it was like heading a bag of bricks.
“It was heavy, but it was slow. It certainly didn’t come with the velocity of a modern ball.
“Think about it logically. With the modern day ball, the physics still apply because it’s coming quicker.
“When that is striking the forehead the brain is still ricocheting inside the skull. It is that, which over the period of time, is strangling and killing healthy cells in the brain and causing this dementia. I’ve always believed that the problem is still there. It’s just a matter of physics really.”
The Astle family have been campaigning for the FA to conduct research into the historical impact of heading on professional footballers for years, and an independent study is expected to start next year.
But Doyle’s retirement throws into question the safety of the modern game. It comes as other sports adapt the way they operate because of greater understanding about the impact of concussion injuries.
Rugby, for example, now have mandatory rest periods for affected players and there are far more stringent pitch-side tests for those who have suffered an injury to the head.
Dawn says Doyle has done the right thing, adding: “It’s very sad for him first and foremost. Credit to him, he’s listened to the advice of specialists and taken what is a big decision.
“Whether he’s 34 or not, football was his life. But his life could actually be saved by this decision because he’s taken it so early on.”
Albion boss Tony Pulis admitted that Doyle’s retirement was concerning – and the Welshman has backed the call for more research.
“Anything that leaves a mark on a player and finishes his career is worrying,” said Pulis.
“In this area more than most it will bring to light again that problem Jeff had.
“I know there’s a lot of research gone into it. The LMA, the PFA, and all the governing bodies have been very keen to spend money on it, to research it and get to the bottom of it.
“I’m very sorry to hear about Kevin and what’s happened to him. I just hope he gets over it and that we do get to the bottom of this problem.”
It’s been 16 years since a coroner found that Jeff Astle died of heading heavy footballs and gave the cause of death as ‘industrial disease’.
The FA are currently listening to a shortlist of scholars and experts, who are putting forward their proposals for an independent study.
“I’d be disappointed if this research isn’t started in the opening few months of next year,” said Dawn. “The sad thing is that it’s taken 16 years.”
