Nobby Stiles died with brain condition caused by repeatedly heading a football, coroner rules | England
The coroner ruled that England World Cup champion Nobby Stiles died due to a brain disorder caused by repeatedly heading the football.
Stiles, the tenacious, tough midfielder whom Geoff Hurst described as the “heart and soul” of the 1966 World Cup-winning team, died in 2020 but his death was not reported to the coroner’s office by authorities.
His family has launched a campaign for a full investigation into his death. Stiles’ son John has previously said football “killed” his father.
On Wednesday Stockport coroner Alison Mutch said Stiles’ death, 78, was caused by a brain condition resulting from repeatedly heading footballs.
The investigation stated that Stiles, who played for Manchester United, headed the football approximately 140,000 times throughout his career.
At the end of his life, Stiles developed Alzheimer’s disease and was forced to sell his World Cup winner’s medals to fund his care.
Analysis of Stiles’ brain showed that the severe dementia was a result of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as the condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is associated with head trauma from heading the ball.
Neuropathologist Dr. Daniel Du Plessis told the court: “I’m pretty sure his direction of football has caused CTE on multiple occasions.”
Mutch, South Manchester’s senior coroner, asked Du Plessis: “Are you saying his CTE was caused by repeated heading of the ball?”
“Yes,” he replied.
Born in Collyhurst, Manchester, Norbert Stiles was a short and shortsighted player but was capped 28 times by England and made nearly 400 appearances for United.
He is fondly remembered for his triumphant display in the 1966 cup final against West Germany, holding the Jules Rimet trophy in one hand and his dentures in the other.
His family are campaigning for football authorities to do more to help former players deal with injuries they claim occurred during their playing days.
John Stiles, department head Football Families for Justice (FFJ) The group told the inquiry that he was “very humble” about his father’s achievements.
“It never really changed him,” he said. “If you had walked into his house you would never have known he was a football player.
“He was a real family man, football was left at the door. Family was always the first priority.”
He said his father “never talked, never bragged” about being a World Cup winner.
“He was proud of it, but we were always proud that he was more of a father than a football player,” he added.
Stiles said footballs from his father’s day weighed about 16 ounces, but became heavier when wet.
Dozens of former players, including Stiles, and their families are suing the Football Association, the Welsh FA and the English Football League, alleging they were “negligent and breached their duty of care” towards former players.
The inquest into the death of former Scotland, Manchester United and Leeds United defender Gordon McQueen (70) in January found that heading the ball “probably” contributed to the brain damage that caused his death. McQueen was also diagnosed with CTE.
