Nobby Stiles becomes latest England World Cup winner death linked to brain injury
England’s World Cup champion Nobby Stiles died from a traumatic brain injury, a court has heard.
The result came as the coroner ruled an inquest into the death should be held due to concerns of brain injuries sustained by heading the ball.
Stiles, 78, a former Manchester United player and 1966 World Cup champion, died of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is associated with head injuries allegedly caused by repeatedly heading a football.
Greater Manchester South district coroner Chris Morris told Stockport Coroner’s Court that a brain expert was examining samples and medical records and a full inquest would be required into the injury.
Stiles’ son John has previously said football “killed” his father.
An inquest into his death in January found that former Scotland, Manchester United and Leeds United defender Gordon McQueen, 70, heading the ball “probably” contributed to the brain damage that caused his death. McQueen was also diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
McQueen’s TV presenter daughter, Hayley McQueen, said England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team was now “almost decimated” by neurodegenerative diseases.
Born in Manchester in 1942, Norbert “Nobby” Stiles was a formidable defensive midfielder, earning 28 caps for England and nearly 400 appearances for Man Utd.
He died in October 2020 after a long illness, but his family have since been campaigning for football authorities to do more to help former players deal with injuries they claim occurred during their playing days.
Mr Morris said “for reasons that are not entirely clear to me” Stiles’ death was not reported to the coroner for an inquest, which only began following information provided by the former footballer’s family.
Forensic science examines Stiles’ brain from neuropathologist Dr. He said it was reviewed by Daniel du Plessis.
Following review and examination of Stiles’ medical records, Dr Du Plessis expressed the opinion that Stiles’ cause of death was Alzheimer’s disease.
But he also said that high-stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), as well as what was described as “stage three limbic-dominant age-related TDP-43” and small-vessel cerebrovascular disease, also contributed to his death.
Mr Morris continued: “I am satisfied that an inquest should be held into the saddening death of Mr Stiles, based on the cause of death, particularly that the cause of death involved a traumatic injury.”
The coroner said a full inquest hearing will be held at the same court next week on Wednesday 15 July.
John Stiles is chairman of the Football Families for Justice (FFJ) group, which is calling on football authorities to do more after his father was forced to sell his medals to fund dementia treatment.
He is among dozens of former players and their families who are suing the Football Association, the Football Association of Wales and the English Football League, alleging they were “negligent and breached their duty of care” towards former players.
Lawyers for former players and their families have previously said the football establishment had known, or should have known, for decades that repeatedly heading the ball in training and matches could cause brain injuries.
In March this year, Football Association lawyers told the High Court it was “not proven by science” that heading the ball or the “occasional” concussion could cause permanent brain damage.
The FA funded a 2019 study, co-funded with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), which found footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative disease than members of the same age in the general population.
The FA is phasing out all under-11 youth football branches by 2026.
