Heading the ball led to death of former England player Jeff Astle

Coroner at inquest on West Brom star Jeff Astle records precedent-setting verdict of death by industrial disease

Known for his powerfully headed goals, Jeff Astle was a popular Notts County and West Bromwich Albion player - he was also a member of Sir Alf Ramsey's 1970 World Cup Squad.

In a precedent setting verdict, an inquest ruled on 11^th November 2002 that continuous heading of heavy – and often rain-sodden – leather footballs (as was used at the time) caused Jeff’s death at the age of 59.

South Staffordshire coroner, Andrew Haigh, recorded a verdict of “death by industrial disease”.

The verdict was believed to be the first of its kind on a professional sportsperson in the UK.

Lorraine Astle, Jeff’s widow, told the inquest in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, how her husband's health had slowly deteriorated since 1997.

He became incapable of doing things for himself, suffered from eating disorders and eventually could not recognise his three children. He passed away in January 2002.

Mrs Astle said: "He underwent a brain scan last year and it revealed Jeff had suffered an injury to the front part of his brain, the same part of the head he used to head the ball.

"He was one of the hardest headers of a football and this was in the days when a ball was made of leather - it would have been like heading a bag of bricks."

Jeff, nicknamed King, retired from football in 1977. He then went on to become a window cleaner before becoming a fan favourite on the BBC's Fantasy Football show.

Consultant neuropathologist at the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, Derek Robson, told the inquest Jeff had suffered from a brain condition which was likely to have been aggravated by heading heavy leather footballs.

He said: "I found there was considerable evidence of trauma to the brain similar to that of a boxer.

"It is quite probable that it was heading a heavy football that caused it. I remember as a small child how heavy it was to head a leather football."

While coroner, Mr Haigh, said: "Jeff Astle was a top footballer who was known for heading the ball."

He added: "The trauma caused to the front of his brain is likely to have had a considerable effect on the cause of death."

Jeff's daughter, Dawn, said after the hearing: "We wanted justice and for the truth to be known.

"We always believed that playing soccer and heading the football day in and day out at West Brom had killed him. The Baggies [Albion's nickname] played to their strengths - that was Jeff Astle's. The game he lived for has killed him."

The family of Jeff Astle launched The Jeff Astle Foundation on April 11th 2015, established in memory of Jeff as a "fitting and lasting legacy to both raise awareness of brain injury in all forms of sport and to offer much needed support to those affected".