HEADING heavy footballs may have given England’s World Cup winners
Alzheimer’s, says goalie Gordon Banks.
Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles and Ray Wilson were in the team that lifted the
trophy in 1966.
But Ray, 81, was told he had Alzheimer’s in 2004, and 72-year-old Martin and
Nobby, 73, received the same diagnosis in recent years.
Gordon, 78, said: “It’s horrible — Alzheimer’s. It makes you wonder if it is
anything to do with the footballs.”
He added: “We played with balls a lot heavier than they are now, with all that
leather in. These guys had to practise heading those balls day in, day out,
for years.
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“We remain great friends and have kept in touch, but it is getting harder to
meet up with some of the guys because they are not well.”
Former England team-mate Jack Charlton has also said he suffers from memory
loss.
Gordon said: “We’ve been looking forward to the 50th anniversary and want to
celebrate it together. I know some guys have struggled but I hope they or
their wives can come.”