What an amazing event. Lots of much appreciated support. Protect players. Prevent CTE. Preserve the game. Tomorrow’s players need today’s voices. Let’s make them heard.
On Wednesday, we took a significant step towards a safer future for football.
At our Lunching & Launching event at Middleton Hall Retirement Village, we unveiled our national petition calling for stronger protection against brain injury linked to repetitive head impacts.
We caught up with a few of our guests Dr Judith Gates, @HayleyMcQueen, @johnstiles64, Alan McIlmoyle and Mark Solan to hear what the day meant to them and why this campaign matters.
A huge thank you to our sponsors, everyone who travelled to join us, signed the petition, entered the raffle, bid in the auction and stood behind our message.
And to the incredible Head Safe team and staff at Middleton Hall, thank you. We could not have done this without you. 🖤
This is just the beginning.
👀 Keep an eye on our socials for more interviews, stories and content from the day.
Learn more about our petition and sign when it goes live: loom.ly/Li2ggjo
Together, we can turn concern into action and protect the future of football. ⚽
Judith Gates retweeted
Five families connected to former Middlesbrough players and coaches who suffered from sports-related brain disease - Bill Gates, Willie Maddren, Hugh McIlmoyle, Gordon McQueen and Nobby Stiles – are signing a petition calling for stronger protection against brain injury linked to repetitive head impacts.
Dr Judith Gates, widow of Bill, the former Boro defender who passed away in 2023 from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, aged 79, set up the charity Head Safe Football “as his legacy”. The families and Head Safe Football are calling on Government to work with governing bodies to reduce heading in training (the FA currently recommends “that a maximum of 10 higher force headers are carried out in any training week’’).
Tina White, widow of Goff White, identified as the first non-League player to die with CTE, will sign the petition being launched next week on behalf of grass-roots players and their families. Joining them is Gary Pallister, former Middlesbrough, Manchester United and England defender and a strong supporter of Head Safe Football.
“We cannot save players who already have probable CTE,” says @headsafecharity. “We cannot take away the fear of former players who worry about what years of playing football may mean for their future. But we can, and must, protect the players who are playing today - and those who will play tomorrow.
“This is not about removing heading from football. It is about asking whether we need to expose players to repetitive heading in training when we have an opportunity to reduce that exposure.”
Head Safe Football is asking Government to…
1. Debate the petition in Parliament;
2. Promote “Think Head Safe: reduce heading in training” as a national slogan;
3. Recognise that CTE from repetitive head impacts is a public-health issue;
4. Work with sporting governing bodies to systematically reduce heading in training through policy and accredited coach education;
5. Work with the Department for Education to embed brain-health education and HeadSAFE within teacher training and PE.
headsafefootball.org.uk
Tremendous to receive such publicity from the excellent magazine, Living North. The more known about the dangers of heading, the more youth will be protected in the future. Spread the word.
THINK HEAD SAFE: REDUCE HEADING IN TRAINING.
A huge thank you to @Living_North for this wonderful feature in their November issue: The Future of Football ⚽
Our HeadSAFE Education programme is dedicated to protecting every player.
Judith Gates retweeted
Now that all this MRI data is being generated for the population as a whole, it is vital that contact sport starts to collect baseline MRI data for players who request it.
news.sky.com/story/worlds-bi…
Judith Gates retweeted
🏟️ Match Announcement! @SunderlandAFC
The first game back at @StadiumOfLight isn’t what you expect!
🗓️ Sat 31 May | ⏰ 9AM
⚽️ Legends Bobby Kerr & Micky Horswill lead @FansMuseum teams in a special match with a powerful message!
Think Head Safe: Reduce Heading in Training.
Looking forward to working with Spennymoor Town FC to preserve the brain health of the next generation of players. Bill’s legacy!
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” ⚽
HSF trustees Judith & Nick were proud to support @SpennymoorTown at Wembley, with the team wearing our Head Safe logo.
Excited to launch our HeadSAFE curriculum with them as our first National League Trailblazer.
Thanks Kevin. Support from a well respected icon of football means a lot.
We are appreciative of support from Kevin Keegan for our educational programme. Committed to safeguarding the next generation of players from the dangers of head impacts.
As does @SpennymoorTown on their way to Wembley. Great news tomorrow of an exciting development ⚽🏆
And I will be at Wembley cheering the team on. My home town. Bill’s first club.
As @SpennymoorTown heads to the #FATrophyFinal tomorrow, we’re proud to announce them as an official Trailblazer of HSF! 🏆🖤
From hosting the first-ever reduced heading match to becoming the first National League partner, the Moors are leading the charge in protecting players.
Eighteen months after Bill’s death, I am as committed as ever to fulfilling his legacy. Learn from the past, safeguard the future.
THINK HEAD SAFE: REDUCE HEADING IN TRAINING.
"At the foundation of Bill, was his determination to make the world a better place...I'm immensely proud of my Bill" ❤️
🎧 Listen to this powerful @BBCTees interview to learn more. loom.ly/Dr1fFlQ
Think Head Safe: Reduce Heading in Training
Well done Spennymoor Town FC. I am planning to be at Wembley on May 11th cheering for my home town. @SpennymoorTown
Huge congrats to @SpennymoorTown on reaching the FA Trophy Final at Wembley! ⚽🏆
They’ve supported HSF and the family of Bill Gates, now it’s our turn to back them. Cheering you on all the way to Wembley! 👏🖤🤍
THINK HEAD SAFE: REDUCE HEADING IN TRAINING.
Prevention is the only solution.
"We love football & we’re not trying to ban heading, we’re trying to find a solution to protect the next generation" Thanks @BBCBreakfast, @jonkay01 & @sallynugent for inviting Nick to the sofa this morning to raise awareness of the dangers of repetitive head impacts in football
At Head Safe Football we are taking action. We have learned from the past. Now we work to safeguard the future. We educate those involved, we lobby government, we raise awareness, we are having an impact.
THINK HEAD SAFE: REDUCE HEADING IN TRAINING.
.@WillStewNeuro spoke of the balance between protecting the game we love whilst also addressing health concerns on
@BBCNewsnight
"There’s an awful lot of impacts that go on in the week of training that no one’s really looking at but cumulatively are damaging the brain over time"
The inquest process continues. The Gates family are committed to finding out the truth in order to protect everyone who ever heads a ball.
Think Head Safe: reduce heading in training.
Precious gift from granddaughter Becky. She said she chose it because the words are “So grandma”. Grateful that she has learned a “language of possibility” from me. Prioritise “What if you fly”. I try to.
As David quoted in his article ‘ But I have promises to keep. And miles to go before I sleep’
"A Sixties love affair, an awful disease, & one woman’s fight for justice" This weekend, the extraordinary story of Dr. Judith Gates has taken centre stage in @TheTimes, beautifully captured by Chief Sports Writer @DavidWalshst across a powerful double-page spread.
Thanks to Robert from FMTTM for arranging this event. Son Nick and I, together with author Mike Amos, will be there and we are looking forward to discussing Bill’s book, No-Brainer.
You may have seen the extensive coverage on dementia in football yesterday on the BBC. We will also be happy to answer any questions you may have on CTE football dementia. Let’s talk about how all players can be safeguarded from repetitive head impacts. HeadSAFE football: reduce heading in training.
Celebrate the life and legacy of Boro defender and sports shop pioneer Bill Gates and the continued work of @headsafecharity and take an evening tour of @boroshirtmuseum - this Saturday evening - please scan QR below for tickets #UTB
Thank you to the BBC for their extensive programmes on CTE today. Learn from the past. Focus on the future. The only cure is prevention so reduction of heading in training is crucial.
Excellent piece of coverage on @BBCBreakfast with @TVNaga01 & Charlie Stayt surrounding the dangers of heading in football.
Dr @JudithMGates shared how severe CTE was to blame for Bill Gates' death & how we must act now to use this vital knowledge to safeguard our youth.
I appreciate the opportunity to raise public awareness about CTE. Those of us who know at first hand the devastation it causes are committed to safeguarding all players.
Tune in to @BBCBreakfast tomorrow morning to catch Founder and trustee of Head Safe Football, Dr. Judith Gates discussing all things Head Safe Football! 🐘⚽
loom.ly/Q4l34Mg
Judith Gates retweeted
Thanks to the work by groups and people like @headsafecharity and @WillStewNeuro the NHS now recognises CTE in contact sports and advises patients to inform their GPs of their sporting history. CTE is a young persons disease that progresses over time. nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-tr… – at East Brunton, England
