A late Basingstoke Town footballer had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), it has been revealed, making him the first known amateur footballer to be identified with the condition post-mortem.
Godfrey "Goff" White, who died in April at the age of 70, was a respected figure in the local football scene, having dedicated his life to the sport both as a player and in various leadership roles.
He enjoyed a career with clubs such as Basingstoke Town, Waterlooville, and Tadley Calleva, where he served as chairman until 2016.
In the final years of his life, Goff battled dementia, with his condition now being linked to CTE, a progressive brain disease found in athletes with a history of repetitive brain trauma.
READ MORE: Basingstoke football loses two former players to dementia in two days
The diagnosis, confirmed through a post-mortem examination in July by Dr William Stewart of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, adds to the growing concerns about the long-term effects of heading in football.
Goff's widow Tina White, 70, is now working with a charity named Head Safe Football on a mission to make football safer for all.
Tina, who lives in Tadley, has become a passionate advocate for raising awareness about the dangers of heading in football, particularly for young and amateur players.
She doesn’t believe in banning heading altogether, but strongly supports controlling it, especially among young players.
"Professional players are just over one per cent of the number of people who play football in the UK," she said.
"So Goff's condition opens up a wider conversation about the risks faced by the vast number of amateur players who, unlike professionals, may not have access to the same medical care or awareness."
Tina spoke about the heartbreaking journey of her husband’s battle with dementia.
"It was very sad [when she saw the result], but it made sense, the aggressive behaviour, the paranoia.
"We weren't surprised because of how he was. And I don't think we could have changed it for Goff, because he started playing when he was five to seven, in 1960.
"We couldn’t save Goff because there wasn’t information available back then. But we can protect future generations. That’s what we feel - we need much more education because people are still dismissing the risks."
Tina is now working with Head Safe Football to educate and protect future players from the risks associated with heading the ball, while advocating for more controlled practices.
She also called for the need for widespread awareness and education about CTE, particularly within the amateur football community.
SEE ALSO: Kingsclere Cricket Club celebrates 250 years of playing
Head Safe Football organised an event on Sunday, September 1, at Parkers Piece in Cambridge, where the first rules of football were established in 1863.
The event, featuring three matches, aimed to "bring science to the field" by demonstrating the evolution of football rules and highlighting the importance of player safety.
The matches showcased different eras of football rules - from the early, lighter rules to the modern game, and a final match where heading was only allowed within the penalty box.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here