Family and friends from the football world gathered on Monday for the funeral of a former North East footballer, who spent several years living with dementia.
Bill Gates, a Middlesbrough defender and later businessman and philanthropist, died aged 79 on October 21 - the same day as Sir Bobby Charlton, who also lived with dementia.
Both funerals were held on Monday, November 13, with members of the footballing community standing together to mark two legends of the game - and to pledge their support to changing the future for other players and families by making football a safer sport.
Ferryhill-born Mr Gates died from probable CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) as a result of his career as a footballer and his family hopes his legacy will help protect future generations through the charity they have set up to achieve this - Head Safe Football.
Head Safe Football was established by Bill’s wife, Dr Judith Gates, to raise awareness of CTE - a neurodegenerative disease which research has shown is caused by repeated head impacts, although can only be definitely diagnosed after death.
Speaking ahead of a memorial to Mr Gates at Ramside Hall, Durham, Dr Gates said she and her family are now more determined than ever to make change through Head Safe Football, and to protect future generations from the heartbreak they faced throughout her husband’s illness.
“Since Bill passed away, we have been absolutely overawed by the warmth and kindness from so many people who knew Bill either personally or through his football, and admired all he achieved - we are truly grateful for that, and are determined to carry forward his legacy, which was so very important to him,” said Dr Gates.
“When Bill received the devastating diagnosis he had probable CTE, while it was too late for him, he cared passionately about preventing others suffering such an avoidable fate and wanted to make football a safer sport.
“Our promise to him was that we would do everything we can to achieve that - and through Head Safe Football, we are more resolute than ever to deliver on this.
“No other family should go through what we have been through, and by tackling the elephant in the room, we can help eliminate this cruel brain disease from football.”
Dr Gates called for support for the charity’s campaign - Football United vs CTE - which brings together clubs and players of all levels in raising awareness of head impacts, educating players, coaches and parents of the dangers and warning signs to look out for, and introducing safer practices across the sport.
“This campaign is for everyone," she said.
"Football is such an inclusive sport bringing together all ages, genders and levels of ability to create a sport we all love - but we must act together to remove the dangers we know exist, and have been irrefutably proven through research.
“We hope to unite football behind the urgent need to act to prevent further risks to the safety of our loved ones, as well as to those we idolise from the professional game, and create a future without the devastation of CTE.”
- For more information on Head Safe Football and its Football United vs CTE campaign, visit www.headsafefootball.org.uk
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