Latest news with #GeoffHurst
Belfast Telegraph
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Glentoran manager and captain among host of footballer and celebrity signatories to ending hunger open letter
Glentoran manager Declan Devine and club captain Marcus Kane are among the figures from football and entertainment who have signed an open letter asking supporters to take 'collective action' to end hunger in the UK. The move is part of the 'Football vs Hunger' campaign by anti-poverty charity Trussell and signatories to the open letter also include the likes of World Cup winners Sir Geoff Hurst and Emmanuel Petit, former Liverpool forward Robbie Fowler and Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio. Also included in the open letter are the signatures of footballers Neville Southall, Peter Schmeichel, actors Jason Isaacs and Matt Lucas, entertainment artists, KSI and Tom Grennan, and those familiar to TV viewers such as Vernon Kay, Henry Winter and Hayley McQueen. The Trussell campaign is also backed by clubs from across the country, including Glentoran, Liverpool, Everton, St Johnstone, Motherwell and Bangor 1876 FC. In their open letter to fans, the stars from football and beyond say: 'Football means so much to so many of us, and we all care deeply about our own team's success. But, some things mean more than individual club rivalries. Like, ensuring nobody experiences hunger - no matter what team they support. 'While food banks are a lifeline, they're not the solution. And, we need collective action if we are to ensure that everyone can afford the essentials. 'And, we're asking for your support. 'From tackling racism, to standing up to homophobia, the football community has shaped a better society, by uniting to make clear what we think is acceptable as a nation. It's now time for fans, players and clubs to come together and tackle one of the biggest challenges facing the UK - hunger. 'Football vs Hunger is a chance for clubs, players and fans to come together to show their support by signing for Trussell FC, and joining a team who are committed to relegating hunger to history.' Last month Trussell revealed that 2.9 million emergency food parcels were provided to people facing hardship across the UK between April 2024 and March 2025, a 51% increase compared to five years ago, and more than a million of the parcels were provided for children. Speaking about these figures, 1966 World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst said: "In the UK, someone needs an emergency food parcel every 11 seconds, this isn't right. I'm proud to support Football vs Hunger and encourage football fans to play their part in ending the need for food banks in the UK by signing for Trussell FC." Fans can show their support by signing for Trussell FC at You can find out how many emergency food parcels were distributed in your area on the Trussell website:
Powys County Times
30-04-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
MPs urged to address ‘scandalous' dementia support for families of ex-players
Campaigners have called on MPs to help tackle what they say is a 'scandalous' lack of funding to support the families of footballers diagnosed with dementia. Former England stars including Sir Geoff Hurst and Kevin Keegan went to the House of Commons on Tuesday evening to meet with MPs in support of the Football Families for Justice (FFJ) campaign. FFJ wants football's new independent regulator to impose a statutory duty on the sport's national authorities to develop a comprehensive dementia strategy, including a substantially-increased care fund. FFJ is headed up by John Stiles, the son of former England and Manchester United midfielder Nobby Stiles, who died in October 2020. A post-mortem on 1966 World Cup winner Stiles' brain found he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with repetitive head impacts. Stiles told the PA news agency that the Brain Health Fund, set up with an initial £1million in 2023 by players' union the Professional Footballers' Association with support from the Premier League, was a 'smokescreen', 'PR exercise' and 'not fit for purpose'. 'My dad's care costs were £125,000 – £1m won't even pay for 12 families' care costs for a year. We want a properly financed fund,' he said. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, whose father died from dementia, told the meeting: 'Is there another union who treats their own like the PFA have treated families like they have? 'Their website (says): 'We provide players' rights, represent their views, and provide support. We are the only football organisation that solely prioritises players needs, and we are here for you, for football for life'. 'There's not one person in the room who would feel that was the case. That's not good enough.' Giving the regulator powers in this area would require an amendment to the Football Governance Bill, which had its second reading in the Commons on Monday, and Stiles accepted the chances of achieving that were 'pretty slim'. A number of MPs expressed support for widening the regulator's remit during Monday's debate, with Caerphilly's Labour MP Chris Evans saying investigating this issue was vital to avoid current England stars being at risk. The 2019 FIELD Study, co-funded by the PFA and the Football Association, found footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than age-matched members of the population. Further FIELD Study research published last December found that the increased risk was not driven by general health or lifestyle factors. Stiles insisted the main priority for FFJ was to compel football to urgently provide greater funding to those affected. 'It's only going to get worse. Families are having to sell their homes to pay for care costs,' he said. 'We also want some sort of compensation for widows. What's going on at the moment is scandalous. It's absolutely scandalous.' An FA spokesperson said: 'We continue to take a leading role in reviewing and improving the safety of our game. 'This includes investing in and supporting multiple projects in order to gain a greater understanding of this area through objective, robust and thorough research. 'We have already taken many proactive steps to review and address potential risk factors which may be associated with football whilst ongoing research continues in this area, including liaising with the international governing bodies.'
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Football's battle with dementia is set for Parliament: Campaigners Sir Geoff Hurst, Kevin Keegan and Mail Sport's Chris Sutton taking fight to end 'national disgrace' to Westminster
The campaign to end the 'national disgrace' of football's dementia scandal will head to Parliament this week. Former players including Sir Geoff Hurst, Kevin Keegan and Chris Sutton are to taking their fight to Westminster on Tuesday. They are part of the Football Families for Justice group, which is calling on the sport's governing bodies to provide effective assistance for ex-stars suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. Studies have shown that footballers are diagnosed with such illnesses at rates of four to five times higher than the general public. And the group wants politicians to amend the incoming Football Governance Bill to finally address the issues and force those at the top to act. The campaign, backed by the mayors of Manchester and Liverpool Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram and the likes of David Beckham and David May, aims to place a statutory duty on the football authorities and the PFA to develop a comprehensive football and dementia strategy – including a financial support scheme agreed with players past and present and their families that helps to cover care home costs. The group will meet and lobby MPs 24 hours after the second reading of the Bill where Debbie Abrahams MP will raise issues on FFJ's behalf. John Stiles, son of World Cup winner Nobby – who passed away following a battle with dementia – will also be present. 'The treatment of ex-footballers is a national disgrace,' the former Leeds United man said. 'Enough is enough. The government needs to mandate the creation of a fund that will provide best-in-class care to the players when they become ill. 'The medical evidence is conclusive. Players incur fatal brain diseases at four times the national average. This is because of heading the ball – and it is estimated that about 17,000 ex-players will die due to brain diseases incurred from heading. 'Right now we're seeing older players, many of whom played well before and outside the riches of the Premier League, and their families left to suffer this tragedy.' A £1m fund was set up by the top-flight and the PFA in the wake of the campaign led by Stiles, but has been dismissed by campaigners as woefully inadequate. 'These people deserve respect and kindness,' he added. 'They don't deserve to be fobbed off with a £1m smokescreen.' 'We have the support of people like Kevin Keegan, Graeme Souness, Sir Geoff Hurst, David Beckham, and the family of Sir Bobby Charlton. It's time for the MPs and government to step in to address this national disgrace.' Burnham, influential in the campaign for justice for those impacted by the Hillsborough tragedy, added: 'At long last, the fight for fairness for football families affected by dementia and other neuro-degenerative conditions reaches Parliament this week. 'The game's failure to deal fairly with this issue means we must now look to MPs to pass amendments to the Football Governance Bill to place a duty on the football authorities to establish a support scheme. 'There is more than enough money in football to support people who built the English game into what it is today.'
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
England's 1966 World Cup hat-trick hero announces Eastleigh fixture
England's 1966 World Cup hat trick hero Geoff Hurst has been booked for a special fixture at Eastleigh's Concorde Club. The football legend will take to the stage for An Evening with Geoff Hurst on Thursday September 4. He will talk about his illustrious West Ham and England career with his great friend and agent Terry Baker. READ MORE: Lonnie Donnegan's sons to pay tribute at The Concorde Club Sir Geoff secured a unique place in history when he became the first player to score a hat trick in a World Cup Final. Knighted in 1998 and inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2001 Sir Geoff has cemented his place as one of the most iconic figures in English football. Sir Geoff is the sole survivor of the team that played at Wembley on July 30, 1966, and lifted the Jules Rimet trophy after beating the Germans 4-2. For tickets, call 023 8061 3989 or visit
