David Moyes appears during sports and dementia debate at Preston’s university

David Moyes during the discussion at the University of Central Lancashire Pic: UCLan

Former Preston North End manager David Moyes appeared at the city’s university for a debate around head injuries in sport and dementia.

He was part of a panel including Dawn Astle from The Jeff Astle Foundation and Dan Orwin a sport academic and Preston Grasshoppers head coach.

During the debate at the University of Central Lancashire’s Harrington lecture theatre, which was attended by more than 150 people and chaired by pro-vice chancellor professor StJohn Crean, it explored the debate around dementia and head injuries in football and other major sports.

Professor StJohn Crean, Dan Orwin, Dawn Astle and David Moyes Pic: UCLan

Dawn Astle has been campaigning since the death of her father Jeff Astle, who died aged 59.

The Notts County and West Bromwich Albion pro was found to have died from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The degenerative brain disease is linked to individuals who are usually involved in professional sports and have a history of head injuries.

The Jeff Astle Foundation, founded by Dawn, said it was low-level brain trauma as a result of repeatedly heading footballs.

Dawn Astle spoke about her father and about founding the Foundation which has lobbied for changes to heading rules in football Pic: UCLan

The event was organised by the University of Central Lancashire’s Alzheimer’s Academic Group and included emotional personal stories, academic insight and commentary on the risks of impacts on the brain within sports.

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