Bristol Rovers Community Trust, in partnership with the Bristol Rovers Former Players Association, Bristol City Former Players Association, The Gloucestershire FA, The Jeff Astle Foundation and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), will be hosting a special evening to shed light on the dangers of brain injuries in sport.
Taking place at The Memorial Stadium on Thursday 20th March at 7pm, the event will bring together a panel of experts, former players, grassroots athletes, and coaches to discuss the serious impact of concussions and brain injuries in sport, particularly focusing on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma.
The event will feature a panel of esteemed speakers, including:
Dr Adam J White – Head of Brain Health at the PFA
Dawn Astle MBE – Founder of the Jeff Astle Foundation, campaigning for greater awareness of brain injuries in football
Ian Alexander (Jocky) – Bristol Rovers legend, diagnosed with CTE
Dave Rodgers – Former Bristol City player
Rovers legend Ian Alexander, affectionately known as ‘Jocky’ by Gasheads, will share his own personal experiences of dealing with CTE and the lasting effects of concussions suffered throughout his playing career. His story is a stark reminder of the long-term consequences of head injuries in football.
Reflecting on his diagnosis, Ian said "Football was my life, but now I’m paying the price. I was knocked out cold so many times, but back then, it was just ‘get up and carry on.’ Now I forget things, I lose my temper, and I know this disease will only get worse. But if my story can help other players, past and present, then it’s important we talk about it."
In addition to raising awareness, the event will also serve as a fundraiser, where we will be asking for a £5 ticket fee. In addition, the evening will also include a raffle and ribbon sale with all profits raised going to charities and causes close to Ian Alexander in his continued battle with CTE. To book your place please visit https://www.bristolroverscommunity.org.uk/jocky
This promises to be an insightful and emotional evening, bringing together fans, players, and experts to tackle one of the most pressing issues in modern football.
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