Fulham and England George Cohen legend says he will donate his brain to science to help the fight against dementia in ex-footballers.

The 1966 World Cup winner , who spent his entire career at Craven Cottage , also said children below the age of 10 should be banned from heading the ball.

He was speaking after ground breaking new research revealed for the first time a link between heading the ball and early-onset dementia.

Speaking to the Mirror , the Three Lions hero said he was happy to assist medical science.

“Whatever will help, I mean why not? It’s no use to me anymore at that stage," he said.

“I suppose it’s all down to the relatives - my wife Daphne says she wouldn’t mind, and I certainly wouldn’t mind.

“I wouldn’t be aware of it so I don’t see a reason for me to not want to, as long as my relatives are okay with it.”

Scientists identified a serious condition called Chronic Traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in deceased former players.

The new study looked at 14 retired players, 12 of whom eventually died of advanced dementia.

All who were examined began heading the ball as children or teenagers and continued playing for an average of 26 years.

Evidence of CTE, which can only be diagnosed after death, was found in four of six players where relatives gave permission for their brains to be examined. All also had signs of Alzheimer’s.

Legend: Statue of George Cohen MBE outside Craven Cottage

Mr Cohen’s World Cup winning teammates include Nobby Stiles, 74, Martin Peters, 73, and Ray Wilson 82, who has been diagnosed with dementia, and Jack Charlton, 81, who has memory problems.

He believes more ex-players will come forward and join the brain donation cause to help scientists with their research.

“It might not be as easy as that for some people and for some relatives, because it’s not an easy time when you lose someone,” he said,

“If they’ve found there is a link to the illness then someone donating their brain is a good thing if it can help. I’m sure others would be happy to do it too.”

Recalling the “immense” pain of taking an old, leather football in the face, he said he was not surprised the campaign to probe brain disease in ex-footballers had picked up.

The dad-of-two, who has himself survived three bouts of cancer, said: “Think of those long, defensive headers - you put your neck and back into it all - but it’s the head that takes the punishment.

“Over the years, God knows how many times you head the ball. Years ago these heavy balls were 14-to-16oz but with water on them they went up 25% in weight.

Former Fulham and England footballer George Cohen

“If you’re standing in a wall and you take that on the side of the head, you feel it immensely - it’s not nice. It doesn’t surprise me that over the years people are taking this issue more and more seriously.”

He said now was the time to change the rules on kids under 10 heading the ball.

“There’s going to have to be something done with youngsters heading the ball,” he insisted.

“They are still just kids, usually under 10, when they start going to football schools and clubs, and they stand maybe two-to-three feet from each other heading the ball.

“At that early stage of development it might be a good idea not to have the ball headed, particularly the full-sized balls.

“I think under a certain age it would be a good idea to not to do it. It should be something that’s agreed by medics, and I would agree with that.

“But it’s a very worrying situation at the moment because you cannot play football without heading the ball.”

Last year Mr Cohen was given the freedom of Hammersmith and Fulham, and shortly after his bronze statue was unveiled at Craven Cottage .

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