A FORMER footballer from Flintshire's death was linked to heading footballs, an inquest heard.

Alan Leslie Jarvis, 76, died on December 15, 2019 at his residence at Cottage Nursing Home on Hendy Road in Mold.

Mr Jarvis, a Wrexham-born former Welsh international who made 150 league appearances for Hull City and Mansfield Town, battled dementia in his later years, which led to his death.

An inquest held at County Hall in Ruthin on Thursday, October 15 into Mr Jarvis' death heard evidence from researchers into links between Alzheimer's and football.

And the court heard that the persistent heading of footballs in his junior and professional career caused Mr Jarvis to develop what are believed to have been "complex neuropathological issues".

The inquest heard evidence from Dr William Stewart, consultant pathologist at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow - where Mr Jarvis' brain was transferred for research purposes.

It states that neuropathology tests indicate that Mr Jarvis' case is consistent with "neuro-generative disease" commonly seen in former professional footballers, boxers and rugby players.

The court heard that research suggests former footballers are five times more likely to develop dementia than people of the same age range in the general population.

The inquest heard that Mr Jarvis' issues dated back to 2008, when his behaviour "began to change" - whereby he began to display outward aggression and violent outbursts which he had never done before.

And Mr Jarvis' health rapidly deteriorated in the last years of life - to the extent that he was unable to speak or walk properly from 2016 onwards.

The inquest heard that Mr Jarvis, who played for Wales against England's 1966 World Cup winning squad, was "always playing 'keepy uppy' using his head" and with him being a defensive midfield player, he headed the ball regularly in matches and in training.

During a game for Mansfield Town, Mr Jarvis, whose family has little history of Alzheimer's, was hit in the face by a ball kicked from very close range - which knocked him unconscious and detached the retina in his eye.

A post-mortem examination into Mr Jarvis' death provided a provisional cause of death as pneumonia, with Alzheimer's a contributory factor.

John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, recorded a conclusion of industrial disease - with Mr Jarvis' death linked to his occupation as a professional footballer.

Mr Gittins stated that "there may be many more cases like this to come", and that Dr Stewart's report "has credibility" - with Mr Gittins hopeful that it can help people in the future.

Speaking after the conclusion of the inquest, Mr Jarvis' daughter, Sarah, said: "As a family we're really pleased with the outcome, because it's confirmed what we always thought.

"My dad was such a nice guy and to see him decline the way he did was heartbreaking - it's such a horrible disease.

"It would be nice if, in my personal opinion, the FA could look after its older players more - it's such a massive trauma for the family to look after their loved one.

"As they deteriorate you miss a bit much more of them every time - he died in such a horrible way and they just need to look after these players."

Ms Jarvis says she doesn't want to see rules around heading changed, except for younger players.

She said: "My son plays at under 12s age group - and I don't want him heading balls at that age."