Jeff Astle - Retirement, Death and Legacy

Retirement, Death and Legacy

After his retirement Astle launched an industrial cleaning business, working around the Burton upon Trent area; latterly he also made TV comedy appearances with Frank Skinner and David Baddiel on Fantasy Football League.

On 19 January 2002, Astle collapsed at his daughter's home and was taken to Queen's Hospital Burton upon Trent, where he died, aged 59. The cause of death was a degenerative brain disease; failing mental ability had first become apparent as much as five years earlier. He had been an exceptional header of the ball, and the coroner found that the repeated minor trauma had been the cause of his death. (The leather footballs used in Astle's playing days were considerably heavier than the plastic ones of today, especially when wet). A verdict of death by industrial injury was recorded.

On the day after his death, West Bromwich Albion held a minute's silence in honour of Astle, prior to their home match against Walsall. Albion striker Jason Roberts scored the only goal of the game and celebrated by removing his jersey to reveal a t-shirt bearing Astle's image.

His funeral in Derbyshire was attended by hundreds of football fans. Fantasy Football League returned for a number of special editions after Astle's death; the first programme being preceded by a minute's silence, in the style of those held at football matches. In November 2002, Astle's widow Lorraine said that she would take legal action over his death.

Astle had been worshipped as a hero by the Albion fans, who would often sing (to the tune of Camptown Races): "Astle is the king, Astle is the king, the Brummie Roaders sing this song, Astle is the king". The chant is still heard at the Hawthorns to this day. Following his death, a campaign was launched to fund a set of gates dedicated to his memory at the ground (see picture above). The gates, which are situated on the Birmingham Road, close to the Woodman Corner, were unveiled on 11 July 2003. In April 2003 Astle became the first person to have a Midland Metro tram named after him.

In 2004 he was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations. Astle was also voted as one of Albion's five "FA Cup heroes", receiving the most votes for a striker in the poll organised by the club's official website in 2006.