FOOTBALL clubs and schools should do more to publicise the dangers of heading the ball to players, parents and children.

That was the message from campaigner Dawn Astle, daughter of former England footballer Jeff Astle, at a brain injury conference at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton yesterday.

The Astle family launched the Jeff Astle Foundation last year and campaigned after he died from degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy in 2002, aged 59.

The legendary West Bromwich Albion striker was misdiagnosed with dementia but a landmark coroner's ruling said he died from an industrial disease, brought on by repeatedly heading footballs.

This year Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Dyke said experts would investigate head injuries in the sport.

Speaking to The Argus, Miss Astle, 47, said: "I absolutely think Sussex leagues, clubs and schools can raise awareness of the dangers. They have no doctor in the tunnel - children particularly should not be allowed back on the field after a head injury. It's not about scaremongering it's about putting guidelines in place.

"For too long this has been the silent scandal of football."

Crawley-based legal firm ASB Aspire and Lewes-based charity Hurstwood Headway Park invited experts and those affected by brain injury to share their experiences and research at the conference.

An FA spokesman said the issue was taken "very seriously" and it fully supports the Astle family and the foundation.

He said: "We are currently finalising new guidelines as worked up by an independent expert head injury panel, led by pre-eminent neurosurgeon Peter Hamlyn."

A Brighton and Hove Albion spokesman said the long term health and wellbeing of all players was of the "utmost importance" and welcomed the soon to be published guidelines.