We are taking youngsters coming into the game and monitoring them throughout their careers.”Mr Taylor said he was convinced the dangers of heading a ball – especially a modern one – were minimal But his opinion is not universally shared. Many of football’s most famous names, including Bob Paisley and Danny Blanchflower, may have suffered as a result of heading the ball too much.
The studies have concentrated largely on footballers who played up to 30 years ago with a heavy leather ball that got water-logged in the rain. Treated leather balls that do not absorb water and are thus lighter are now used.The association said its own research was being conducted with younger players who were being monitored from the start of their playing careers for the next 10 or 15 years.Gordon Taylor, chief executive, said: “For the last year or so we have been made aware of this problem and it’s one of the projects we are undertaking with the FA medical committee. TO ANYONE who has ever allowed a wet and heavy leather football to hit them on the head the answer should be patently obvious.

But not content with mere common sense and intuition, the Professional Footballers Association revealed yesterday it has launched its own study to decide whether heading a ball causes long-term damage. Studies in America and Scandinavia have suggested heading a ball over a long period, such as a professional career of 10 or more years, can result in senile dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. We look to the fishing industry and fishing community to assist us in this task.”In its report, the MAIB also found that the Pescado was unsafely operated, her skipper was not qualified to the required standard, and only one crew member had undergone any safety training.The accident and the length of time taken for the inquiry to be concluded has caused much local anger. Rita Capon, the mother of one of the crew, Jo-Anne Thomas, 23, has consistently called for a public inquiry.Mr Prescott said that the delay was primarily due to the criminal proceedings initiated after the loss of the vessel.The other crew members were Neil Currie, 28, the skipper of South Uist, in the Western Isles; Peter Birley, 34, of Fleetwood, Lancashire; Adrian Flynn, 21, of Lincoln; Steven Hardy, 30, of Plymouth, Devon; and Sean Kelly,17, of Brixham, Devon.The report, however, ruled out theories that the Pescado was in collision with a submerged Royal Navy submarine or surface vessel or that it was dragged under by a submarine..

In turn, these contributory factors were caused by shortcomings in the shore management of the vessel.”Jonn Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, said in a statement: “The report stands as a clear indictment of those who owned and operated this vessel who must carry responsibility for the resulting loss of life.”Mr Prescott said that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency might also consider whether, on the basis of legal advice, there were grounds for disciplinary action under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 against Joseph O’Connor, the Pescado’s managing agent, who holds a Certificate of Competency.In an unusual move, the MAIB said in its report that the Marine and Coastguard Agency should inspect any vessel owned or managed by either Alan Ayres, who owned the Pescado, and Mr O’Connor.Mr Ayres was acquitted of six charges of manslaughter on the direction of the judge at his trial two years ago, while Mr O’Connor had a conviction for manslaughter overturned by the court of appeal.Mr Prescott added: “All those who own, manage or operate fishing vessels are reminded of their responsibility for the safety of their vessels and the safety of all those on board.”Those who are minded to follow the poor example set by Mr O’Connor and Mr Ayres will be pursued. The inquiry report, which is published today, found a litany of failures had led to the accident, which happened 13 miles off the Cornish coast as the crew tried to recover fishing gear caught on the sea-bed.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report said: “The lack of a properly qualified and experienced crew, together with inadequate life-saving appliances which were incorrectly installed and improperly maintained, contributed to the loss of the vessel and crew. THE OWNER and manager of the fishing trawler Pescado, which sank in 1991 with the loss of its six young crew, are severely criticised in the report of the official inquiry into the incident. They were driven to the neighbouring republic of Ingushetia for a rendezvous with Mr Berezovsky. Despite speculation, Mr Berezovsky did not pay a ransom to secure the release.The fact that Mr James and Ms Carr were sympathetic to the Chechens’ plight may have been a factor in their release.Family ties, Review, page 9. To avoid bloodshed an arrangement was struck – with the Russian media tycoon, Boris Berezovsky, acting as the deal-maker – to release the Britons.Mr James and Ms Carr yesterday spent their first full day of freedom together.

They remained at a special unit at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, where they had been flown in a private jet chartered by Mr Berezovsky.More than 36 hours after they were released from 443 days in captivity, details of the deal remain sketchy. THE BRITISH aid workers freed by Chechen rebels on Sunday were released under a complex deal that may have included the threat of a rescue operation by security forces. Sources in Moscow insisted yesterday that no ransom – official or otherwise – was paid to hostage-takers to ensure the release of Jon James, 38, and Camilla Carr, 40, who had been held for 14 months.
There was speculation that security forces in Chechnya had identified the hostage- takers and were preparing a rescue mission. A NEW team of 426 special constables is to be recruited to work alongside the British Transport Police on trains and London Underground to try to reduce railway crime. Latest figures in England and Wales show police were called to 1,400 serious assaults including three killings and six attempted murders, 21 rapes and 520 indecent assaults.. Measuring 200ft by 300ft the hangar was for some time the biggest aluminium building in the world.. The Flight Test Hangar at the former de Havilland Aircraft works at Hatfield, Hertfordshire, was built in 1952 to house the world’s first commercial jet airliner.
Heritage minister Alan Howarth said the hangar, once known as the “Comet Hangar” and now owned by British Aerospace, was of an “elegant and structurally innovative design” which represented “a significant milestone in the use of aluminium as a building material”.