Friday 10 April 2015 10:51, UK
West Bromwich Albion will pay tribute to their legendary striker Jeff Astle by wearing a replica 1968 FA Cup final kit against Leicester City on Saturday.
Astle, who scored 174 goals in 361 games for Albion, netted the winner as Everton were beaten 1-0 at Wembley; the all-white kit worn on that day will be part of Astle Day at the Hawthorns.
It is only the second time the Premier League has granted permission for a kit change; in 2008, Manchester United marked the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster with a similar gesture.
Astle’s family have launched a foundation aiming to promote the issue of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a brain condition more commonly associated with boxing, and from which Astle was suffering when he died aged 59 in 2002.
Albion chairman Jeremy Peace said: “We promised at the start of the season to honour both Jeff and his family’s efforts to raise awareness of an important issue by dedicating a home game to him – and it promises to be a special day.
“We are absolutely delighted the Premier League have granted permission for this kit change as an additional salute to a footballer who remains much loved.
“We are mindful that it is only the second time this has happened, which I think says much about Jeff’s standing and the gravity football places on the issues his death raised.”
Albion will wear shirts numbered 2-11, with a plain goalkeeping jersey and the PFA chairman, Gordon Taylor, said: “We were very pleased to be able to assist the Astle family with the foundation. We note the help and support of West Bromwich Albion in helping to highlight this very important issue.”
Meanwhile, Championship side Reading will play Blackburn Rovers on Saturday wearing a one-off kit designed by 14-year-old fan Ryan Duval.
Wheelchair-bound Duval, who has a condition called Duchenne muscular dystrophy, designed the kit for a project and the club were made aware of it when captain Jem Karacan visited his school.
