The tragic death of former West Bromwich Albion footballer Jeff Astle will be at the centre of a top level meeting with Government officials tomorrow.
Baggies legend Astle died from brain damage almost three years ago at the age of 59.
An inquest later ruled he died from industrial disease and that years of heading heavy leather footballs had made a "significant contribution" to his early death.
Now former footballer Roy Pack, compliance director with Ex Pro, a group set up to represent ex-players, is battling to get the Government to agree that injuries, diseases and conditions caused by the game merit football being put on the same footing as other industries which pay out pensions for industrial disease.
Mr Pack,a former Arsenal and Portsmouth defender, said: "We are building up a dossier on 600 ex-players who have suffered brain damage, dementia or Alzheimer's which we put down to playing the game.
"We want the Government to bring in legislation which will mean that former players and their dependants who have suffered problems with injury and illness which can be traced back to the game will get an industrial disease pension.
"Other people, such as former miners and men who worked with asbestos, have died and their dependants have been awarded this sort of pension.
"We see no reason why footballers should not be treated in exactly the same way.
"We have been busy working behind the scenes for some time now to get these pension rights agreed.
"The meeting tomorrow with Government officials is a major step forward over this issue and I am really quite hopeful of significant progress," he added.
