PFA's Purkiss on mission to redistribute more funds to dementia research

Having only taken up the post of Chairman of the Professional Footballer's Association in November, Ben Purkiss has already begun making waves at the top of football. 

The chairman has his sights firmly set on increasing the budget allocation for the association's donation to dementia research, claiming that "We have £50m but donate just £100,000 to research into dementia", as he aims to meet the crucial needs of footballers in the modern era.

In spite of his young 34 years of age, Purkiss has long been a member of the PFA, serving on the management committee for five years prior to taking up a more senior role this month.

While he may be new to the top job, the Sheffield native is keen to begin making significant changes, effective immediately. 

Purkiss wants the PFA to use a small portion of the £50million that sits in its reserves, to finance an independent government review, a suggestion he made almost three years ago.

 

November 30, 2017

However, now he is finally in a position to make the change a reality, he has been met with strong opposition in some quarters. Purkiss claims that there were even attempts to remove his from his post.

The pressure Purkiss faces is clear. A player himself, who has never earned more than £60,000 a year, never played higher than League One and is bound by an iron-clad confidentiality clause. His mission to pursue  his goal and fight a senior figure in the game seems nion impossible.

Nonetheless, Purkiss seems determined to persist and see his goal through to the very end.

He told the assembled media: "I want the PFA to be innovative, to represent the needs of its members, to strengthen our relationship with the players, and strengthen our relationship with the other stakeholders. We've got £50m in the bank and I have no idea why."

Purkiss continued: "We've had the same CEO for nearly 40 years. Have we moved with the times? Isn't it time we had a full and comprehensive review? I first said this three years ago. It seemed to be what everyone else was doing across British sport. It was about modernising. It was about best practice. About implementing rules that benefit the members."

The man Purkiss is opposing is none other than Gordon Taylor, a long term powerful presence at the very top of professional football in England.

Yet the younger man seems very much unphased by Taylor's influence in football, and remains steadfast that, as long as he aims to do right by the PFA, he will continue to push for the necessary alterations. 

He concluded: "We have £50m but donate just £100,000 to research into dementia — something which I believe should be one of the most important causes the PFA can take on. I want us to represent all the members."