LLANDUDNO FC’s Academy will not implement any heading into their coaching programmes following new research.

The JD Cymru North side’s thriving facilities have outlawed this element of the game from U7 to U12 level, with the announcement coming on the back of the Football Association’s decision to stop heading during training in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

A club statement, read: “As an Academy, we value the mental and physical health and wellbeing of our players.

“As such, in line with new research regarding heading of footballs in youth players, we will not be incorporating any heading into our training sessions for U7 to U12.”

The new ruling comes after research carried out by Glasgow University showed former footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die from brain disease.

There was no evidence in the study that linked incidences of the disease with heading the ball, but the FA said the new guidance had been issued to "mitigate against any potential risks".

This will apply to training only and not to competitive matches, and it is not yet applicable to those under the Football Association of Wales banner.

Llandudno have taken it upon themselves to make the decision while the FAW conduct a review on the current regulations.

Bangor City issued a separate message stating they were following Tudno’s lead with children currently training at their Youth Development Centre.

Heading will also be kept to a minimum for any footballer under 18 as part of the new FA rules, with "no heading in training in the foundation phase" for primary school children.

Dawn Astle, who has been campaigning for stricter measures following the death of father and former England striker Jeff from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), told BBC Radio 5 Live: "There is a major, major issue in football with former players dying of neuro-degenerative disease.

"We have a problem and we have to deal with it. There's a lot more to do but it's a great start and a real step in the right direction.

"By saying there's no heading in training for primary school children is a really sensible way to make the game we all love safer for all those involved."

CTE was discovered by Bennet Ifeakandu Omalu a Nigerian-American physician, forensic pathologist, and neuropathologist who was the first to discover and publish findings regarding the degenerative brain disease in American football players while working at the Allegheny County coroner's office in Pittsburgh.