FORMER York City defender Daniel Parslow hopes to be an ambassador for concussion in football and hopes to speak to “as many people as possible” about the issue.

Parslow, 34, was forced into early retirement as a result of an elbow to the temple during a match for York City in February.

The centre back suffered symptoms of nausea, headaches and fatigue as a result but has since said to be recovering well from the blow.

The Welshman hosts his benefit match at Bootham Crescent on Wednesday evening in order to raise money for the Daniel Parslow Benefit Year and the charity Headway.

Parslow says his ambition is to bring in concussion protocols into the sport.

“I’m trying to raise as much awareness of brain injuries and traumas along the way.

“If some good can come off the back of my injury, then that would be great,” said Parslow.

“My aim is to improve concussion protocols, especially in football, because they are needed.

“I’m desperate to introduce them into the sport because I think there is a place for them.

“With my injury and the delayed onset of the symptoms, there needs to be a window for when medics can properly check players.

“That’s the target, that’s what I’m gunning to do and I’m hoping to speak to as many people as possible about that.

“You see concussion protocols in the NFL, in rugby union and rugby league. They all do it.”

Initially, Parslow was deemed fit to play during February's game against Hereford but it was the delayed on-set symptoms that presented the most danger to his health.

“In my scenario, I passed the initial test,” recalled Parslow.

“Buster the physio did his job, I passed the test, I was fine, but then the delayed onset symptoms kicked in and that’s where the real danger is.

“If I were to have got another knock in the state I was in then, it doesn’t bear thinking about what could have happened.

“That’s why these protocols are in place in other sports, because concussion is a complex injury and it is an injury.

“The difficult thing is that you can’t see it. You can see if an arm is broken or there’s blood streaming from the nose.

“It is a trauma to the brain. Having found out a lot more since my injury, I’ve found that my brain has been in a very shaken state.

“It’s understandable why the feeling of nausea, headaches and fatigue happened to me.”

Parslow thinks that progress is being made in the increased awareness of concussion as an issue fears it may take a high-profile injury to bring out tangible change.

“I think there is a lot more awareness of it now and it is coming to the forefront more and more and rightly so,” he said.

“There’s been some big examples. Hugo Lloris last year tried to carry on, Jan Vertonghen as well, I think he was wobbling around on the pitch.

“The unfortunate thing is that it is going to take some high-profile cases for some changes to be made. I’m trying my best at the lower league level to try and share my message and tell as many people as possible.

“But, little old Daniel Parslow from York City doesn’t quite have the same clout as a Premier League player.

“Hopefully it doesn’t take a terrible injury for something to happen. I think more discussions are taking place and the Premier League are looking to bring in place some proper concussion protocols. The sooner they come in the better.”