Daughter of former Manchester United and Scotland defender Gordon McQueen warns of dangers of heading football after coroner concludes playing career ‘likely’ contributed to his death
Repeatedly heading a football was a major factor in the death of former Manchester United and Scotland defender Gordon McQueen, a coroner has ruled.
The player himself had disclosed to his family that he believed his dementia was as a result of heading the ball during his 15-year playing career, telling his daughter, Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen, that it ‘probably hasn’t helped.’
Sitting at North Yorkshire Coroners Court today, senior coroner Jonathan Heath said Mr McQueen, who also played for Leeds United, developed Cerebral Traumatic Encephalopathy [CTE], a degenerative brain disease often caused by repeated head impacts, from his football career.
‘Gordon McQueen died from pneumonia as a consequence of a combination of Microvascular Dementia and Cerebral Traumatic Encephalopathy,’ he said.
‘It is likely repetitive head impact sustained from heading the ball whilst playing football contributed to his CTE.’
Mr McQueen, a tall centre-back renowned for his aerial dominance during his playing career, was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2021 and died two years later, aged 70.
His family said that they began to notice changes in his personality after his 60th birthday when Mr McQueen, who had always been very sociable and outgoing, became more withdrawn.
In a statement read to his inquest earlier this month, former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson said Mr McQueen headed the ball 10 to 15 times in matches but this was ‘far exceeded in training.’
Mr McQueen won the FA cup with Manchester United in 1983 during a glittering 15-year playing career
He later worked as an assistant to former teammate Bryan Robson when he was in charge of Middlesbrough and settled in the area
He added that the defender was ‘always at the forefront of heading sessions.’
Speaking after the inquest, Mr McQueen’s daughter Hayley said: ‘Hopefully, my dad’s legacy will not just be what he gave football on the pitch but what we can learn from this and make sure that this really real, horrible problem isn’t a problem for future generations.
‘They need the help from the footballing authorities, but there also needs to be changes too – potential legislation and just education.’
She added that her father ‘loved football… but it took him in the end.’
‘He went through an horrendous time towards the end of his life,’ she added.
‘He was certain himself it was possibly from heading footballs. Now it’s not just “could it be this, could it be that”. We know it is.
‘I think my dad’s main message would be to warn others against the dangers of heading and protect future generations.’
The inquest heard how Mr McQueen’s family donated his brain after his death to Professor Willie Stewart, a consultant neuropathologist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, who has conducted extensive research into brain injury in footballers and rugby players.
Mr McQueen’s daughters Anna Forbes and Hayley McQueen spoke after the conclusion of his inquest in Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Prof Stewart said he found evidence of CTE and vascular dementia.
Prof Stewart agreed with barrister Michael Rawlinson KC, for the McQueen family, when he asked whether the CTE ‘more than minimally, negligibly or trivially’ contributed to his death and whether ‘heading the ball’ contributed to the CTE.
The professor said his ‘high exposure’ to heading a football was a contributory factor.
Mr McQueen moved from St Mirren in his native Scotland to Leeds United in 1972, helping the Yorkshire club to league title success in 1973-74 and playing a key role in their run to the European Cup final in 1975.
He then joined Leeds’s arch-rivals Manchester United in 1978 and went on to win the FA Cup in 1983.
Mr McQueen played 30 times for Scotland and after retiring from playing spent several years on the coaching staff at Middlesbrough, settling in the area, before later becoming a television pundit.
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