Former Manchester United, Leeds and Scotland footballer Gordon McQueen instructed household ‘heading a soccer for all these years hasn’t helped’ previous to dementia battle, inquest hears
Former Manchester United and Leeds footballer Gordon McQueen told his family that ‘heading a football for all those years probably hasn’t helped’ after he developed dementia, an inquest heard today.
The towering former Scotland international defender 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in his personality after his 60th birthday when Mr McQueen, who had always been very sociable and outgoing, became more withdrawn.
His daughter, Hayley, a Sky Sports News presenter, said she remembered from a young age how her father would come home from training with Manchester United and lie down in a darkened room with a headache.
She described how her father was very healthy and active – both in sport and with his family – during his playing days and after he retired.
But in his sixties, he would tell his family that he did not feel ‘right in himself’, adding: ‘There’s something not right in my head.’
Ms McQueen was asked by her barrister Michael Rawlinson KC if her father had discussed whether anything in his history was behind his dementia.
She told the inquest in Northallerton, North Yorkshire: ‘He said “heading a football for all those years probably hasn’t helped”.’
McQueen played 30 times for Scotland and was regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation
He died in 2023, aged 70, two years after being diagnosed with vascular dementia (McQueen pictured in 1978 for Manchester United)
While her father stayed relatively injury-free during his playing career, Ms McQueen said he did suffer some concussions, adding: ‘They would just head back out and play.’
An inquest was ordered into Mr McQueen’s death to ascertain whether there was a link between his dementia and heading footballs.
A central defender during his playing career, he was also well known for scoring goals from set-pieces, usually with his head.
Studies have shown that ex-professional footballers can be three-and-a-half times more likely to die of dementia than similar-aged people across the population.
A group of former footballers and their families are embroiled in legal action against the Football Association alleging they were not properly protected from brain injuries during their careers.
The claimants include the family of England 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles who died in October 2020 aged 78.
His fellow World Cup winners Bobby Charlton, his brother Jack, Ray Wilson and Martin Peters had all been diagnosed with dementia before their deaths.
The former defender later coached at Middlesbrough alongside his friend Bryan Robson and became a popular television pundit
Ms McQueen has previously indicated her family do not intend to pursue legal action should a link between his illness and football be established, but the family want to raise more awareness.
Mr McQueen helped Leeds United to league title success in the 1973/74 season and played a key role in their run to the European Cup final in 1975.
He joined Leeds’ rivals Manchester United in 1978 and went on to win the FA Cup in 1983.
He 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.
The inquest, scheduled to last until Thursday, continues.
