Heading soccer ‘seemingly’ contributed to dying of former Manchester United and Scotland defender Gordon McQueen, coroner concludes

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in his personality after his 60th birthday when Mr McQueen, who had always been very sociable and outgoing, became more withdrawn.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.’

He added that the defender was ‘always at the forefront of heading sessions.’

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.

This is a breaking news story.