An inquest has heard that former Manchester United and Leeds United footballer Gordon McQueen told his family that years of heading a football likely contributed to the dementia he developed later in life.
A Defender's Battle with Dementia
The towering former Scotland international defender was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2021 and died two years later at the age of 70. His family began noticing significant changes in his personality after his 60th birthday. McQueen, known for being sociable and outgoing, became increasingly withdrawn.
His daughter, Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen, recalled to the hearing in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, how her father would often return from training at Manchester United with severe headaches. "He would lie down in a darkened room," she said, describing a pattern from her childhood.
"Something Not Right in My Head"
Hayley McQueen described her father as very healthy and active throughout his playing career and retirement. However, in his sixties, he repeatedly expressed to his family that he did not feel "right in himself." He would say, "There's something not right in my head."
When asked by the family barrister, Michael Rawlinson KC, if her father had ever discussed potential causes for his condition, Hayley McQueen gave a poignant answer. She told the inquest: "He said 'heading a football for all those years probably hasn't helped.'"
Although he stayed relatively injury-free, Ms McQueen confirmed her father did suffer concussions during his career. The attitude at the time, she noted, was that players would simply "head back out and play."
Growing Awareness and Legal Action
The inquest was ordered to investigate a potential link between McQueen's dementia and his football career, during which he was a central defender famed for scoring goals from set-pieces with his head. Studies indicate ex-professional footballers may be three-and-a-half times more likely to die from dementia than the general population of a similar age.
This case sits within a wider context of concern over brain injuries in football. A group of former players and their families are involved in legal action against the Football Association, alleging a failure to protect them from brain injuries. Claimants include the family of 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, who died with dementia in 2020. Several of his England teammates also had dementia diagnoses.
While the McQueen family has indicated they do not intend to pursue legal action, they hope sharing his story will increase awareness of the issue.
Gordon McQueen enjoyed a distinguished career, winning the league with Leeds United in 1974, reaching the European Cup final in 1975, and winning the FA Cup with Manchester United in 1983. He earned 30 caps for Scotland and later worked as a coach at Middlesbrough and a television pundit. The inquest continues.
