Former Manchester United and Scotland defender Gordon McQueen believed his dementia was caused by heading footballs, an inquest has heard. McQueen died in June 2023 at age 70, having been diagnosed with vascular dementia. His daughter, Sky Sports presenter Hayley McQueen, told the hearing in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, that her father would say 'yes, heading a football all those years probably hasn't helped.'
McQueen made nearly 350 appearances for St Mirren, Leeds United and Manchester United between 1970 and 1985. Hayley recalled that after his 60th birthday, his personality began to change. He struggled with balance, became withdrawn, and had difficulty swallowing. She said he would get confused about dates and lost the ability to write or make a cup of tea.
The inquest heard that after McQueen's death, Professor Willie Stewart of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow examined his brain and found chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition linked to repetitive head injuries. Prof Stewart said McQueen had a lower stage of CTE, though on the threshold of a higher stage, and that symptoms included cognitive decline and neuro-behavioural changes.
Senior coroner John Heath adjourned the inquest for legal submissions and will deliver his conclusions on January 26. The case adds to growing concerns about the link between heading footballs and neurodegenerative disease among former players.
