Former football star Gordon McQueen’s dementia was linked to heading the ball, as revealed during his recent inquest. The Scottish and Manchester United icon, who battled vascular dementia, passed away in 2023 at the age of 70. His daughter, Hayley McQueen, a presenter at Sky Sports, shared insights on her father’s belief that his football career might have contributed to his condition.
Hayley recalled her father’s acknowledgment that the years of heading the ball may have played a role in his health struggles. Despite a successful career spanning St Mirren, Leeds, and United from 1970 to 1985, McQueen began experiencing concerning symptoms post his 60th birthday. Hayley noted changes in his personality, balance issues, and speech difficulties that persisted for years.
His decline extended to cognitive functions, causing confusion, memory loss, and an inability to perform simple tasks like writing or making tea. Hayley highlighted his withdrawal from social engagements, a stark contrast to his once outgoing nature. The family’s legal representative, Michael Rawlinson KC, probed about McQueen’s goal-scoring techniques, to which Hayley revealed his proficiency in using his head, particularly from set-pieces.
Medical expert Prof Willie Stewart, who examined McQueen’s brain post-mortem, confirmed the presence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition prevalent in long-term athletes like footballers and rugby players. CTE is associated with cognitive decline and behavioral changes that cannot be attributed to other conditions. Prof Stewart emphasized the causal link between repetitive head injuries and CTE, shedding light on the risks faced by players in certain playing positions.
The inquest was adjourned for further legal consultations, with coroner John Heath scheduled to deliver his findings on January 26. The investigation highlighted the pressing need for awareness and preventive measures to safeguard the well-being of sports professionals facing similar health risks.
