A coroner has determined that frequent headings of a football likely played a role in the brain injury associated with the death of Gordon McQueen, a former defender for Scotland, Manchester United, and Leeds United, who passed away at the age of 70 in 2023.
A recent inquest has found that heading footballs was “likely” a contributing factor to the brain injury that played a role in the demise of the ex-Scotland international Gordon McQueen.
Gordon McQueen, who earned 30 caps for Scotland from 1974 to 1981 and had a notable 16-year career with Manchester United and Leeds United, died at his residence in North Yorkshire in June 2023, at the age of 70.
At an inquest held in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, earlier this month, it was disclosed that McQueen’s death was due to pneumonia. He had been frail and confined to bed for several months prior to his passing.
This physical decline was attributed to a combination of vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), as stated by coroner Jon Heath.
On Monday, the coroner concluded that McQueen’s death from pneumonia was a result of his mixed vascular dementia and CTE. He noted, “It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained by heading the ball while playing football contributed to the CTE.”
The inquiry into McQueen’s health history revealed that he himself had suspected his dementia might be linked to his football career. His daughter, Hayley McQueen, spoke at the inquest, recounting how her father believed that “heading a football for all those years probably hasn’t helped.”
She described her father as having been relatively free from injuries throughout his career, although he did experience some concussions. She noted that at the time, players would simply continue playing, often ignoring the long-term consequences of head injuries.
Despite his advancing dementia, which was diagnosed in 2021, McQueen retained vivid memories of his football matches, including players’ names, scores, and details of the games.
Hayley also highlighted her father’s prowess in using headers to score goals, particularly during set pieces, despite his primary role as a central defender.
Gordon McQueen first made a name for himself in England after transferring to Leeds from St Mirren in 1972. He was instrumental in Leeds United’s 1973-74 league championship win and their journey to the 1975 European Cup final.
In 1978, McQueen moved to Leeds’s rivals Manchester United, where he eventually won the FA Cup in 1983.
Unfortunately, an injury prevented him from participating in the 1978 World Cup, despite being selected for Scotland’s squad after his senior international debut against Belgium in 1974.
Following his retirement from playing, McQueen briefly managed Airdrie and coached at his former club St Mirren. He later joined Middlesbrough’s coaching staff under Bryan Robson until 2001 and subsequently worked as a football pundit on Scottish television and Sky Sports.
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