Former footballer Gordon McQueen’s dementia was linked to heading the ball, as revealed in the inquest into his passing. The Scottish and Manchester United icon was diagnosed with vascular dementia and passed away at the age of 70 in 2023. His daughter, Hayley McQueen, a presenter at Sky Sports, shared that her father acknowledged the potential impact of heading the ball on his health. She recounted instances where he mentioned experiencing headaches and how his health deteriorated after turning 60.
Hayley expressed that despite a few concussions, she did not recall her father suffering from significant head injuries during his football career. However, a noticeable shift in his behavior occurred after his 60th birthday, marked by difficulties in swallowing and personality changes. The family later discovered more about his condition through discussions with Dawn Astle, daughter of the late England striker Jeff Astle, who had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and passed away in 2002.
The inquest learned from Professor Willie Stewart, a consultant at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, who examined McQueen’s brain post-mortem, that CTE was present. He noted that McQueen was in the lower stage of the disease, nearing the higher stage, and highlighted the cognitive and behavioral symptoms associated with CTE. The professor emphasized the prevalence of such symptoms among long-career professional footballers and rugby players, affirming a causal link between CTE and repetitive head injuries.
Senior coroner John Heath disclosed the findings of the post-mortem, indicating pneumonia in McQueen’s right lung, mixed vascular dementia, and CTE. Professor Stewart’s 2021 study explored the association between neurodegenerative diseases and different playing positions, revealing a higher risk among outfield players compared to goalkeepers who do not frequently head the ball.
The inquest was adjourned for legal deliberations, with conclusions expected to be delivered on January 26.