Gordon McQueen death: Inquest finds heading ‘likely’ to have contributed to brain disease

Repeatedly heading a football is “likely” to have contributed to the brain disease which was a factor in the death of former Scotland and Manchester United footballer Gordon McQueen, an inquest has found.

McQueen, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia, died in 2023 aged 70.

An inquest into his death held in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, concluded with a narrative verdict on Monday, with senior coroner Jonathan Heath telling the court: “I have found that Mr McQueen suffered repetitive head impacts during his career.

“I am satisfied that on the balance of probability that repeatedly heading footballs contributed to his developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

“The combination of CTE and vascular dementia led to pneumonia. I find the cause of death pneumonia, vascular dementia and CTE.

“It is likely that repetitive head impacts, sustained by heading the ball while playing football, contributed to the CTE.”

McQueen played 30 times for Scotland and made almost 350 appearances for St Mirren, Leeds United and Manchester United as a central defender between 1970 and 1985, before managing Airdrie and coaching at St Mirren and Middlesbrough.

Outside court, McQueen’s daughter Hayley – a Sky Sports presenter – said: “Dad absolutely loved everything about football, but ultimately, it took him in the end.

“He went through a horrendous time towards the end of his life. CTE is a very different sort of thing from a traditional dementia – a lot of dad’s symptoms were not typical of that or Alzheimer’s.

“It depleted my parents’ lifetime savings looking for private care for my dad, and we relied on charities for respite care.

“I know a lot of footballers whose families have reached out, who have symptoms very similar to that of my dad, and I think we’re going to start to see more and more.

“The 1966 World Cup England team has been pretty much wiped out with neurodogeneritive disease.”

“I think my dad’s main message would be to warn others against the dangers of heading to protect future generations.”