Conversations about football’s long-term health risks are no longer happening in whispers, and the story of Gordon McQueen has pushed that discussion into even sharper focus.
The former Manchester United and Scotland defender’s death has now been formally linked to his playing career, prompting his family to speak out with a clear message about the dangers of heading the ball.
Coroner Links Heading the Ball to Brain Disease
At North Yorkshire Coroners Court, senior coroner Jonathan Heath concluded that Gordon McQueen’s years of repeatedly heading footballs likely played a role in his death.
The coroner said McQueen developed Cerebral Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition associated with repeated head impacts, during his 15-year professional career.
While pneumonia was listed as the immediate cause of death, the coroner explained it occurred alongside microvascular dementia and CTE.
Crucially, he stated it was “likely” that repetitive head impacts from football contributed to the development of CTE.
Gordon McQueen’s Own Fears Before His Death
Long before the inquest, McQueen himself had shared his concerns with his family.
He believed the dementia he later developed was connected to heading the ball, once telling his daughter, Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen, that it “probably hasn’t helped.”
Those fears now carry far more weight, as medical evidence and the coroner’s ruling have confirmed what McQueen suspected toward the end of his life.
A Gradual Change the Family Couldn’t Ignore
McQueen was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2021 and died two years later at the age of 70.
His family recalled noticing changes in his personality after his 60th birthday.
Once known as sociable and outgoing, he slowly became more withdrawn, a shift that raised early alarm bells.
These changes marked the beginning of what his daughter later described as an “horrendous” final chapter.
Training Ground Reality Behind the Headlines
Former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson gave evidence during the inquest, shedding light on just how frequent heading was during McQueen’s playing days.
Robson said McQueen typically headed the ball 10 to 15 times per match, but stressed that this figure was “far exceeded in training.”
According to Robson, McQueen was often at the centre of heading drills, regularly putting himself forward during practice sessions.
Hayley McQueen’s Plea for Change
Speaking after the inquest, Hayley McQueen said she hopes her father’s legacy will extend beyond trophies and match highlights.
Her focus, she explained, is on protecting future generations of players.
She called for support from football authorities, alongside changes in education and even potential legislation, to address what she described as a “real, horrible problem.”
Her words were deeply personal. She said her father loved football, but ultimately, “it took him in the end.”
“Now We Know”
Hayley McQueen also said her father endured immense suffering toward the end of his life.
She explained that while there was once uncertainty about the cause of his condition, that doubt no longer exists.
For her, the coroner’s conclusion brings painful clarity.
She believes her father’s main message would be to warn others about the dangers of heading the ball and to push for better protection for players at all levels.
What the Brain Donation Revealed
After McQueen’s death, his family donated his brain to Professor Willie Stewart, a consultant neuropathologist at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Professor Stewart, who has carried out extensive research into brain injuries among footballers and rugby players, confirmed evidence of both CTE and vascular dementia.
He agreed that McQueen’s “high exposure” to heading footballs was a contributing factor to the CTE and confirmed it played more than a minimal role in his death.
A Wider Pattern Emerging in Football
Research has shown that former professional footballers are around three-and-a-half times more likely to die from dementia than people of a similar age in the general population.
Against that backdrop, McQueen’s case is far from isolated.
Several former players and their families are now involved in legal action against the Football Association, arguing they were not adequately protected from brain injuries during their careers.
Familiar Names, Similar Fates
Among those linked to the ongoing legal action is the family of England’s 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, who died in 2020 aged 78.
Other members of that historic squad, including Bobby Charlton, his brother Jack, Ray Wilson, and Martin Peters, were all diagnosed with dementia before their deaths.
The growing list has intensified calls for accountability and reform within the sport.
A Career That Spanned Clubs and Countries
Gordon McQueen began his rise after moving from St Mirren to Leeds United in 1972.
He helped the club win the league title in the 1973–74 season and played a key role in their run to the European Cup final in 1975.
A move to Manchester United followed in 1978, where he lifted the FA Cup in 1983.
He earned 30 caps for Scotland and, after retiring, remained in football as a coach at Middlesbrough before later becoming a familiar face as a television pundit.
What’s Next?
With medical evidence mounting and legal cases progressing, pressure continues to build on football’s governing bodies to act.
For the McQueen family, the hope is simple but urgent: that lessons are finally learned, and that future players are spared the same fate.
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