During the inquest into his death, former footballer Gordon McQueen was linked to his dementia being caused by his frequent heading of the ball, as reported on Tuesday.
Gordon McQueen, a renowned figure in Scottish and Manchester United football history, was diagnosed with vascular dementia and 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 regarding the impact of football on his health.
Hayley mentioned that her father acknowledged the potential negative effects of heading the ball over the years, stating, “He would say ‘yes, heading a football all those years probably hasn’t helped’.” Recalling instances where her father experienced headaches and exhibited unusual behavior, she highlighted a noticeable change in his personality following his 60th birthday.
Hayley expressed concerns about her father’s health, noting issues with swallowing and cognitive functions. She described how his once vibrant personality shifted towards withdrawal and confusion, affecting his daily activities and interactions.
Further revelations came to light when discussions with Dawn Astle, daughter of former English striker Jeff Astle, who suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), shed light on Gordon McQueen’s condition. Postmortem examinations conducted by Prof Willie Stewart at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital confirmed the presence of CTE in McQueen’s brain.
Prof Stewart elaborated on the stages of CTE observed in McQueen and emphasized the cognitive and behavioral symptoms associated with the condition. He emphasized the correlation between CTE and repetitive head injuries, particularly prevalent in long-term professional athletes like footballers and rugby players.
The senior coroner, John Heath, detailed the findings of the post-mortem examination, which identified pneumonia, mixed vascular dementia, and CTE in Gordon McQueen’s case. The inquest was adjourned for legal deliberations, with conclusions expected to be delivered on January 26.