Gordon McQueen attributed dementia to heading ball - Hayley McQueen

A former Scotland, Manchester United, and Leeds United footballer has blamed his dementia on heading a ball during his playing career.

The 70-year-old Gordon McQueen was diagnosed with vascular dementia and died in 2023. His daughter Hayley McQueen, who works as a Sky Sports presenter, stated that her father would say "yes, heading a football all those years probably hasn't helped" when asked about the cause of his dementia.

McQueen's brain showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after his death, which is linked to repeated head injuries sustained during his playing career. The inquest heard from experts that CTE can be caused by exposure to impacts or heading a football, with outfield defenders such as McQueen being at higher risk.

The former player's health had deteriorated significantly after the age of 60, with symptoms including swallowing difficulties and balance problems. Hayley described her father's struggles with his condition, saying he would get confused about what was happening around him and have trouble performing everyday tasks.

As CTE contributed to McQueen's death, the inquest has been adjourned until Monday to consider further evidence.

Ugh, another footballer bites the dust . I mean, I feel bad for his family and all, but come on, 70 years old is ancient for a human being, let alone someone who was running around like a lunatic on the pitch for decades . And now his brain is literally falling apart... just saying. It's like they're not surprised that playing football at that level would cause some damage . But still, it's a wake-up call for the sport and its players to take care of themselves after their careers are over. Let's hope the governing bodies take note and start looking out for these guys' long-term health.

it's just so sad that Gordon McQueen went through all that and it's no surprise he suffered from dementia. I mean, we've known for ages that football players are at risk of brain damage but it's still shocking to see someone as iconic as him go through it . It's like the game is just asking too much from our bodies, you know? He was only 70 and his body just gave out on him . And now he's paying the price with his memory, balance... everything . I feel for his daughter Hayley, she must've been going through hell watching her dad struggle . The fact that they're still trying to figure out what exactly caused his dementia is just part of the frustration...

Dementia is such a sad thing! I feel so bad for Gordon McQueen's family, especially his daughter Hayley who's still with us. It's crazy that heading a football all those years ago might've contributed to his condition... it's like, what can you do? ️ I mean, he was a legend on the field, but sadly, his brain paid the price. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is no joke, and it's amazing how much we're learning about it now. It's not just footballers who are at risk either - it's anyone who's had repeated head injuries. We need to be more careful out there on the pitch!

I'm so sad to hear that Gordon McQueen suffered from dementia and CTE. It's crazy to think about how football can be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it gave him an incredible career and the chance to play with some amazing teammates at Old Trafford ️. But on the other hand, all those years of heading the ball took its toll on his brain... it's like we're learning the hard way that concussions aren't just something that happens in the NFL or in contact sports .

I remember watching him play for Scotland and United, and he was such a legend on the pitch. You'd never have guessed that all those years of throwing his body around would be what killed him... it's just devastating . I hope they get more info out of this inquest, because it's definitely something we need to learn from .

I gotta say, I feel bad for Gordon McQueen, ya know? People are quick to judge and say he's paying the price for his football days, but what if that's not entirely fair? I mean, we know CTE is a real thing now, and it's crazy how much damage even one head injury can do. But at the same time, I don't think it's right to blame him completely. He was 70 years old when he passed away - that's already an age where your brain starts slowing down anyway. And let's be real, most people who play football as a pro are gonna have some kind of issue later on in life. Maybe we should just say sorry and move on?

Dementia is so scary I don't think we should be blaming the ball or the game he played though... I mean Gordon McQueen was a legend on the pitch and it's not like he wasn't careful when playing football ️ He was still doing it for his son who plays pro ️. And what about all those other players who are still alive? They should be getting some answers too It's just so frustrating that we can't give him the closure he needs right now... His daughter is trying to get more info out of this, I hope they find some answers for her

I'm so sorry to hear about Gordon McQueen's tragic story . I mean, can you imagine having to deal with dementia at 70? It's like something out of a movie, you know? Like what would happen in "The Social Network" if Mark Zuckerberg had to start over as a senior citizen .

But seriously, it's heartbreaking that his daughter has to go through this. I'm sure she's still trying to process everything. And the fact that CTE is being linked to his playing career is just so sad. It's like the old saying goes - "what happens at the game stays at the game"... sadly, Gordon's story is not an exception .

I do wonder if there'll ever be more awareness about head injuries and CTE. Like, how many other footballers are out there suffering in silence? It's time for change, you know? We need to look out for each other .

can u believe this?! head injuries from playing football can literally lead to dementia and brain damage in the long run... it's crazy how much we know now about the risks, but still people are getting hurt out there on the pitch . 70 years old is way too young for someone to be dealing with this stuff, my dad's been playing golf since he was 40 and he's still kickin' . I guess it's a reminder that our brains can take a beating from even the smallest impacts... hope they get more info soon so we can all learn more about how to protect ourselves

This is just getting creepy ... First it's footballers, now their brains are showing signs of CTE... what's next? Are we gonna blame our favorite TV shows for giving us dementia too? I'm not saying it's a conspiracy or anything, but isn't this just a case of big sport trying to cover up something? I mean, Gordon McQueen was in his 70s when he died, and now his brain is showing signs of CTE... how many footballers are gonna end up with this before they crack down on the whole heading-the-ball thing? It's all a bit suspicious if you ask me...

Blimey, 70? That's bloody old for a footballer I mean, I'm no expert but it's like they used to say back in my day, "you can't play football at 40" . Still, gotta feel sorry for the bloke, had a rough life with all them head injuries... CT scans and whatnot must've been a nightmare . And swallowing difficulties? Balance problems? That sounds like some dodgy tackle from back in the day . Anyway, hope they get to the bottom of it all and figure out what really went down .

just read this about Gordon McQueen and it's wild how his brain showed signs of CTE after all those years of heading a ball during games ️‍️ he was 70 when he passed away, which is crazy considering the risk to outfield defenders like him... poor guy struggling with swallowing difficulties and balance problems towards the end . feels bad for his daughter Hayley who had to deal with her dad's declining health hope they get more info on Monday about what led to his death

It's heartbreaking to think that a career spanning decades of playing football could take such a toll on Gordon McQueen's health . I can imagine how tough it must have been for him and his family to deal with the symptoms, especially as he got older - swallowing difficulties, balance problems... it sounds like it really affected his daily life . CTE is a terrible thing, and it's not just limited to football players - anyone who has had repeated head injuries can be at risk . It's good that the inquest is taking this seriously and is looking into further evidence . My thoughts are with Gordon McQueen's family, especially his daughter Hayley, who must have been by his side throughout all this .

I'm so sorry to hear about Gordon McQueen's passing ...it's crazy that he directly pointed his own dementia as a result of heading footballs back then . I get it, we all knew there was some link between head injuries and brain issues, but still...70 years old? That just goes to show how devastating CTE can be . As a football fan, you want your heroes to live forever, not suffer from something that's connected to the game they loved . It's sad that his daughter had to go through all this with him...hope they get more answers soon

Yeah, I don't think it's that clear cut, you know? I mean, Gordon McQueen played for ages and had a pretty illustrious career, but dementia and CTE aren't exactly uncommon among old folks. He was 70, what did he expect? And all these experts are saying one thing, but what about the rest of his life? He must've done other stuff that hurt his brain too... maybe it was all those beers he drank on match days

just thinkin' about all those headers back in the day... 70 years of heading footballs can take a toll on your brain . 1 in 5 former footballers are affected by CTE, and it's not just Gordon McQueen . The stats show that CTE is more common among outfield defenders, with 45% of cases occurring in players who played as defenders .

McQueen's case is a harsh reminder of the risks we take when playing contact sports . It's crazy to think that his dementia was linked to something he loved so much... football . Did you know that studies show 77% of CTE cases are caused by repeated head trauma? We need to talk about player safety and how we can reduce the risk of long-term brain damage .

The inquest might be delayed, but it's essential to shed light on this issue . Footballers' brains may never fully recover from those years of heading... Let's hope for better safety measures and more research into CTE prevention .

I dont think its fair on Gordon McQueen that he's getting roasted for all those years of heading footballs. I mean, come on, we're all aware of the risks and it was a part of his job. He's not the first person to suffer from CTE and sadly won't be the last. And let's be real, 70 is old, he's had a good run. His brain has just been affected by the years of trauma, that's all. It's like saying because you smoked for years, it must've caused your cancer, its not that simple.

just imagine playing a sport like football every day for 20+ years and not even thinking twice about it... I mean, we all know that repeated head injuries can be bad for your brain health, but it's crazy how some of these players don't think about the long-term effects until it's too late https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ed-player-blames-dementia-on-heading-football

I mean, this is just so... humanizing, you know? We're always talking about how footballers are these superhuman creatures who can withstand any amount of physical punishment on the pitch, but the truth is, they're still vulnerable humans who can get hurt, and it's not just their bodies that pay the price. It's their minds too. I'm thinking about all those years he spent heading balls, the impact must have added up... or rather, subtracted from his quality of life. It's a harsh reminder that even when we think we're invincible, our brains are still fragile and susceptible to damage. And now, Hayley's sharing her father's struggles with dementia, it's like, this is what happens when we don't take care of ourselves, both physically and mentally.