Scotland star Gordon McQueen’s ball-heading highlighted at inquest
Former Scotland international footballer Gordon McQueen told his family “heading a football for all those years probably hasn't helped” after he developed dementia, his daughter has told an inquest into his death.
McQueen – who was capped for Scotland 30 times between 1974 and 1981, and played for both Manchester United and Leeds United during a 16-year career – died at his home in North Yorkshire in June 2023, aged 70.
Yesterday, TV presenter Hayley McQueen was asked by her barrister Michael Rawlinson KC if her father had discussed whether anything in his past history was behind his dementia.
Ms McQueen told an inquest in Northallerton, North Yorkshire: “He said 'heading a football for all those years probably hasn't helped'.”
She said her dad was relatively injury-free during his career but did suffer some concussions, adding: “They would just head back out and play.”
Ms McQueen said she also remembers at a young age how he would come home from training with Manchester United and lie down in a darkened room with a headache.
She described how her father was very healthy and active – both in sport and with his family – during his playing days and after he retired.
But she said the family began to notice changes in his personality after his 60th birthday.
Ms McQueen said her father had always been very sociable and outgoing, but became more withdrawn.
She said he did not feel “right in himself” and told his family: “There's something not right in my head.”
She also described how he developed problems with swallowing and with his balance.
Ms McQueen explained that, even when his dementia developed further and he struggled with tasks like making a cup of tea, he could always remember names of people and details of football matches from his playing career, including scorelines and line-ups.
She explained how he was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2021.
McQueen came to prominence in England following his move to Leeds from St Mirren in 1972, helping the Yorkshire club to league title success in 1973-74 and playing a key role in their run to the European Cup final in 1975.
He joined Leeds's arch-rivals Manchester United in 1978 and went on to win the FA Cup in 1983.
The inquest is expected to last three days.