Inquest Reveals Impact of Repeated Heading on Gordon McQueen’s Health

An inquest has determined that the repeated heading of a football likely contributed to the brain disease affecting Gordon McQueen, a former Scotland and Manchester United player, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 70.

McQueen, diagnosed with vascular dementia, was the subject of an inquiry in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, where senior coroner John Heath provided a narrative verdict. He stated: “I have found that Mr. McQueen suffered repetitive head impacts throughout his career. I am satisfied that, on the balance of probability, repeatedly heading footballs contributed to his development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).”

Heath further noted that the combination of CTE and vascular dementia ultimately led to pneumonia, identifying the cause of death as pneumonia, vascular dementia, and CTE. “It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained from heading the ball during football contributed to the CTE,” he concluded.

Throughout his career from 1970 to 1985, McQueen earned 30 caps for Scotland and made nearly 350 appearances as a central defender for clubs including St Mirren, Leeds, and Manchester United, before moving into management and coaching roles at Airdrie, St Mirren, and Middlesbrough.

Professor Willie Stewart, a consultant neuropathologist at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, conducted an examination of McQueen’s brain and reported to BBC Sport that a membrane within the brain appeared torn and that CTE was present in various regions. “CTE contributed significantly to his death,” said Prof. Stewart. He emphasized that the only causal evidence available pointed to exposure to repeated impacts from heading a football.

Prof. Stewart described the symptoms of CTE as involving cognitive decline and neuro-behavioral changes, asserting that these symptoms cannot be attributed to any other condition and must be progressive in nature. He noted, “These symptoms are typical among professional football and rugby players with lengthy careers.”

He further explained that while goalkeepers, who typically do not head the ball, face a risk comparable to the general population, outfield players, especially defenders, encounter a significantly higher risk.