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Ex-Manchester United footballer Gordon McQueen’s inquest
Scottish defender Gordon McQueen, died in June 2023 at his home in Hutton Rudby, near Northallerton, aged of 70.
An inquest at Northallerton Coroner’s Court on Tuesday (January 6) heard heading the ball in his playing days could have led to a brain injury.
Mr McQueen died of pneumonia and vascular dementia, but a post-mortem examination also indicated Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition thought to be linked to repeated blows to the head and injuries, could have been a factor in his death.
Expert Professor Willie Stewart, who examined the footballer’s brain after his death told the inquest that while CTE cannot be fully diagnosed in life and was picked up post-mortem, there was evidence to suggest it could have come from his footballing days.
He headed the ball repeatedly during his 15 years as a professional centre-half, before coaching and scoting at Middlesbrough Football Club.
Prof Stewart said CTE was found, but he could not say what percentage of the disease was found.
Former teammates, including Bryan Robson, Joe Jordan, and Eddie Gray, who all said that heading the football was an everyday essential of training at both Leeds United and Manchester United. Due to his 6-foot-3-inch stature, some of his former teammates noted he headed the ball more than any other player.
Footballs are now significantly lighter than those in the 1970s during his playing days.
On average, the inquest heard the former professional footballer would head the ball more than ten times a game, and five days a week during training.
Mr McQueen was bedbound for the last six months of his life after his health deteriorated. The inquest heard his personality changed from the outgoing and sociable man he once was, his daughter said she noticed his day-to-day memory was suffering.
Hayley McQueen told the inquest that she remembered her dad suffering ankle and nose injuries and concussions while playing, but could not recall any major head injuries.
But she said her dad sat in dark rooms after training and games due to suffering headaches.
She told the inquest: “Dad was very healthy and active, and he’d always be playing with us kids.
“But as he turned 60, his health started to deteriorate, and we noticed his balance was off and his personality changed.
“He was sociable, wanted to be around crowds and doing after-dinner speaking, but after his 60th, it wasn’t at all like my dad.”
Dr John Halliwell, Mr McQueen’s GP, told the inquest he first saw the former footballer after he’d been referred from an NHS specialist.
Dr Halliwell said that he’d noticed issues with Mr McQueen’s mobility since he was referred in 2019, and had noticed how frail the ex-footballer was.
The inquest was adjourned until January 26 at 10am to allow for written submissions from legal representatives.
