27th January 2026
January 27 – Repeatedly heading a football was “likely” to have contributed to the brain disease that played a role in the death of former Scotland, Leeds United and Manchester United defender Gordon McQueen, an inquest has concluded.
McQueen, who was one of the most dominant aerial defenders of his generation, died in 2023 aged 70 after being diagnosed with vascular dementia.
An inquest held in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, returned a narrative verdict on Monday. Senior coroner Jonathan Heath told the court: “I have found that Mr McQueen suffered repetitive head impacts during his career.
“I am satisfied that on the balance of probability, repeatedly heading footballs contributed to his developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
“The combination of CTE and vascular dementia led to pneumonia. I find the cause of death pneumonia, vascular dementia and CTE.
“It is likely that repetitive head impacts, sustained by heading the ball while playing football, contributed to the CTE.”
McQueen built a well-earned reputation as a powerful, no-nonsense centre-back with spells at Leeds and Manchester United between 1970 and 1985.
Outside the court, his daughter Hayley, a Sky Sports presenter, said, “Dad absolutely loved everything about football, but ultimately, it took him in the end.
“He went through a horrendous time towards the end of his life. CTE is a very different sort of thing from a traditional dementia – a lot of Dad’s symptoms were not typical of that or Alzheimer’s.
“It depleted my parents’ lifetime savings looking for private care for my dad, and we relied on charities for respite care.
“I know a lot of footballers whose families have reached out, who have symptoms very similar to that of my dad, and I think we’re going to start to see more and more.
“The 1966 World Cup England team has been pretty much wiped out with neurodegenerative disease.
“I think my dad’s main message would be to warn others against the dangers of heading to protect future generations.”
A PFA spokesperson said: “There is an ongoing need for a collective response, from football and beyond, to ensure former players affected by neurodegenerative disease, and their families, are properly recognised and supported…”
The FA said it had introduced “proactive precautionary steps”, including heading guidance and updated concussion protocols, while continuing to invest in research.