Family of Gordon McQueen in plea to make football safer after his death

Football must do more to protect players, the family of ex-Scotland defender Gordon McQueen said after an inquest found that heading the ball was “likely” to have contributed to a brain injury which was a factor in 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.

The cause of death was pneumonia – he had become frail and was confined to bed for several months, the inquest in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, heard earlier this month.

The pneumonia was a consequence of mixed vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), coroner Jon Heath said.

In a narrative conclusion, the coroner said: “It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained by heading the ball while playing football contributed to the CTE.”

After the hearing, McQueen’s TV presenter daughter Hayley McQueen and her sister Anna Forbes, spoke about the dangers of heading.

Ms McQueen said: “It should have been a turning point many, many years ago when we learned the same thing with Jeff Astle and not much has happened between that time and now.

“Hopefully, my dad’s legacy will not just be what he gave football on the pitch but what we can learn from this and make sure that this really horrible problem isn’t a problem for future generations.

“They need the help from the footballing authorities, but there also needs to be changes too – potential legislation and just education.”

Ms McQueen said: “He absolutely loved everything about football.

“But, ultimately, it took him in the end.

“He went through an horrendous time towards the end of his life.”

She said: “He was certain himself