Gordon McQueen’ s family have welcomed a crackdown on heading the ball in training in the hope it will prevent players from suffering dementia in their later years.
Rules announced by the Scottish Football Association yesterday will limit training exercises involving repeated heading to once a week and all heading is banned the day before and after a match. Gordon, 70, was last year diagnosed with vascular dementia, which his family believe was linked to years of heading the ball.
Yesterday, his brother Iain praised the SFA for bringing in the training crackdown on headers over fears of links to brain damage. But Iain told how Gordon, who scored a famous header in Scotland’s victory over England in 1977, is now struggling due to the effects of his illness.
Iain said: “It is a difficult decision but anything that would help prevent the type of injury that Gordon’s got has got to be a good thing. It is so, so difficult because heading has been a traditional part of football.
“Some of the greatest goals have been scored by headers. It is just a part of football and I don’t think they could ban heading in a match – that would be unrealistic – but I do think restricting it in training may well be a step forward.”
Iain, 72, a former Scottish Junior FA official, called for a fund to be set up to help affected players now that the dangers have been officially recognised.
He said: “The SFA and associated boards should set up a fund to assist a lot of players who are suffering like this. There is a real case for them supporting people.
“In my brother’s case, he was a famous footballer. But there are many others playing amateur football who have also been affected by these types of injuries.
“They may need help to pay for care which may not be available on the NHS or may need to go into care homes. A fund like this would be a real step forward. Since my brother’s diagnosis, I have heard of many players who have suffered similar injuries.”
Centre-half Gordon, who was brought up in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, scored around 40 goals in his professional career, the majority of which were headers – including his majestic effort in the 2-1 win against England at Wembley in 1977. Since last year’s announcement that Gordon was ill, his condition has worsened.
Iain said his brother also has a lot of visitors from outside the family, with Gordon’s former Manchester United team-mates Joe Jordan and Bryan Robson regularly popping in to see him. Recently Gordon’s daughter Hayley compiled a video montage with messages of support from all his famous pals interspersed with video footage of Gordon at his powerful best for Leeds United, Manchester United and Scotland.
Iain admitted: “I had a lump in my throat watching it, when you think what he was and what he is now.” Campaigner Amanda Kopel, widow of Dundee United legend Frank Kopel, also welcomed the news of a new crackdown.
Frank died in 2014 after suffering dementia for five years. Amanda, 72, has been battling with the SFA for changes to the rules on heading since 2009.
She said: “I am pleased because the SFA have now come out with this ruling and if it saves any player and their family from going through what myself and Billy McNeill’s wife, Liz, went through that is good. It is a step in the right direction and a long time coming.”
She joined Iain in calling for more support for players and their families.
Amanda said: “The SFA never got in touch with me to see if there was anything they could help Frankie or I with. Frank lost his job and I had to give up mine to look after him.
“If it wasn’t for family and friends, we would have lost our house.”
Yesterday, in a statement, the SFA said: “Following the implementation of world-leading heading guidelines for all age groups from six to 17 years old in 2020, the Scottish FA – in conjunction with Hampden Sports Clinic – has completed new research into heading in training. This latest study has included data and insights from across the men’s and women’s adult game with recommendations published following consultation with key groups.”
The SFA surveyed a number of SPFL and SWPL clubs to better understand current heading practices within the professional game. A follow-up survey was conducted of managers and coaches with more than 70 per cent supportive of heading guidelines being introduced.
In a further recent survey of players, 64 per cent believed heading should be limited in training
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said: “The historic University of Glasgow study (FIELD) which found an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease in retired professional footballers, compared to a matched population control group, has been a catalyst for a radical rethink of football guidance, starting in the youth game with the introduction of the heading guidelines for children between six and 17 in 2020. The Scottish FA said at the time that this research should shape the thinking in the adult game not just domestically but across the world.
“I am grateful to everyone in the professional game – clubs, coaches and managers, and players – for contributing to the latest research. It is our intention that these guidelines will be embraced and implemented with immediate effect.”
Dr John MacLean, Scottish FA chief medical consultant: “It is important to reiterate that while the FIELD study was not designed to identify the causes of this increased risk, both head injury and heading have been suggested as possible contributing factors to
neurodegenerative disease. While the research continues to develop, what we already know about heading and its effects on the brain suggests there is measurable memory impairment lasting 24-48 hours following a series of headers and brain-related proteins can be detected in blood samples for a short time after heading.
“Brain scan changes have also been reported in footballers that may be linked to heading. Therefore, the goal is to reduce any potential cumulative effect of heading by reducing the overall exposure.
“Scotland was the first country to have a single set of concussion guidelines for all sports and the If In Doubt, Sit Them Out campaign is now widely recognised and implemented across all sports.”
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