Latest news with #GordonMcQueen
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Heading the ball is what took my dad's life so early, but football is also what gave us so much... TV star Hayley McQueen admits she has bittersweet feelings about her late father Gordon's playing career
A PHOTOGRAPH in the family home of late football legend Gordon McQueen shows him leaping high into the air to head the ball. It's an image which elicits a range of emotions in his daughter Hayley McQueen. She remains proud of her father's illustrious career and the many special moments like that in the photograph when the ex-St Mirren, Leeds United, Manchester United and Scotland defender was at the peak of his physical prowess. However, she describes those feelings as 'bittersweet' given his death aged 70 after a battle with vascular dementia and the growing body of research showing a link between heading the ball and the condition. Sky Sports presenter Ms McQueen said: 'I suppose maybe I do look at (the artwork) slightly differently now, but I don't look at it with anger and it doesn't make me too upset. 'It's just quite saddening to look at it, to think, 'Well, that is what took dad's life so early', but that is also what gave us so much.' Following a post-mortem on her father, a coroner ordered an inquest to probe whether there was a link between his illness and his playing career. The family have spoken of their fear that there is a connection, with Ms McQueen, 45, stating she expects worse to come. She said: 'I think we're facing an epidemic. In a few years, there are going to be not just hundreds, but possibly thousands, of footballers affected. And I don't just mean professionals who played at the top of the tree. Right across the football leagues there will be a lot of footballers suffering with neurodegenerative disease.' Asked if other ex-players speak to her about the issue, she said: 'Yes, loads. I know a very, very high profile, former Manchester United player who used to get headaches and migraines and has elements of forgetfulness now. 'He's obviously worried. I said, 'Well, why don't you just go and get a test? Why don't you go and get a scan?' But he said, 'I don't want to. I don't think I want to know'. That's awful.' Such is their commitment to exploring the issue, McQueen's family donated his brain to research being conducted by Professor Willie Stewart, a consultant neuropathologist at Glasgow University and a leading expert in brain injury in sport. His analysis found Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) — a brain condition thought to be linked to repeated head injuries and blows to the head. The NHS states that CTE slowly gets worse over time and leads to dementia. This played a part in the coroner's decision to hold the inquest into McQueen's death. At present, the hearing has been postponed because medical records compiled by doctors at the clubs McQueen played for between 1972 and 1985 are missing. However, there is nothing in the records they do have to suggest injuries outside of football, such as a car crash or assault, that might have resulted in brain damage. Ms McQueen said: 'With all the medical evidence and research out there right now, everything points to heading a football. Particularly, the position that my dad played, at centre-half, seems to have a higher amount of players that have dementia. They were defenders, and my dad was a prolific header of a football.' The Sky Sports presenter said the family don't plan to take legal action against football authorities if a link between her dad's illness and the sport is determined. However, she hopes to raise awareness of the risks associated with heading the ball. She is also grateful for the role played by the Scottish FA in bringing their English counterparts into the inquest process. She said: 'The SFA were present in the two pre-inquest hearings, as well as representatives from Leeds United and Manchester United. The FA, who we thought would be a party of interest, didn't express an interest. 'However, the SFA got in touch with the FA to say that they felt because my dad's playing career essentially was in England that the FA should be part of any hearing. Therefore the FA were there at the last meeting that we had and that was actually the SFA who made that happen.' Ms McQueen said the delay to the inquest and the questions that remain over what caused her father's illness have made the grieving process harder. The family buried half of his ashes in the graveyard of the Yorkshire village of Hutton Rudby, where he lived until his death. They planned to wait until the inquest concluded to scatter his remaining ashes at his first club — Kilbirnie Ladeside — in the Ayrshire town where he was born and grew up. However, they now plan to do this as soon as they can organise for their whole family to be together. Ms McQueen said: 'The football club is literally round the back of the house where my grandad lived on Glenriddet Avenue, and they had a big, long garden that looks on to the pitches. 'Kilbirnie Ladeside said they would allow us to go down and scatter his ashes in a little bit of land near where some of the pitches are.' The second anniversary of McQueen's death on June 15, 2023, falls on Father's Day this year, adding another element of sadness to what will already be a difficult day for his daughter and the rest of the family. It may be two years later, but the memory of her father's heartbreaking decline remains. Ms McQueen said it was a feeling that her father was being 'hidden away' as they cared for him and kept his illness private that eventually led them to discussing his condition openly. She said: 'We only came out and spoke about his dementia because we still had people asking him to do radio interviews and attend after-dinner speeches, and we still had people sending stuff for my dad to sign and he couldn't. He couldn't write. He couldn't sign his name anymore. 'The only reason we came out was because I felt like my dad had been hidden away for a year or two. I guess we needed to let people know why it seemed like he had disappeared. And then I realised I was really happy that we did that.' Ms McQueen said her family had been told in December 2022 that her father had 'weeks, if not days' left to live. However, his body proved so strong despite the progression of the disease that he lived for another six months. She said: 'With a lot of sports people, their brain is fighting against their body. These guys kept their bodies fit and healthy.' The wait for the inquest goes on, but for now, Ms McQueen and her family take strength from the fact they are not alone. She said: 'There's a little bit more noise now, and people actually speaking out about their worries in football right now. There are a lot more footballers with dementia than you can even imagine.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Sports presenter Hayley McQueen fears thousands of footballers could soon be diagnosed with dementia
Sports presenter Hayley McQueen fears there could be an 'epidemic' of footballers being diagnosed with dementia as research showing a link to heading the ball grows. The 45-year-old and her family cared lovingly for her father Gordon as the ex-St Mirren, Manchester United and Leeds defender battled with the condition until his death aged 70 in June 2023. Afterwards, his brain was donated to a leading neuropathologist who discovered signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a brain condition thought to be linked to repeated head injuries and blows to the head. CTE is known to slowly get worse over time – leading to dementia. The findings played a part in an ongoing inquest exploring whether McQueen's career may have contributed to his illness. Just how many footballers may suffer a similar fate is something Ms McQueen feels will soon become all too clear. 'I think we're facing an epidemic,' she said. 'I think in a few years to come, there are going to be not just hundreds, but possibly thousands, of footballers affected. 'And I don't just mean professionals who played at the top of the tree. Right across the football leagues, there will be a lot of footballers suffering with neuro-degenerative disease.' Asked if other ex-players speak to her about the issue, she said: 'Yes, loads. I know someone who's a very, very high-profile, former Manchester United player who used to get headaches and migraines and has elements of forgetfulness now. 'He's obviously worried. I said, 'Well, why don't you just go and get a test? Why don't you go and get a scan?' But he said 'I don't want to. I don't think I want to know.' I think he is worried and that's awful.' As well as campaigning for better education about the risks associated with heading the ball, Ms McQueen works to highlight the organisations that helped her father before his death. Noticing that she had accrued a large collection of dresses and evening wear from the many events that she attends, she decided to put them to good use. She has set up an account on second-hand clothes site Vinted with proceeds from the sale of her designer togs going to charities including the Alzheimer's Society and Herriot Hospice Homecare. The latter was heavily involved in the care of her late father. Usually TV star Ms McQueen rents the clothes she wears on air or to events, as she believes this is an eco-friendlier approach. However, as her Vinted sale shows, she has a healthy collection of stunning clothes to offer up. Discussing the sale, she said: 'It's nice to be able to do it, and being a bit more sustainable as well about clothing and other people being able to wear things. 'I actually hire a lot of stuff for events online. There's some really great sites where you can hire clothes and be a bit sustainable. But there have been other times when I've needed to buy stuff. 'I just thought rather than them sit in my wardrobe and the money going to waste, I can do something good with this. 'You see these awful documentaries on fast fashion. It does make you think bit more carefully about what you're doing with things that you bought.' Among the frocks being sold is a floral sequins evening dress, made by designer and online fashion retailer Club L London. The outfit, which Ms McQueen wore to the Women's Football Awards last month, is available for £200. One of the most expensive garments she is passing on is a 'mint condition' Vintage Versace velvet blue mini dress, which she has listed for £280. Ms McQueen said a similar haul last year netted £2,000 for charity and she has already raised around £800 from the current sale. The Sky Sports presenter has said her family do not plan to take legal action against football authorities if a link between her father's illness and the sport is determined. However, she said they hope to raise awareness of the health risks associated with heading the ball. 'If they think it was from heading, that is information that is really powerful to make the authorities start to pay attention to the fact you can get brain damage from a football,' she said.
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
X-Factor star gives birth to first child in secrecy with son of Scots football hero Gordon McQueen
An X-Factor finalist has welcomed her first child in secrecy with the son of late Scots football hero Gordon McQueen. A former X-Factor finalist has welcomed her first child with her partner as she shared the news of her secret birth with her fans. Amelia Lily, who starred on the ITV talent show back in 2011, announced she has given birth to a baby girl with her fiancé Eddie, who is the brother of Sky Sports presenter Hayley McQueen and son of late Scots football hero Gordon McQueen. Amelia first rose to fame on the singing show and reappeared on screens several years later when she went on Celebrity Big Brother back in 2017. She also recently got engaged to her partner Eddie, just seven months before welcoming their beautiful baby girl, the Mirror reports. Taking to Instagram to announce her daughter's arrival, she told her 160k followers: "The best secret we've ever kept… Myself and Eddie would like to introduce our daughter. Pearl McQueen. Born 23.05.25 at 10:11am weighing a little chunky 8.12lbs. 9 months of carrying you Pearl and being in our little pregnancy bubble. Now you are finally here. We've had a bit of a rough start but we're on the mend now. "I cannot thank all the midwife's, nurses and consultants at James Cook hospital enough for looking after us both. I'll forever be grateful. Baby Pearl, you have made all our dreams come true." The couple's fans and loved ones rushed to the comment section to offer their congratulations. Another added: "Beautiful beautiful beautiful!! Congrats x x x x." A third chimed in: "Ah congratulations, well done mummy!! Amazing news. Hope you are both well xxxx" A fourth wrote: "Congratulations guys so happy for you both" while someone else echoed: "Omg congratulations to you both." The singer got engaged in October last year and reflected on her incredible year to mark the end of 2024. Sharing a series of snaps, she wrote: "Some of my highlights from 2024. There's been so many incredible moments and I'm so grateful for every moment. "Watching my brother get married, Turning 30 and getting engaged to my best friend were definitely special! 2025 you have lots in store- roll on wedding planning! I wish everyone so much happiness and love for the new year." Amelia has described Eddie as her "soulmate" and the "love of her life". To honour their anniversary, she posted a gushing tribute to her partner and thanked him for making her the happiest she's felt in a long time. In a sweet post, she wrote: "Happy Anniversary to my absolute soul mate! My ride or die, the love of my life. Eddie you are literally a legend, my legend. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, I feel like we've been together about 10 years (in a good way). "Thank you for constantly making me laugh endless amounts and making me the happiest I've felt in a long time. "You're my best friend and I'm so lucky to have you. I can't wait to celebrate with you tomorrow. Love you always big guy."
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
X Factor finalist reveals she's given birth to her first child and shares sweet name after keeping pregnancy a secret
X FACTOR finalist Amelia Lily has revealed she's given birth to her first child with fiance Eddie McQueen. The singer, 30, shared the happy news with fans on social media on Tuesday - as she called it the "best secret". 5 5 5 Amelia shared a sweet photo of her newborn daughter and revealed the adorable name. The tot was pictured sleeping in a cot wearing a white baby grow with the words "born in 2025". Amelia revealed she had given birth on Friday and had called her little girl Pearl. Alongside the photo, Amelia wrote: "The best secret we've ever kept… "Myself and Eddie would like to introduce our daughter Pearl McQueen. "Born 23.05.25 at 10:11am weighing a little chunky 8.12lbs." Amelia continued: "Nine months of carrying you Pearl and being in our little pregnancy bubble. "Now you are finally here. "We've had a bit of a rough start but we're on the mend now. Amelia Lily's Inspiring New Role at The Headlight Project "I cannot thank all the midwife's, nurses and consultants at James Cook hospital enough for looking after us both. "I'll forever be grateful. "Baby Pearl, you have made all our dreams come true." In November, Amelia revealed she was e ngaged to boyfriend Eddie McQueen. Eddie is the son of Manchester United and Scotland legend, Gordon McQueen. She proudly showed off her new diamond as she held her hand up to her face. Posting the picture of her with Eddie on her profile, Amelia wrote: "MRS MCQUEEN TO BE!" It is not know when the couple first got together, but Eddie first appeared on Amelia's Instagram page in September 2023. Over the years Amelia has had a number of relationships in the spotlight, including dating Sam Thompson, Jack Baugh and Steve Ruston. The singer was a finalist on the eighth series of X Factor in 2011. The show was won by girl band Little Mix. Since then she's released four singles and supported other acts including Girls Aloud and Olly Murs on tour. She's also appeared in a number of theatre shows. Not only that, Amelia has also taken part in various TV shows. She was on Geordie Shore between 2020 and 2022. The star, from Middlesbrough, also placed second on the twentieth series of Celebrity Big Brother. 5
