Hayley McQueen opens up on ex-Man United father Gordon’s dementia

Hayley McQueen has opened up on her father Gordon’s heartbreaking battle with dementia, saying the previous Scotland, Manchester United and Leeds United defender is ‘locked in himself’ and ‘fully bedridden.’

The 70-year-old turned the most recent former footballer to be recognized with dementia two years in the past having repeatedly headed heavy balls throughout his enjoying days.

Daughter Hayley, a broadcaster for Sky Sports activities Information, has joined calls to ban heading from coaching periods to forestall younger gamers struggling the identical destiny.

Chatting with ITV‘s Good Morning Britain, she stated: ‘He’s fully bedridden, which is terrible. An enormous strapping man, simply in mattress.

‘He watches quite a lot of soccer, not present soccer, he has quite a lot of soccer buddies popping by. We’ve had. Numerous his ex-team-mates come by.

Gordon McQueen performed for Scotland, Manchester United and Leeds United and is pictured with daughter Hayley after the Previous Trafford membership gained the 1983 FA Cup ultimate

‘He is aware of who all of us are, which could be very bizarre as a result of I affiliate dementia with not having a clue what on earth is happening or who anyone is and I fairly like that reality, from a egocentric perspective.

‘A part of me is like “if he didn’t know who we have been, the place we have been, it perhaps wouldn’t be so onerous to consider probably the day when he has to enter a house. No less than he doesn’t know the place he’s or what’s occurring”.

‘He’s very conscious, it’s like he’s locked in himself.’

McQueen admitted her household thought of not breaking the information of the dementia prognosis to Gordon just for the hospital to disclose it.

She added: ‘Once we discovered that he had dementia, we got the prognosis, we debated whether or not to inform him or not.

‘We have been like “if we don’t inform him, he’s by no means going to know” and if we inform him can we then must remind him every single day that he’s received dementia?

‘We weren’t going to inform him after which we’re sat within the hospital they usually stated “okay, Gordon, that is how we cope with dementia” and that was that then.

‘He stated “I don’t wish to worsen, I wish to get higher.”

Hayley (L) has spoken out of the ache of watching her father (R) deteriorate quickly – claiming he’s ‘fully bedridden’ and ‘locked in himself’ 

McQueen was identified for his notable aerial presence – with a latest mind scan exhibiting the harm that had been finished from heading

‘We needed to sit there and say “nicely, we don’t suppose you’re going to get higher however we’re going to attempt to make all the things pretty much as good as it may be. We will probably be there for you, we will probably be round you.”

‘I’d simply had a child so I used to be coping with the feelings of all of that, it was a 4.5 hour drive from the mother and father within the north-east as a result of clearly I work within the south-west so clearly that was powerful understanding I used to be so far-off and a bit bit helpless.

‘Covid then occurred which meant you couldn’t see your loved ones. All these individuals my dad loved being round weren’t capable of be round him.’

In an unique interview with Sportsmail not too long ago, Hayley spoke of her anger at an absence of help for her father from the Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation [PFA].

She stated then: ‘My sister did get in contact with somebody who we gained’t title on the PFA.

Hayley – pictured being cradled and fed by her father in 1980 – has questioned why nobody from the PFA has been in contact to supply help

Hayley stated her father can nonetheless recognise members of his household regardless of the dementia 

She referred to as for tighter restrictions on kids heading footballs to guard their brains 

‘She received an e mail again which stated that it can’t be confirmed that heading brought about this till you could have a autopsy. It additionally stated we needed to keep in mind dad’s ‘life-style selections’. At that time we dropped contact. We noticed them in a special mild. 

‘I do know there have been adjustments and I do know that Daybreak Astle and Penny Watson are working so onerous there they usually have supplied quite a lot of emotional help for mum – this isn’t a criticism of them – however to me it looks like issues have been higher run below Gordon Taylor than they’re now.’

On GMB, Hayley referred to as for tighter restrictions on the heading of footballs in coaching periods, particularly in youngsters groups.

She stated: ‘They shouldn’t [allow unlimited heading], notably kids and younger individuals whose brains are simply creating and they’re extra in danger.

‘They will’t make selections for themselves so legal guidelines must be in place to ban heading of the ball below sure ages. Which there are legal guidelines in place now.’