We are cherishing Dad and creating family memories
Football quizzes on Zoom help keep his memory alive
GORDON McQueen is doing quizzes with former footballers to keep his memory alive as he battles dementia, his daughter has revealed.
Hayley McQueen said the Scotland football legend is in touch with a number of ex-players who are battling the same illness. They do football quizzes over Zoom and reminisce about their playing days. It was announced in February that the 69-year-old former defender, who played for Manchester United, Leeds United and St Mirren, had been diagnosed with vascular dementia. His family believe years of heading balls during a career which also saw him win 30 Scottish caps led to his illness. Sky Sports presenter Hayley, 41, told how her dad’s life is now “very difficult” but said he still recognises family members and parts of his memory are still “very sharp”.
She said: “We guessed he had it around his mid-sixties so he has been living with it for a while now but we’re just getting to the stage where we need a little bit more help.
“We are really lucky because dad gets together through the Professional Footballers’ Association with footballers and they have a meeting on Zoom and they do quizzes.
“Dad is in touch with a lot of ex-professional footballers. Not just those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s but just those who can keep his memory alive and keep talking about the past when things in the present might not be quite as clear.
“Yes he might not be in the best of health but he knows who I am, he knows who my daughter is.
“There is a lot about his memory that’s still very sharp but there’s a lot about his life that has become very difficult now. We are cherishing him and trying to create memories for us as a family.”
In a post on Instagram, Hayley said they were able to go on holiday to Portugal. She added: “I was lucky enough to go on a holiday last month to spend precious time with my family and dad. It wasn’t easy but we did it... and we created special memories with the grandkids.
“If I’m honest I struggled to cope with coming to terms with the fact he’s only going to get worse not better. “My mum’s life has changed beyond recognition as his carer but it’s so comforting to know there is help at hand.”
A number of former footballers have been diagnosed with dementia in recent years leading to research into links between the sport and the illness.
My mum’s life has changed beyond recognition HAYLEY McQUEEN ON LIVING WITH THE ILLNESS