Another great player gone to the Big Match in the sky, with Brian Moore calling it…… RIP Gordon McQueen. Former Man United and Scotland footballer Gordon McQueen dies aged 70 https://mol.im/a/12198335
Another Jeff Astle situation with dementia caused largely by heading the ball for decades. We’ll see plenty more sadly.
I think that that I’ve stated previously that (when I was involved with) the Ospreys they were trialling a ‘revolutionary’ instrumented mouthguard/gum shield. One morning, the team behind the mouthguard couldn’t understand some abnormally high readings from a number of players that appeared to have been recorded before training had started. On investigation, the team discovered that prior to starting training, some of the lads had decided to have a game of heading tennis…. This mouthguard was then used/trialled by the FA (plus Liverpool and Man City) - as a result, guidance was rolled out by the FA recommending that the number of times that players head the ball in training should be severely limited. https://amp.theguardian.com/footbal...glish-football-at-all-levels-from-this-season
They have to get the diagnosis right with these things though. McQueen was diagnosed with vascular dementia, which is linked to cardio vascular issues, strokes etc. Jeff Astle was originally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but might have had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is more likely to be related to heading the ball. Stan Bowles has Alzheimer’s (he didn’t head the ball that much), and Frank Worthington allegedly died with it. Nobby Stiles had CTE. Jack and Bobby Charlton had/have ‘dementia’. Loads more research and much clearer diagnoses needed here, but like you I have no doubt that repeated heading of the ball, especially the ball we played with way before you were born (I feel no shame in confessing that I avoided heading, especially when it was wet) has had a catastrophic impact on many and the CTE, or boxers dementia, is the real culprit. RIP Gordon McQueen. He was a scary player in the seventies. But not as scary as Kenny Burns who is still with us.
Swiss cyclist Gino Mader has died after crashing during a stage of the Tour de Suisse, his team Bahrain Victorious confirmed on Friday. Mader, 26, crashed into a ravine on the descent towards the finish line in Thursday's stage five of the Tour de Suisse. "Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur hospital, Gino couldn't make it through this, his final and biggest challenge, and at 11:30 a.m. we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team," the team said. RIP
Mike McFarlane, the former sprinter who helped GB to Olympic silver in the 4×100 metres relay at Seoul 1988, died at the end of May aged 63. Alongside Elliot Bunney, John Regis and Linford Christie, McFarlane led Britain to the runners-up spot in South Korea, while he had individual success with Commonwealth gold in the 200m at Brisbane in 1982. RIP
Rip Chris and Donna Two great people He was a hard man who had had a bloody hard life She was out there and had also had a really hard life Went to their wedding and even then the police were called She was the third victim Two dead in car crash in Sefton, North Canterbury Melanie Earley and Liz McDonald20:23, Jun 18 2023 please log in to view this image ALDEN WILLIAMS/STUFF Police said they were alerted to the crash shortly before 7pm on Main North Rd near Amesbury Rd. (File photo) Two people are dead and a third is being taken to Christchurch Hospital by ambulance in a serious condition following a crash between two cars in Sefton, North Canterbury. Police said they were alerted to the crash shortly before 7pm on Main North Rd near Amesbury Rd, just north of the Ashley River bridge. The serious crash unit had also been advised. A rescue helicopter was unable to attend due to poor weather conditions including low cloud.
Sorry to hear of the sudden, and sad, loss of your friends so tragically Kiwi. Life can seem much tougher on some people but I hope their life enjoyed many shared highs and smiles too.
