Football heroes hit by dementia deserve better care, says Renfrewshire MP

A Renfrewshire MP has backed a campaign calling for dementia in retired footballers to be classed as an industrial injury.

Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford lead a debate yesterday at Westminster demanding ex-pros qualify for benefits payments.

It comes as emerging research evidence suggests a potential link between playing contact sports and the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, later in life, with some research indicating that the repetitive head impacts that result from heading the ball are to blame.

The campaign is close to Buddies hearts after dementia claimed one of its most famous sons – former Scotland, Leeds United and Manchester united star Gordon McQueen, who also played for and later managed St Mirren.

Tough tackling defender McQueen's heading prowess was legendary.

And after his diagnosis then death at just 70 his family worked to raise awareness of the dangers of heading footballs over a player’s career.

Renfrewshire Live, the new free app dedicated to bringing you around the clock breaking news, is now available to download.

Powered by the Paisley Daily Express, Renfrewshire Live is your go-to source for news, features and sport with live coverage provided direct to the app, seven days a week.

The dedicated team of experienced journalists, responsible for the publication of the award-winning Express, will focus on breaking news, day and night, across Renfrewshire’s towns and villages.

There is also a dedicated St Mirren section that will follow every kick of the ball with the Buddies.

Available on both Android and Apple. D ownload here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial

Celtic’s legendary Lisbon Lions skipper Billy McNeill, who became the first British captain to lift the