Cerebral Palsy: Meet the other Scotland team heading to a World Cup

Steve Clarke’s squad are not the only Scottish side heading to a World Cup in the United States this year.

Scotland’s Cerebral Palsy football team will travel to Atlanta this October to compete on the world stage, but unlike the national side, they must raise thousands of pounds to fund the trip.

Among those hoping to make the journey is former Kilmarnock player Will Graham, who joined the squad after recovering from a life-threatening brain aneurysm.

Four years ago, Graham was playing in a friendly for Hurlford United when he collapsed after suffering a burst brain aneurysm.

The former Killie player faced a long road to recovery and feared his football career was over.

“You’re lying in a hospital bed thinking ‘there’s no way I’ll play football’ but I’m as stubborn as they come. I remember the first thing I asked when I woke up was ‘did Hurlford win the game?’

“Why am I thinking of that after waking up from surgery, but I didn’t think I would ever play again.”

His outlook changed when he was contacted by the head of the Scotland CP football squad and asked if he would be interested in joining.

“I didn’t actually know it even existed. I was having a wee coffee on the couch and I was like ‘oh my god, mum look at this’. It gave me a new motivation to go back and play again.

“I remember the morning of coming to training, I had never been so nervous in my life. Everyone was so welcoming, but even then I was like ‘will I still be the same player, will I be good enough, will they accept me for who I am?’

“But I absolutely loved it.”

The squad is made up of players with cerebral palsy, brain injuries or who have survived strokes.

For many, representing Scotland has been a dream come true.

John, who was born with cerebral palsy, was told growing up that he may never walk. Now, he is preparing to represent his country at a World Cup.

Fellow player Jon McFarlane said: “When we put that strip on in there, it gives you goosebumps every time, it genuinely does, and then you hear the national anthems – it means so much to us.”

Charlie Gray joined the squad earlier this year after sustaining a brain injury in a car crash that left him in a three-month coma.

He said: “It’s made a massive impact with my mental health. It’s been an eye-opener and I feel as thought I’m part of this one big family.

“We can all relate to our experiences, share it with each other and support each other.”

While excitement builds around Scotland’s participation in the World Cup, the CP squad faces a different challenge.

The team must raise significant funds each year to cover the costs of competing internationally.

Greig Taylor, head of the Scottish CP squad, said: “Steve Clarke’s team going to the World Cup and all the hype is around them, and quite rightly so, but they’re not the only team from Scotland going to a World Cup.

“We are too and the difference between them and us is that we have to fundraise, we have to generate £60,000 a year.

“That’s really difficult and we need support.”