The players who got Scotland’s latest World Cup qualifying campaign off to an encouraging start with a draw against Denmark in Copenhagen and a win over Belarus in Zalaegerszeg will have a number of different reasons for wanting to get to the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States next summer.
Honouring the memory of the much-loved and hugely respected team mates who have passed away in recent years and whose absence is still acutely felt on every match day, though, will not be among their motivations.
But the members of the national side which will compete in the Powerchair Euro Nations Cup in Lignano Sabbiadoro in Italy next week – and attempt to make it through to the World Cup in Argentina next year in the process - will very much be thinking of their old compadres when their opening match against England gets underway.
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“It has been quite a challenging few years for us as a team,” said Scotland coach Ryan Alexander earlier this week as he looked ahead to the event. “We have been through a lot of heartbreak. We've lost two of our players in the last two years and another two players before that.
“In the space of qualifying for the Euros, we've actually lost four of the players who were within our squad. James Doull, Ben Hetherington, Logan Mitchelson and Colin Shields have all passed away. They were all a huge part of the team. It has been a massive hit to us.
“Colin was the captain of the squad and a real father figure. He played in qualifying along with Logan. But Ben and James were heavily involved in the build-up to qualifying. So, yeah, there's been a lot of challenges for us as a team. But I do think that's also brought us closer together as well, has made us even more of a family. It really makes us want to just go out there and do our very best.”
Scotland qualified for the Euro Nations Cup when they defeated Germany 2-0 in the semi-final of the EPFA Cup in Geneva back in 2022 and harbour, despite having England, Ireland, Denmark and hosts Italy in their section, hopes of finishing in the top five in Lignano Sabbiadoro and securing a World Cup spot.
Eythan Galloway and Kein Speed of Tayside Dynamos, Robbie Martin, Connor McCole and Andrew Shaw of Strathclyde Alba, Tyler McClennan and Keiran Steer of Lothian Wolves and Keiran Burns of FC United will have Doull, Hetherington, Mitchelson and Shields at their forefront of their minds as they pursue their objective.
Gerry McMenemy, the safeguarding officer with the Scottish Powerchair Football Association, explained the fastest growing para-sport in the country, which is played by four-a-side teams with rolling substitutes on an indoor basketball-size court in games which last 40 minutes, has attracted by a broad cross-section of the disabled community in recent years. He believes Scotland’s involvement in the Euro Nations Cup is a significant milestone in its development.
“We have players who have been born with disabilities,” he said. “Then we have people who have been involved in accidents, a vehicular accident or an industrial accident, and have then found themselves paralysed. We have a number of people who fall into that category that have become incredible powerchair football players.
“Some of our players have got significant disabilities. Some of them are life-limiting disabilities, particularly some of our younger players. They have progressive conditions and are probably going to die at an earlier age. Powerchair football is an amazing sport, a great opportunity for all ages and both sexes.”
Alexander, who first got involved in powerchair football in 2021 when he was the para-sports development officer with the Dundee United Community Trust and who has been hooked ever since, admitted there had been much to consider when he and his coaching staff had selected their eight man Scotland squad. He is quietly optimistic the players who have been chosen can shine.
“The safety aspect is a massive part of it,” he said. “You also have to take the classification side of things into account as well. The rules stipulate that you can only play a maximum of two PF2s, a player with a moderate to mild disability, at one time.
“You need to have two PF1s, plyers with more complex disabilities, with less movement, less mobility and less core strength. That is done to try and keep the games as fair as possible across the sport.
“In our leagues in Scotland, we don't actually play classifications, simply due to the numbers that we have. But when it comes to international matches you've got to play with classification rules. So that has to be taken into account, firstly when you’re selecting the squad and secondly when you’re selecting the line-up as well.”
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Alexander continued, “We're all quite excited about it. We’re looking forward to the challenge of it. It's a great opportunity for us. The top five teams qualify for the World Cup in Argentina next year so that is a big thing. That is what we are looking to do, that is definitely what our sights are set on.
“There are things that we can obviously prepare for and there’s a lot of what we've been working on. It's an absolutely amazing set up to be involved with. I love being a part of things. Something that is sometimes forgotten is that the players have all earned their place and Scotland are very much an elite side.
“This has been a seven year journey for us and I’m immensely proud of the squad for the resilience and determination they’ve all shown to get to this point. Each player has earned their right to wear the Scotland badge. We go into this competition confident in our ability as a team and excited to play at the highest level of the sport. I’m sure we will do Scotland proud.”
Tayside Dynamos winger Eythan Galloway – who, like all of the national team’s players, has needed to raise the money required to send him and his carers over to Italy himself – is eager for Scotland to show they belong at the highest level of the international game and clinch qualification for the World Cup in the coming days.
“As captain of the side, I’m buzzing for the Euros,” said Galloway. “It’s a massive opportunity for us not just to compete, but to show what we’re really capable of. We’ve been putting in the work and I know the squad is ready to give it everything we’ve got. We’re all determined to take that next step together and push for a spot at the World Cup in 2026.”
