Scott Robb lives a few doors down from Elliott at St Leonard’s Court and he has discovered a new-found interest in sport since watching the 2012 Paralympic Games on TV. Scott also has cerebral palsy and a few weeks ago he joined a Powerchair Football club which meets every Monday night in Cumbernauld. He was so inspired by the stories and achievements of Paralympic athletes that he went in search of a sport he could get involved with. Scott has always been a big Rangers fan, but he has never played the game himself until now.

The rules are complicated, Scott explains. It is played mainly indoors, teams consist of 8 players, but only 4 are allowed on the pitch at any one time. Each chair is fitted at the base with a guard which protects the player’s feet and hits the ball. Tackling is only allowed if certain contact is made between two opposing players, and it is a foul if the ball is hit with the wrong part of the chair. Elliott thoroughly enjoys the club and is hoping it will be able to carry on now that they have received extra funding for equipment. The attachments cost £400 each, and sometimes it’s a matter of “first come first served” because they can be in short supply, so any support is really appreciated. Funding is an issue in another respect as well: the coach is a volunteer and the only person who was willing to set up a Powerchair Football club in the region. This means Scott has to take a train from Ayr to Glasgow then from Glasgow to Croy and from there he gets a lift with one of the other club members. Every other week his Dad drives him, but it is still quite a long way to go there and back. Scott has also had a few hiccups with the ramp booking system. Before travelling Scott has to pre-book a ramp on specific trains to and from his destination: “When it works, it’s great, but when it doesn’t, it’s a nightmare”. Scott is very independent and he wants to remain so, but when he is left stranded on a platform because the train has failed to prepare a ramp for him, he needs assistance, and that situation is so frustrating for him.  

In answer to questions about the development of wheelchair design and technology over the years, Scott feels it has improved a lot. When he was younger he had a “huge red thing with big wheels – it looked horrible”, but nowadays the aesthetics of a chair are considered equally as important as its function. Sometimes however Scott feels his basic needs are not met – for example it wasn’t easy for him to source a kitchen table that was suitable in terms of its relation to his height and reach ability. He also commissioned a desk for his computer so that the bespoke dimensions enabled him to wheel his chair underneath easily and use his computer comfortably. The spacious layout of the flats at St Leonard’s Court is however very pleasing and problem-free and Scott emphasises how happy he is living there.

On Friday he is attending in a Disability Sport Launch event at Scotstoun Leisure Centre in Glasgow where there will be various talks and demonstrations, disabled swimmers, basketball players and footballers will meet, compete and showcase their sport, and people will no doubt go home at the end of the day feeling inspired and motivated to get active and push the boundaries of their personal goals and expectations. In addition to this, Scott and his club are taking part in the Powerchair Scottish Cup at Kelvin Hall on the 24^th November (click here for more details). Their coach has recently been to visit Bolton where a league of Powerchair football teams has been established. It would be amazing if the same progress could be made in Scotland. Scott has heard mention of Dundee setting up a team so he hopes they will have some friendlies with them soon.

There is a huge interest in the sport and Scott hopes to see it become a main event at the next Paralympic Games so that it will keep inspiring people like himself to take on a challenge and learn new skills.  When he isn’t football training, Scott is committed to his long-standing role as a Cub Leader for the Cubs in Irvin. He has been involved with them for 15 years and he goes along every Tuesday night to help out. Many years ago Scott used to be in wheelchair dancing team, but funding was cut so the class could no longer run. He wishes he could start up a club himself, but he is apprehensive about the responsibilities it would entail, so for now he is just going to keep his eye on the ball and hope the funding to facilitate other activities in the area will be restored one day.

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