An East Lothian dad used football to help him rebuild his life after taking a horror stroke when he was 11-years-old.
Father-of-two Blair Glynn, from Tranent, was out playing with pals when he suffered the ‘freak accident’ shortly before he was due to start high school.
The now 37-year-old, who is dad to Fraser, eight, and Logan, five, spent a month in hospital, before having to retrain his brain to use his left hand and foot when taking part in activities after his dominant side was badly impacted by his brain injury.
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“I had a stroke when I was 11-years-old,” he said. “I was in a bed for two to three weeks in a wheelchair for a month then I began to walk.
“There were several struggles, I had to learn to walk again, talk, run, swim, write and almost every skill. I was right sided before the stroke but afterwards I had to learn to use my left hand and foot for activities.
“It was really daunting as I needed to make friends again going to high school which is a scary place at the best of times – never mind going after spending three months in hospital.”
The 37-year-old says that he was constantly knocked back from accessing grassroots sports teams he used to play for after his stroke and that he also faced difficulties in securing a job, reports Edinburgh Live.
But despite the gargantuan challenges that he faced as a young boy, Blair continued to persevere and rediscovered his love of football by accessing paralympic style football.
He competed at the Paralympic Games in 2012 and on April 18 2024, he was crowned a world champion after he was part of a team that beat Northern Ireland 4-0 in Salou.
The talented footballer says that the sport helped him to “rebuild his life” and has encouraged others to pursue their dreams, stating nothing is impossible.
“I have played football within the cerebral palsy and brain injury set-up for 14 years and I would say they have been the best years of my life,” he added. “I love football.
“Some of the friendships that I’ve made will last forever. It is an environment where you can be open and talk to one another knowing they are going through some of the same problems as well as joys.
“Being a part of the team has really helped me because it has let me realise there are people like me out there doing things they love. I competed in the Paralympics in London 2012 and now I’m a world champion.
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“The feeling of accomplishment was overwhelming and I don’t think it has quite hit me yet. I have loads of messages of people saying well done – it’s just unbelievable.
“We beat Northern Ireland in the final 4-0. We worked so hard in the lead up to the finals.
“Our courage and commitment was there for everyone to see. Martin Hickman, the top goal scorer, and Matthew Wyne, the best player, are just a couple of people that were on the team with me.
“I play in defence. I had a few chances but I’m not as clinical in that area to score some goals.
“I’d say to anyone with cerebral palsy or a brain injury just give it a try. I did and look where it got me.
“A world champion. Nothing out there is impossible. It’s hard going for us all. Anything is possible.”
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