Reid knows true value of club visits
CHRISTMAS 2004 – and Gordon Reid would have been around 13 years old.
He was in Yorkhill Children’s Hospital in Glasgow having contracted the Transverse Myelitis condition that was to leave the Alexandriaborn boy in a wheelchair.
Like any kid he would have been frightened and worried about the future. And is there a worse time of the year to be in hospital and away from family?
It turned out the future was to be far brighter for the young Scot than he could have imagined.
A combination of indominatable spirit and tremendous skill led Reid, now 26, to wheelchair tennis glory in the shape of Wimbledon and Australian Open titles and a Paralympic gold medal in Rio.
Reid’s story is remarkable. But he hasn’t forgotten how he felt as he lay in that hospital bed and this week he shared a couple of poignant photographs on Twitter that struck a chord.
Rangers-daft as a boy – and as a man – he was just one of many children in Yorkhill on the day the Ibrox club visited with Christmas presents.
The photos are of him in his wheelchair, Rangers top on, surrounded by well-wishers such as Stefan Klos, Dado Prso, Marvin Andrews and Fernando Ricksen, who is now bravely fighting his own battles. One has big Marv, arm around his shoulders, both grinning and Reid with his autograph book in his lap. He’s never forgotten – these kids never forget.
Reid’s tweet was prompted by images of the current Rangers squad paying their annual Christmas visit to the Sick Children’s Hospital in the city. That they came armed with a £10,000 cheque – as did Celtic players a few days later – was marvellous and will help these children and many more in the coming year. But the visit means so much more. Take it from someone who has been there. And in his tweet, above, Reid said: “I remember when I was in hospital how much it raised my spirits ... it will have meant the world for those kids.”
Some cynics believe the players are only there because their club has ordered them. In some cases that might be right but I’d venture they’d be in the extreme minority.
Reid did us all a favour with his tweet.
And maybe there’s a kid who was pictured this week with a player from their favourite club who will go on to inspire others as he has done. OUR TOP WRITERS GIVE THEIR FEARLESS VERDICTS EVERY DAY IN RECORD SPORT