The day Finlay’s Christmases all came at once
Rangers stars, tech whizzes and a BA pilot team up to surprise a special lad
CHRISTMAS came early for football fanatic Finlay Sangster when his Rangers hero Josh Windass delivered his dream present.
Josh presented him with an Xbox with a specially adapted control pad which Finlay, who has cerebral palsy, can now use to play Fifa games.
Finlay told him: “You’re my hero” – and Josh dedicated his goal against Hibs on Wednesday to him, tweeting: “That goal was for you, little man.”
The cheery-faced 12-year-old never lets his disability get him – or anyone else – down, but he longed to be able to play his favourite football video games.
His mum Gail, a primary school teacher, was determined to make her son’s dream come true and she sent an email to the British Airways Magic appeal, which helps surprise special people.
Gail said: “Finlay’s obsessed with football. He desperately wants to play Fifa games with his friends.
“He knows what he wants to do with the X-box controller, knows what buttons to press but sadly his disability means his hands can’t manage it.”
Gail told BA she’d found a charity in the south of England who might be able to help, but she didn’t think they’d be able to take Finlay there in time for Santa – and that’s when BA flew to the rescue.
Pilot Jonathan Knowlson made a surprise trip to Finlay’s school in Stonehaven, Kincardineshire.
Under the pretence of giving a talk on a pilot’s life, Jonathan suddenly singled out Finlay for some special treatment.
He was presented with a signed Real Madrid shirt from football idol Cristiano Ronaldo.
To whoops of delight from his classmates, Finlay also received a video message from Rangers captain Lee Wallace. Finlay was then whisked to Aberdeen Airport in a Lamborghini Huracán Spyder for a trip to London to have his own bespoke Xbox controller made at Special Effect, an Oxford-based charity who help disabled people get more out of life through technology.
Gail said: “Getting a game of Fifa against his friends is his ultimate goal – it was his dream, and it’s just come true.
“BA Magic is very aptly named. When your child is diagnosed with a disability, your first reaction is to shut down a wee bit, shut people out.
“What I’ve learned over the last 12 years is, don’t. You need support.”
The family also enjoyed a surprise visit to Hamleys toy shop – which opened early so that Finlay and his little brother Brodie, five, could choose some special Christmas gifts.
BA also had a surprise for mum Gail and dad Bruce – a holiday to New York, where they had their honeymoon, for their next wedding anniversary.
Bruce said: “Finlay is always smiling, he’s always happy, and that’s our goal – to maintain that, his quality of life.”
BA’s Carolina Martinoli said: “As soon as we read Gail’s email, we wanted to help make Finlay’s Christmas wish come true.
“We’re thrilled we’ve been able to do something special for a truly deserving family.”
Finlay is always smiling and that’s our goal – to maintain that BRUCE SANGSTER