A bit of cheer for couple’s wedding
A Cambuslang man who became an internet sensation after posing in a mankini has completed his bravest challenge yet - cheerleading at a junior football game.
Big-hearted Martin McKenna (32), from Halfway, is trying to win a dream wedding at St Andrew’s Old Course Hotel for him and fiancee, Tina Gibson (35) by completing a list of challenges.
One was to wear a mankini for a day, and the picture of him in the garment with a sign saying “Martin & Tina to win #ochwedding” went global with folk all over the world tweeting their support.
And, to keep him on his toes, Martin was challenged to cheerlead at the St Anthony’s v Cumnock friendly on Saturday by the assistant manager at Irvine Meadow.
Web designer Martin, who is a committee member at the Ant’s, duly obliged, performing a dance, topped off with a cartwheel, at half-time in a bikini top, mini-skirt and blond wig. He laughed: “It was interesting! “It was a good laugh, I was a bit nervous because of the crowd but I just went out and done my routine.
“I’m still in agony, bits of me are sore that haven’t been sore for years, I think it was the cartwheels.
“The people from Cumnock looked a bit surprised. It was all a bit surreal walking out with the players trying to avoid making eye contact with me.
“It was 0-0 when I came out in my costume and we then lost three goals in four minutes, so I think I put the players off.“This is all for Tina, all this madness is to win her dream wedding.”
Martin also caused quite a stir when he appeared on STV Glasgow’s Riverside Show while wearing the mankini and a strategically placed piece of tape to hide a stray nipple.
And he revealed he had to keep his choice of clothes secret from Tina for fear he wouldn’t make it to the studio: “They phoned me up on the Wednesday and then I got an email on the Friday asking if I’d wear the mankini.
“I couldn’t say to Tina, she would never have let me leave the house. She’s ok with the photos but live TV might have been too far.“The first time she knew I was wearing the mankini was when she seen me on the TV.”
Martin and Tina first met on St Patrick’s Day two years ago. The couple now stay in Easterhouse. Former St Cadoc’s Primary and Trinity High pupil Martin has continued to garner support from around the world, with people posting his message from places such as the Golden Gate Bridge, The Maldives and even Azerbaijan.
The competiton closed yesterday ( July 21) and Martin will need to wait until next month to find out if he’s won the prize, which also includes a honeymoon in Morocco.
But even if he doesn’t win, it’s been an incredible experience: “I’ve done my best, I don’t think there’s much else I could have done.
“Two weeks ago I took a random photo and it’s gone right round the world.”
This is all for Tina, all this madness is to win her dream wedding