The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Northern Ireland manager and former Dundee United player Michael O’Neill has thrown his weight behind amputee football, backing Dundee player Robert Wilson’s charity trek. Picture: Drew Farrell.
Northern Ireland boss hails efforts of disabled footballers
Northern Ireland manager and former Dundee United player Michael O’Neill hopes people will show their support for an amputee player’s charity endeavours in Dundee this weekend.
Robert Wilson will walk from the Tay Bridge to the Law and then back towards the waterfront tomorrow.
He hopes the trek will raise £500 for the Amputee Football Association Scotland (AFAS) via a My Donate page.
O’Neill became a patron of AFAS after being humbled by the dedication of amputee players.
He said: “I was asked to get involved and I went along to see a couple of training sessions. I was quite taken aback by the level of skill and work.
“It is an immense effort and commitment by the players. They have to come from far and wide as there isn’t many players in one area.
“The distances they travel to play is really impressive. They are always
“I was quite taken aback by the level of skill and work. MICHAEL O’NEILL
looking for new players to increase their numbers.
“But every time I go to see them there is always new faces so it’s good to see that it’s taking off. It is open to everybody.”
Robert will be joined by fellow amputee footballers Leigh Gregory, Becca Sellar, Iain Matthew, Mick Lennon and charity founder Ashley Reid on the six-mile round trip.
O’Neill added: “To do that as an ablebodied person is difficult enough so I take my hat off to them.
“It would be great for people to get behind them. It would be really great if people toot their horns as they pass and things like that to show their support for the team.
“The players are a big part of the charity. It is a small organisation so it is great that the players are a part of the fundraising.
“I do see the efforts they put in to it and it’s really impressive.”
Robert started playing amputee football last summer and has already achieved something most people dream of – pulling on a jersey for their national side.
He was part of the Scotland side that travelled to Italy in May.
O’ Neil said: “When you get to play for your country, it is possibly the best thing you will ever do in your career.”