A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate has captained the Scotland Cerebral Palsy Football Team to success in the World Championship.
Sport and Exercise graduate Matthew Wynne, scored two goals in the final against Northern Ireland to secure the Championship in Spain, lifting the cup and being named the best player at the tournament (MVP).
Defender Matthew, who graduated from the Lanarkshire campus in 2023, told STV news: “We prepared so hard for this. Two years ago we were in the same position in the final but we didn’t win it. I knew within myself that we had to rectify that mistake we made. Winning it this year was just a huge achievement for all of us.”
“My time at UWS was great, the lecturers were so approachable when I had questions regarding the course and or the content,” said Matthew.
“The lecturers were all accommodating, specifically when I was required to attend tournaments with Scotland CP.
I would also like to thank John McGonigal who was instrumental in me receiving the Sport Scholarship award, which allowed me to fund all the necessities in order for me to attend tournaments with Scotland Cerebral Palsy.”
Incredibly, alongside Matthew in the victorious Scotland team is Kerr Mackenzie, currently a second year student in the BSc (Hons) Computing Science course at UWS Paisley. The UWS pair sharing a room on the trip.
The International Federation of CP Football World Championship was held in Salou, Spain, with Scotland beating Northern Ireland 4-0 in the final on Thursday 18 April.
Formerly known as ‘Football 7-a-side’, CP Football has been part of the Paralympic Games programme since 1984.
Modifications to the IFAB Laws of the Game make the game exciting; giving spectators the opportunity to see the skills and team play of CP Football such as: two halves of 30 minutes; smaller pitch and goal posts; and no off-side law.
On the field of play the teams consist of seven ambulant athletes, with cerebral palsy or a traumatic brain injury, ranging from classes FT1 to FT3.
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