TRANENT’S Blair Glynn is taking on the world’s best at the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) World Championships in Sardinia this week.

The 36-year-old Scotland international, of Carlaverock Crescent, works as a janitor for East Lothian Council and has been playing for the national team for 12 years.

The father of two initially found out about the cerebral palsy side when booking tickets for one of the men’s national team games online.

Glynn said: “I had been looking for tickets for a Scotland game online and I saw a bit that said disabilities and I clicked assuming it would have disability tickets on it.

“It then asked if I had cerebral palsy or a brain injury, and I have a brain injury, and it asked me to phone a number.

“I got through to Stuart Sharp, who now takes the USA cerebral palsy football team and is doing a great job with them, and he invited me to go down to meet Greig Taylor, the manager for Scotland team.

“I went down and he took one look at me and said ‘can you play football?’ and I said that that was why I was there, I wanted to play.

“I was invited along to training and then I was asked to go and play for Scotland in the Euros 2010.

“It all happened so quickly but it was brilliant just to play in that.”

East Lothian Courier: The Scotland National Cerebral Palsy side face Italy. South Korea and Chile in their group gamesThe Scotland National Cerebral Palsy side face Italy. South Korea and Chile in their group games

Glynn suffered a stroke as a child and said that wanting to play football again was a big part in helping him recover.

He said: “When I was 11, I had a stroke when I was playing at a park. My neck twisted awkwardly for less than a second, but it was enough to give me a stroke.

“I’ve been playing football since I was around seven – even before my stroke I loved playing football.

“Then when I had the stroke it all stopped, I was in the hospital for three months and then had to learn to walk again, learn to talk again, which took me about a year, so to have come so far since then is amazing.

“Football has always been one of the positive things in my life so to face not playing again was something I wasn’t going to accept.”

Glynn has now played more than 80 times for Scotland, primarily as a central defender, and has his sights set on reaching a key landmark.

He said: “I’d like to make it to 100.

“I’m 36 now so we’ll have to wait and see, but I’ve still got some fight in me yet, so I don’t plan on giving up soon.

“Every time you pull on the Scotland jersey it’s special. It means so much to play for my country and hearing the national anthem before each game still makes me proud.”

East Lothian Courier: The Scotland National Cerebral Palsy side face Italy. South Korea and Chile in their group gamesThe Scotland National Cerebral Palsy side face Italy. South Korea and Chile in their group games

Scotland, in Group A, kicked off the tournament on Tuesday with a 6-0 victory over hosts Italy, with Glynn claiming two assists.

Glynn said “Some of the teams we’ve never played before so it’s hard to know what to expect from them, but I’m anticipating some tough games which I’m looking forward to. We’ve said we’ll be disappointed if we don’t make the final, that’s our goal.

“Obviously we’d love to win it, but at the very least we’d like to be in the final.”

They defeated South Korea on Wednesday and faced Chile yesterday (Thursday), which can be watched on the IFCPF World Championships Facebook or YouTube page.