BRITAIN’S national amputee football team hope the rookie son of a Scots football hero will put them on the road to glory.
Owen Coyle Junior, at the age of just 20, has been made head coach and given the task of guiding the Brits at the European Championships in Istanbul later this year.
Junior – whose dad Owen senior played for several Scottish clubs and is currently manager of Blackburn Rovers – says he’s been blown away by the inspirational stories of his players.
Some of his squad have lost limbs due to conditions like cancer.
Owen jnr said: “It’s amazing to work with amputee footballers because each one has an inspirational story like Jamie Tregaskiss.
“Jamie lost his leg aged 13 through bone cancer, at the time he was playing for Manchester City FC Academy.
“Since he’s lost his leg he now plays for Manchester City FC Amputees and also Great Britain Amputee Football and is considered one of the best players in the world.
“The way these individuals approach life is phenomenal.
“Not only are they amazing footballers but they are also amazing human beings. They are true role models of society.”
In recent years the sport has exploded in popularity.
Last month, amputee Tommy McKay won the Scottish Professional Football League’s goal of the month competition with a spectacular shot. Dundee United fan Tommy’s goal during a half-time challenge at Tannadice in November beat goals by professional players including Jayden Stockley, Tom Rogic and Joe Dodoo.
Tommy, 32, had his right leg amputated after he was found to have bone cancer as a child.
It didn’t stop him playing football, though, he’s a midfielder with Scotland’s only amputee team, Partick Thistle Amputees FC.
Owen landed the top job after cutting his teeth coaching amputee footballers in the national development squad.
Owen, originally from Glasgow, took up an apprenticeship at Lancaster Football Association after he left school at the age of 15.
While there he worked closely with Peter Wild – former head coach of the GB amputee football team.
Peter asked Owen to come along and check the sport out. And once he did, he was hooked.
Owen said: “I started doing voluntary work and after that they started a reserve squad. I came in as assistant manager for the reserve squad when I was 16.”
Owen jnr says he’s keen to make his family proud.
He said: “I owe everything to my dad and my family.”
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