News
Foundation hosts Scotland Cerebral Palsy football team at Ibrox after historic first World Championship victory
Wed 26th June 2024
In April, Scotland’s Cerebral Palsy Football team competed in the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football World Championships (IFCPF) in Salou, Spain.
The Scotland CP team is for athletes with cerebral palsy, stroke acquired or traumatic brain injuries. Their aim is to play football on an international stage whilst improving the confidence, health and well-being of their players.
The team had previously made the final of the IFCPF in 2022. However, on that occasion they were very narrowly defeated by Columbia.
With Scotland looking to go one better in this year’s championships, The Rangers Charity Foundation donated £250 to the team in order to fund new training kits ahead of the tournament.
The tournament kicked off and Scotland sealed qualification for the final with three victories out of four in the Group Stage. The Scots overcame Northern Ireland, South Korea and Chile with their only defeat coming against Italy, by which time they had already qualified for the final.
In the final, Scotland were up against Northern Ireland. Confidence was high having beaten their opponents 3-0 earlier in the tournament at the Group Stage. Their confidence was justified as Scotland ran out comfortable 4-0 winners to seal their first ever IFCPF title.
The full-time whistle was met with wild celebrations from the Scotland supporters, players and staff. The team were then presented with the IFCPF World Championships trophy, a historic reward for their hard work and perseverance.
The accolades didn’t stop there for the Scotland team as their captain Matthew Wynne was awarded the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Martin Hickman finished as the Top Goal Scorer at the Championship with seven goals.
On the teams return to Scotland, The Rangers Charity Foundation was delighted to host some of the players and staff, as well as representatives of Scottish Disability Sport, for a special tour of Ibrox Stadium.
The players present were Dean Thornton and the afore mentioned top goal scorer Martin Hickman who proudly brought along the Championship trophy. They were joined by head coach Greig Taylor with Emma Logan and Elizabeth Lochhead from Scottish Disability Sport.
Everyone at The Rangers CharityFoundation would like to congratulate the Scottish Cerebral Football team players, coaches and staff on their historic victory.
To date, the Foundation has donated over £6.6 million in cash and in-kind support, enabling others to support causes close to their hearts.
