Scottish football squad help make brave Steven’s dream come true

Nov 20 2008 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

A FOOTBALL-MAD teenager’s wishes came true this week when he was the Scottish football team’s guest of honour.

Steven Stewart met the players, toured Hampden Park and was presented with a football top by manager George Burley and captain Barry Ferguson.

The 16-year-old’s visit was arranged by Wish Upon A Star, a charity which makes dreams come true for youngsters with life-threatening illnesses.

Steven, who lives in Crossford and attends Craighead School, Hamilton, suffers from progressive myclonic epilepsy.

He was a healthy boy up until the age of 10 when he had his first seizure.

Since then, his condition has worsened and he is now largely wheelchair-bound.

Steven’s mum, Fiona Grant, wrote to the charity earlier this year enclosing his football-related ‘wish list’.

And the 6ft 2in teenager, who also attended Chatelherault Primary and Hamilton Grammar, was delighted last Wednesday when he learned that his wish of a day out with the Scotland squad was going to be fulfilled.

On Monday, Steven, ex-nursery nurse Fiona (45) and stepdad John Grant, a 61-year-old engineer, were picked up from home and taken to Cameron House Hotel, the Scotland team’s five-star hideaway before last night’s (Wednesday) friendly against Argentina.

They were accompanied by Stuart Sharp, the Scottish Football Association’s national development officer for disability football, who helped arrange the big day.

Steven had lunch with the players and was then taken to Hampden where the squad trained.

Steven said: “It was my best day ever - by miles.

“I had lunch with the players and spoke to all of them including James McFadden, who is my favourite.

“At Hampden Park, we went to the warm-up area and I got a chance to play in goal while (goalkeeping coach) Jim Stewart fired shots at me.

“He hit 20 shots and I saved 16. Jim and (ex-Celtic goalkeeper) David Marshall gave me their gloves.

“I also was given Sean Maloney’s hat and training jersey and a football jersey from George Burley and Barry Ferguson”.

Rangers full-back Kirk Broadfoot handed over his training top to Steven, who added: “The players and coaches all made me really welcome, especially Steven Pressley who chatted to me a lot and was absolutely lovely.”

Fiona, who is Steven’s full-time carer, added: “We were devastated when we discovered what was wrong with Steven.

“But you have to get on with life and Steven has his good days and bad days and on bad days he gets quite down about his condition.

“But Steven is absolutely football-mad and still plays - on his knees and in goal.

“We wanted to do something special for him and his three wishes were either spending a day with the Scotland squad, visiting St James’ Park, home of Newcastle United, or spending time at Real Madrid’s Bernabeau Stadium.

“But a day with the Scotland squad was the top of his list and it came true thanks to the charity.”

Steven and his family previously lived in Windy Ridge, Silvertonhill.

His life has been tinged with tragedy. Dad David Stewart was aged 30 when, in January 1993, he was swept into the sea by a freak wave on the Aberdeenshire coast. His body was not found until the following month.