A TEAM of inspirational footballers who play for an association set up by a Kilmacolm mum will welcome players from Ukraine in a charity tournament this evening.
Ashley Pedersen set up Amputee Football Association Scotland in 2017 to give people with limb loss the chance to play the beautiful game.
The Scottish players have travelled to London to take part in a tournament alongside amputee squads from Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk FC.
The players in the Shakhtar Donetsk team have all lost limbs in the Ukraine war.
The event is being hosted by Football For Life, an organisation which designs, develops and implements sports facilities to empower crisis-affected communities around the world.
It hopes the event will raise awareness and essential funds to build football fields and rehabilitation clinics in Ukraine for those adversely affected by the conflict.
One of the Scotland players, Oleksii Bakai, relocated from Ukraine to Scotland at the start of the conflict with Russia.
"The work the organisation does to support those in crisis-affected communities around the world is both unprecedented and life-changing for so many.
"We are honoured to play our small part.
"This is a matter undeniably close to our hearts given Oleksii hails from Ukraine, and if we can do anything to support those from his homeland in overcoming such atrocities we will do so."
The game is played on crutches with teams of seven-a-side, with no off-side rule.
Those in goals must have an upper limb amputation while those outfield are only eligible if they have a lower amputation.
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