Brave kids’ lunch date with Motherwell players

Feb 10 2010 by Michael Pringle, Wishaw Press

TWO brave youngsters made a trip to Fir Park on Friday to have lunch with the players of Motherwell FC.

Colin McLaren (11) and Scott Hart (12) are both battling life-threatening illnesses but the football fanatics were delighted to meet up and lunch with the Premier League footballers.

Colin, from Wishaw, has a rare genetic disorder called Adrenoleukodystrophy, also known as Addison-Schilder Disease (ALD), which can lead to progressive brain damage and adrenal failure.

The youngster starred for Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers last season, finishing as their top scorer, and won the player of the year award.

He was joined by his dad Grant and his brother Scott (10) on their lunch trip.

Although he’s a striker on the park, Colin admitted that the player he admires most is Rangers goalkeeper Allan MacGregor whom he has met before.

He said: “I’ve met him a couple of times and he owes me a pair of gloves that he said he’d give me.”

The young striker was looking forward to lunch with the Steelmen, admitting: “I’m looking forward to meeting the whole Motherwell team here today.”

Scott Hart, from Newarthill, was joined by mum Bernadette, dad Richard and 10-year-old sister Kayleigh.

The battling youngster suffers from leukaemia and admits it is tough going at times, saying: “My treatment last time really knocked me for six.”

Dad Richard added: “Christmas wasn’t very nice, it’s just good to see him well enough to come along here today.”

Brave Scott hasn’t been well enough to attend any matches this season but he didn’t need to be asked twice about his favourite player, saying: “Lukas Jutkiewicz is my favourite player and I hope he’ll stay beyond the end of the season.”

Motherwell defender Shaun Hutchinson said: “It’s great that as players we can help to give these kids a boost.

“I remember as a youngster at Newcastle meeting some of the players and it was great as I saw them as role models.”

The lunch date was made possible by Wishaw man Les Hoey, who organises outings for youngsters being treated at Yorkhill Hospital. Les has been involved with kids’ charities for the past 17 years, and organises outings to concerts and events.

Les said: “The lunch was organised for last month but Scott was too ill to make it, then Colin had a hospital appointment.

Motherwell provided the boys with tickets for the match against Hamilton and signed match footballs.”

The weekend’s 1-0 win over Hamilton was Scott’s first game of the season and he would have been delighted as the matchwinner was none other than his favourite player Jutkiewicz, who notched the only goal of the game in the Lanarkshire derby.