I donated a kidney to my son - now we're representing Scotland on the pitch

As a child Sam Mckay suffered from chronic kidney disease.

But when he was five years old he had a life-changing kidney transplant, thanks to a donation from his dad, David.

Now a healthy 16-year-old, Sam, from Elderslie in Renfrewshire, is representing Scotland as part of the inaugural Four Nations Transplant Football Championship.

And David, 51, a sports coaching lecturer at Glasgow Clyde College, is team coach. "I'm really, really proud to see how ill he's been at times and what a difference the kidney has made," he said.

"This would certainly not be possible were it not for transplantation. To see him out there running around, enjoying himself, keeping fit and living his best life is so rewarding."

The championship is being held at Ross County's Victoria Park in Dingwall this weekend.

And Scotland's team, which is made up entirely of transplant recipients, are hoping to claim some silverware.

High school student Sam said that without his father's gift of a kidney he "would probably be stuck in a hospital waiting on a transplant".

"I'm just so thankful," he added.

And he told BBC Scotland News he was enjoying being part of the transplant championship.

"There's a real sense of community here," he said.

"If anyone has a transplant and they are looking to play football at any level really, then this is the place for you."

The team was formed 18 months ago by 58-year-old Duncan MacAulay who had a heart transplant in 2023.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service operational communications manager, from Inverness, is also the driving force behind the Four Nations tournament.

He said following his own transplant, he realised how difficult it was to recover from major surgery and to improve fitness.

And he said he was shocked to discover that Scotland did not have a transplant football team, despite the other home nations all having established teams.

"Initially the first aim was, can we get a Scotland team together that can compete?" he said.

Six months later, he said they were competing at the European Championships.

"For me that was an absolute highlight to go up against the World Cup runners-up, Spain, and draw 4-4 – it was an incredible game," he said.

Duncan said the team had created a "sense of community".

"It's an incredible bunch, we have a great team spirit," he said.

"From coming from a very basic training session where we had family and friends and just four players – now it's quite incredible."

Meanwhile father and son David and Sam say there's one game they're particularly focused on.

"It's hard not to look past the Scotland v England rivalry but it's a healthy rivalry," David said.

"We also appreciate that everyone who is playing has been in receipt of an organ and is enjoying a second chance at life and second chance at playing football.

"But we're all united in that transplant sport will be the winner this weekend."

The tournament will act as a warm up ahead of the Transplant World Cup in Frankfurt in September.

Scotland have already qualified after winning the Tri Nations tournament in Dublin last month.

Entry this weekend to the event at Ross County is by donation.