2026 Winner
CONNOR ELLIOT
Aspiring young footballer who lost his leg to cancer, battled back to health and is now a rising star playing for Scotland’s amputee team
Ayr United diehard Connor, now 18, was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma in November 2022 – a condition so rare that his consultant had treated only one other child in Scotland.
The schoolboy had to make an agonising choice between an operation that would save his leg, but prevent him playing football, or amputation. He made the call to amputate in order to preserve his sporting dreams.
He underwent the traumatic operation at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children a day after his 15th birthday and received a prosthetic limb three days before Christmas.
Mum Pauline says: “The surgery was obviously a really tough time but his surgeon, Dr Rod Duncan, was amazing and the option of taking up amputee football was mentioned. “Connor was determined to keep playing football in some form if he could – he was captain of his team and just lived for the game.
“It really gave him something to aim for and within six weeks he was out kicking a ball again. He just refused to let it stop him. “He was right footed before losing that leg, so he had to re-train himself with the left but has taken to it so well.”
Connor started training with the Amputee Football Association Scotland in January 2023 and was signed to Cork City, helping them win the Irish League before competing in the Champions League in Italy.
Last season, he played for Portsmouth FC, winning the England Amputee FA IKO Premier League with his team.
Connor has also won caps for Scotland, scoring a goal in his debut against Belgium. He competed in the Euros in June 2024 and helped them top their group at the European Amputee Football Federation’s Nations League last November, playing in Romania.
Ashley Reid, who founded the Amputee Football Association Scotland, says: “As a lad of 15, who’s just been through a traumatic injury, to be suddenly playing football on crutches was just amazing.
“The world is his oyster. He is such a breath of fresh air. He came into the team with such positivity and reminded all the older players exactly why they play the game.”