A TOP footgolf player from Greenock is teed up to show off his skills at The Scottish Open in his home town this weekend.

Michael Eardley, ranked as one of the top competitors in the UK in the increasingly-popular sport that combines football and golf, is preparing to compete on his home turf.

The tournament at Greenock Golf Club is set to attract over 170 competitors, aged from eight-years-old up to players in their 60s from across the globe.

Footgolf involves a typical 18-hole round of golf but with players kicking a football around the course and into adapted holes on the green.

Dad-of-two Michael, sponsored by local businesses Ultimate Sports Wear, McGill's, The Caledonian Bar and Clyde Investments, is hoping to inspire new players to follow in his footsteps and take up the game.

Michael, an Inverclyde Council HGV mechanic, told the Tele: "Footgolf is a great sport that is growing more popular all the time.

"My dream would be to create a local team and get more people involved here - I'd like to see the course being a permanent fixture in Greenock.

"We were expecting players from as far as America to join us for the tournament, but with the Covid-19 travel restrictions it will mainly be UK players, with some coming in from European countries like Holland.

"I'd invite people to come along and spectate - maybe they'll also catch the bug for it."

Michael and the Scotland squad regularly compete across the globe and fundraise for good causes, including the Brain Trust and mental health charities.

The Greenock dad, who lives with wife Gemma and sons eight-year-old Luca and Jude, who is four, has represented the country at tournaments as both an individual and with a playing partner.

Now he is looking forward to playing in a competition on home soil.

The 35-year-old added: "I'm really looking forward to it, it's nice to be playing at home.

"The family will be here to support me on the day."