A GREENOCK dad has told of his excitement after bagging a tee-riffic opportunity to represent Scotland at next year's FootGolf World Cup.

Michael Eardley is set to play for his national side at the international championship which is being held in Orlando, Florida between May 27 and June 6 next year.

The 36-year-old says he is 'incredibly proud' to be part of the first ever Scottish side to play at a FootGolf world cup and has been hard at work fundraising to cover the costs of travelling stateside.

Since taking up the sport four years ago, Michael has travelled across the globe playing in tours, visiting courses across France, Switzerland, Holland and beyond.

The world cup will be the biggest tournament the dad-of-two has played in, with around 500 players from 50 different countries taking part.

Michael said: "It's amazing for me, I never thought I'd be the first to play in a world cup for Scotland.

"We do a lot of world tour travelling and I got to play in my first major under the Scotland banner in France.

"Looking on the leaderboard and seeing the Scotland flag there is what it's all about.

"Three years ago nine of us formed the Footgolf Association of Scotland, which has grown large enough that Scotland will be represented at the footgolf world cup next year for the first time.

"The work we've been doing behind the scenes is all voluntary, to see it pay off is fantastic.

"Any time you get to pull that top on is magic, but to get the chance on a stage as big as this is amazing.

"I've never been to America either, so it's really exciting."

Michael had played football for both Greenock Juniors and Gibshill Amateurs before he took up FootGolf, but he admits that since discovering the sport he has scarcely seen a football pitch.

He added: "It was strange at first, the competitive side of football is what keeps you on the pitch, but trying to chase younger, faster guys wasn't fun anymore.

"I started footgolf on a whim, one of our football matches got called off and one of my friends who asked me if I wanted to play for his club footgolf team.

"I was hooked from there.

"We will be out in America out there for quite a while and basically have to pay our own way.

"I'm hoping to fundraise the money for it and my wife's arranging a ladies day in February to help with fundraising raffles and other similar things.

"It's going to be a huge event and I'm really looking forward to it."

*Those wishing to donate to Michael's fundraiser can do so at https://bit.ly/3WNv0Vq