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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Keiran Fleming & Fahad Tariq

Inspiring Rangers fan the first wheelchair mascot to make it onto pitch in adorable scene

An autistic five-year-old Rangers fan - who is also wheelchair-bound - took to the Livingston pitch during Saturday's SPFL clash.

Layton Steel even managed to grab the attention of skipper Nicky Devlin who wore a headset ahead of the game to show solidarity with the disabled youngster, who needed the defenders to muffle the sound of the stadium.

Layton, who is seen kicking the ball with help from his dad, is believed to be one of the first mascots in a wheelchair to make it on to the turf.

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The Langlands Primary School pupil, who lives in Govan, was born with spina bifida and lives with a shunt, which drains fluid from around his brain.

As well as being autistic, he is visually impaired and has spent a lot of his life in hospital due to a string of other health issues.

But despite his struggles, the youngster is thriving at school and loves to support Rangers with his dad John, 48, who was by his side on the pitch at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

His mum and full-time carer Lizzy McGrory, 40, told Glasgow Live: "Layton is five and he has never had a birthday party because of his condition he has no pals.

"Layton likes to be in his own world. This is something that he experienced that a lot of kids are never going to do.

Layton is believed to be one of the first mascots in a wheelchair to make it on to the turf. (Supplied)

"They took us downstairs to the Livingston changing room and all the players were in. Layton fist pumped them all, got all their autographs and got his pictures taken with them.

"When he went out onto the park he was so excited because he had only ever seen it on the telly. Layton didn't want to go back up the stairs. There was a young player who took us under his wing.

"He came out with the ear defenders on and kicked the ball about with Layton. I was emotional when he came out the tunnel and it was just a dream.

"Hopefully it opens doors for other kids in wheelchairs or have disabilities and shows that they can go to the football, they can experience it.

"You can only imagine the amount of adults who have been in wheelchairs for most of their life if not all of their life that never had the chance."

Layton loved his time at Livingston (Supplied)

The moment was arranged by the John O’Byrne Foundation, which makes memories for sick kids in Scots hospitals. Founder John, who spent much of his childhood in hospital suffering from brittle bones, said he had been unsuccessfully trying to get children in wheelchairs on to pitches as mascots for a decade.

Lizzy added: "I was in tears. One of the lassies at the club said they saw me crying. It was all surreal.

"They all took to him, even when they were all shaking hands before the game they were involving Layton. They were shaking his hand, giving him a fist bump, touching his shoulder and I just thought wow.

"After the game Nicky Devlin came over with Kemar Roofe's top for Layton. Before the game he even got Jon McLaughlin's gloves. The two goalies were taking pictures with Layton and he tried to pull McLaughlin's gloves off so he gave them to Layton.

"He came home with two football tops. The players were fantastic. They all fist bumped him as they walked past him. He was living his best life.

"His face just said it all. His dad is a big Rangers fan. For him to walk out pushing Layton was big thing for him. The adrenaline is still there.

"Layton is non-verbal so we can only go off his expressions which have been amazing. He is still trying to put the gloves on."

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