For those who were watching the Commonwealth Games’ Opening Ceremony last week, some may have noticed Grant Plenderleith kilted out in the Team Scotland colours.

Grant, who is representing Scotland tonight in the 4x400m relay at Hampden Park, will be better known amongst many as a former Sygenta Juveniles player and, more recently, an attacking player for League One side Stenhousemuir.

Grant joined Syngenta Juveniles at the Under-13 age group and played through until the end of the Under-17 season. During his team at Syngenta, Grant played in the wide positions but was mainly used as a striker. ?

Over the four years he played for Syngenta, Grant played in a successful team with a number of talented players. He won a number of trophies including a Scottish Cup winners medal in 2007 at Under-16 level, scoring the first of three goals in a 3-1 win in Airdrie.

Grant moved onto Stenhousemuir Football Club and it was during this time whilst on loan to Bo’ness United he won the Ramsden’s ‘Cash for Dash’ 60 metre race for professional players. ??It was shortly after this he decided to turn back to athletics with his goal being Commonwealth Games qualification.  He had been the second fastest sprinter in the UK at Under-14 level, and ran with the Falkirk Victoria Harriers.

In between training, however, he returned to Syngenta Juveniles to coach with other ex-players and was successful in winning the league with his Under-14 team prior to stepping back to concentrate fully on training to attempt to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.

Andy Gilchrist, the Scottish FA’s Central Region Manager, said: “I’m sure I’m not the only person who’d like to wish Grant all the very best on this fantastic achievement of reaching the Commonwealth Games.

“Here’s hoping he and his colleagues in the team can take it that step further and are successful on the night.”