Friends of Scott Cowan organise charity football tournament

Dean Robertson and his friends will stage the event at Mossedge Village on Sunday, October 24, to honour Scott Cowan, who died last November at the age of 25.

After experiencing persistent pain in his jaw last summer, Scott underwent a series of tests which eventually established that he had an extended aortic root and a tear in his aortic artery.

The tear required emergency surgery at the Golden Jubilee Hospital, in Clydebank, in late August 2020 but Scott suffered a minor stroke soon afterwards.

Scott Cowan with his beloved dog Ruby

Despite initially recovering well, he experienced further issues relating to the surgery and a mass of blood sitting in his heart, before passing away at home on November 30.

The tournament in Linwood will raise funds for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

Dean, who was friends with Scott from their school days in Paisley, told The Gazette: “He was a massive St Mirren fan and loved football.

“I met him at Gleniffer High and a small group of us remained close friends after we left school.

“Most of our time as friends was spent watching football or playing FIFA, so it made sense that would be the first thing we would organise in Scott’s memory.”

Dean and Scott bonded over their love of football

Dean, from Paisley, said Scott’s death left him in “complete shock.”

“He had been doing a lot better, after everything he had already gone through in hospital,” he added. “He was in a great frame of mind, then all of a sudden he was just gone, which was absolutely heartbreaking for all of us.”

Since his tragic death, Scott’s family have organised a number of events to raise money for CRY.

This will be used to screen young people, aged 18 to 35, to make sure that, if they have an issue with their heart, it is detected before it becomes an emergency situation.

Scott’s dad, Robert, said: “We’re trying to focus the screening on people who work in manufacturing, especially in Renfrewshire, as Scott worked as a technical operator for PEAK Scientific at Inchinnan Industrial Estate.

Scott Cowan and Dean Robertson with friends Keiran Muir, Stuart Hyndman and Mark McGrath

“After my son died, PEAK were very supportive, so I’m keen to pay them back.”

There will be a charity auction taking place during the football tournament, which includes a lunch with former St Mirren manager Danny Lennon.

Dean said: "We are delighted to have Danny Lennon supporting our cause. 

"He brought some great moments to St Mirren fans and Scott was most certainly one of them.

"We are now offering one of those fans a chance to have a great moment but this time alongside the man himself.

Tommy Fitzpatrick presenting Scott Cowan with a signed St Mirren shirt that his friends group got him as a surprise for coming out of hospital

"We will be auctioning off a lunch with and paid for by Danny Lennon, with the money raised going into Scott Memorial Fund.

"We want to thank Danny for offering to give up his time to help us raise money for CRY in honour."

Danny Lennon added: "It is very admirable of Scott's friends to honour him with something that will also help with research for CRY. 

"I'm sure they will do Scott and CRY proud."

To make a donation, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/scottcowanmemorialfootballtournament.