Firstly, I will speak about Dean Shiels. If you have any disability especially a sight one, Shiels would be an inspiration for you. Shiels born in the small town of Magheafelt in Northern Ireland on 1st February 1985. Due to a domestic accident at a young age causing him to loose in one of his eyes. Most people would stop doing what they loved because they thought they would be unable to do this. Well it hasn't stop Shiels. His father Kenny Shiels (ex Kilmarnock FC manager) help his son get to where he is now. Shiels started his professional career in Scotland at Edinburgh side Hibernian for 5 years, then moved down to England to play for Doncaster Rovers for a short spell of 3 years before going out on loan to Kilmarnock who is father managed for 6 months. After being out on loan Shiels signed for Kilmarnock for the following season. In that season, Shiels scored the only goal of the Scottish League Cup Semi Final against Ayrshire Rivals Ayr United on 28 January.
Photo; Lee McCulloch with Dean Shiels and Fraser Aird.
Shiels had the emotional task of scoring against Rangers in their first match after entering administration. Shiels was really emotional after scoring because he was also a Rangers fan. After that Shiels went on to play in Kilmarnock's Scottish League Cup Final win over Celtic. Shiels rejected a new contract with Kilmarnock and went on to sign for Rangers, who are his boyhood team. He signed for Rangers on 31 July 2012 and made his first appearance in a Scottish League Cup tie against East Fife on 7 August.
That's a bit of background on Dean Shiels. During his time at Rangers he has had many injuries even with the injuries he managed to net a few goals for Rangers. On 2 February 2013, Rangers visited Tannadice Park to play Dundee United in the Scottish Cup, Dundee United won 3-0 but Shiels played fantastic. He was also nice enough to get a photo with me along with a few other Rangers boys.
I have unreal respect for this man because with me having a sight problem myself it shows that nothing should stop you getting to achieve your dreams. I ain't a Rangers supporter so maybe it's wrong to find him an inspiration but I do. It shouldn't matter what team you support. Nothing should stop you respecting other footballers as they are still people who you can find inspirational from or find them a great player, if my case I find him both inspirational and a great player. If you get the chance to see in play and meet him please go watch him because it is really worth it.
Photo; Dean Shiels with Lee McCulloch
Secondly, Lee McCulloch is an inspiration to me because he is such a dedicated player and an amazing captain. McCulloch was born 14 May 1978 in Bellshill, Scotland.
As a youth player McCulloch played for Rangers, Cumbernauld United before going on to Motherwell where he started his professional football career. McCulloch was at Motherwell for 5 years and netting 27 goals for the North Lanarkshire side. He then moved down to England to play for Wigan Athletic, in his time at Wigan he managed to net 46 goals in only 6 years. In 2007, he moved back up to Scotland to play for Rangers who he is currently playing for and captaining.
Photo; Lee McCulloch with young Fraser Aird
Photo; Lee McCulloch with young Fraser Aird
At school, McCulloch wasn't the best of pupils. All he wanted to do was to play football professionally. He finally managed to play football professionally and he now captains his boyhood heroes. He shows people that it doesn't matter how bad you are at school you can never stop dreaming. McCulloch hasn't stopped dreaming and look where that has got him.
On 11th July 2007, Rangers announced the signing of McCulloch. In doing so McCulloch, picked up three points of another kind. This time is was for speeding. At that time he penned a four year deal which would secure him as a Rangers player till 2011. On 12 August 2011, McCulloch penned another deal securing him till 2013. Then on 31st October 2012, he added another contract extension securing him till 2015. He is such a dedicated Rangers player and this is paid off when he got given captaincy on 1st September 2012.
As Rangers went into liquidation, he decided that he would take a massive wage cut instead of leaving his boyhood heroes like many other people were doing at that moment in time. Instead of taking a 25-75% wage cut he does it for FREE! That is what you call passion for playing for Rangers. He has had a fantastic spell at Rangers and I can see him finishing his career at Rangers. So far he has netted over 50 goals for the Glasgow side, for a defender this isn't a bad statistic. He is now beginning to play upfront more and being able to go back into defence if he is needed.
Again I have seen McCulloch play a few times, I yet still have to meet him. I'm sure that it won't be long till I get the honour of meeting him. For me, I find McCulloch an inspiration because he has inspired so many youngesters in the Rangers squad today, such as Fraser Aird and Lewis Macleod. This is what you call a captain. Being able to make the best out of situations. He just wants to play football for his boyhood heroes like a few of the other current Rangers squad. If I was a Rangers supporter he would be my hero by far, I have never seen anybody be such an amazing captain at any club.
Photo; Lee McCulloch kissing the captains armband
As I said before if you get the chance to go watch these boys please do because they are so worth it. If they score please be clapping and cheering inside because if you could see passion in these boys faces when they scored and when they are even just on the park playing for Rangers. Also if you are lucky enough to meet them, please tell them how much of an inspiration to anyone they are.
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