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Awesome courage of the little girl who’s melted the heart of soccer’s hardest man

As Graeme Souness trains to swim the Channel at 70 to raise money for Isla, 14, whose every moment is agony due to a rare skin disease...

that 99.9 per cent of the world’s population want to live and I appreciate that every single day. But the luckiest bit of all has been meeting Isla.’

they met five years ago at a Debra charity dinner and Graeme was poleaxed. ‘It just punched me between the eyes. I thought: “how have I never heard of this? how could I not have known?” Isla was nine but I felt I was talking to an adult and I’ve been led by her ever since,’ he says.

he vowed then and there to do everything he could to help. ‘It’s more than respect. She’s the most impressive young person I’ve ever come across. She changed me,’ he says.

‘I’m not wanting to sound like an old fart here, but we all take so much for granted. We have so much.’ Sadly, all of us but little

Isla. as the disease marches on, so her life is shrinking. her beloved horse-riding lessons are now in the past. So is school. She has already lost half her skin, along with the use of her fingers and toes, now encased in a layer of skin almost like a mitten, and everything — sitting, eating, drinking, moving — hurts.

While she is extraordinarily impressive, even she can’t remain forever cheerful as she rides the waves of pain.

‘I get very upset sometimes, yes,’ she says quietly. ‘ Usually when that happens, I wait for the next day which might be better. Sometimes, if it all feels a bit too much, I might have a bit of a quiet cry, but mostly I’m okay.’

No wonder Graeme has been so deeply affected.

‘She made me see that I can be more. I can do more,’ he says simply.

In many ways, the swim, the fundraising, all of it, has come at a good time for Graeme who stepped down from Sky last month.

‘I can’t sit about and watch television. I am good at being busy.’

So he swims, plays golf off ten, is in discussions with Glasgow Rangers about an ambassadorial role and is open to more tV punditry.

But right now, it’s all about Isla and Debra — he is vice president of the charity and determined to do all he can to help.

While he loves football, he isn’t steeped in it in the way some former players are.

‘If you came into my house, you’d have no idea. No medals, no cups. Nothing. and I never play.’

But if he was walking down the beach and a football came his way?

‘ah. Well, yes, if it came towards me, I’d smash it back to them! he gleams.

I bet he would. he’s in astonishing shape, despite having been diagnosed with coronary heart disease at 38 and suffered a heart attack at 63. the Channel will be a breeze. he’s been training all winter and eating like a horse.

he’s 70, but looks a good ten years younger, despite a family hoolie last night involving champagne, red wine and white wine.

and those enormous thighs. that chest. those arms and the blindingly white teeth. he’s the man you’d always want on your side. Everything about him is solid and strong and powerful — including his very big heart.

‘I’m a team player. I’m here and I will be for as long as she and her family want me.’

So, finally, I have to ask, is the crying really new, or has it always been part of the secret Souness soft centre?

‘of course I’m emotional when it comes to my kids — who isn’t? But I’m not a tearful person,’ he insists.

Not even over a soppy film or music? he looks at me as if I’m mad. ‘of course not! this is very much me out of my comfort zone. It feels strange.’ and a bit vulnerable?

‘Well, yes… But if it does, I’m quite happy to show that,’ he says firmly. ‘Isla is special. So don’t make me sound like I’m feeling sorry for myself, because none of this is about me. or football. or even the swim. It’s all about Isla. the most amazing girl in the world who is suffering from a disease that we all need to know about and do everything we possibly can to help,’ he says.

and, yes, it goes without saying, his eyes are brimming again.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

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2023-05-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

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