A postgraduate student from the University of Aberdeen is set for an experience to remember after receiving an unexpected life‑changing phone call in the middle of exam revision.
Matthew Hamilton, an MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition student, has been appointed as the Sports Scientist to the Scottish Cerebral Palsy Football Team, and will travel to Atlanta with the team when they compete in the IFCPF Men’s World Cup in October.
The student, who was studying in the Sir Duncan Rice Library when he received the call, was contacted directly by the team manager— his childhood football coach—and was offered the position.
Matthew said: “I was sitting in the library revising for my exams when I got the call. It was surreal. Being offered the chance to work with elite level athletes, and to represent the country, was something I could never turn down.”
A lifelong football lover, Matthew, who is originally from Linlithgow, currently plays for Aberdeen University Men’s 3s and comes from a strong footballing background. His brother, father, and grandfather have all played professional football in Scotland, making the sport a defining part of his life.
Drawing on an undergraduate degree in Applied Sports Science and a master’s degree in Sports Nutrition, he is well prepared for the role, which will contribute to both performance and preparation. His post includes designing player specific exercise interventions, advising on nutrition, and supporting training as part of the coaching staff.
In August 2025, the team competed in the European championships at Loughborough university, Matthew’s first European level tournament representing the country.
“I also act as a coach during training sessions to help support the coaching staff. During the European championships, I was in charge of providing nutritional information, taking warmups/cooldowns as well as pre-activation sessions.”
Work for the championships is already underway, and Matthew attends national training sessions once a month—scheduled on weekends to fit around his academic commitments. As the World Cup approaches, his involvement is set to increase as preparations intensify.
He continued: “It is an incredible opportunity. Being able to bring together my academic background, my passion for football, and the chance to support Scotland on the world stage is something I am extremely proud of.”
Dr Brendan Gabriel, course leader for the MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition programme at the University, said: “Matthew is an outstanding student and a real role model for our unique MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition programme. I am not at all surprised by his success, as he combines academic excellence with professional expertise, and most importantly has a genuine passion for supporting athletes to perform at their best. We actively support students like Matthew to integrate their research and studies with applied work in elite sport, and he has done exactly that through his work with the Scotland CP team. His appointment is thoroughly deserved and a fantastic example of science translating directly into performance.”
Billy McAdam, manager of the Scotland National Cerebral Palsy Football team said: “After competing at the World championships in 2024, we held a strategic review of all our football operations. One of the key areas we had identified a massive gap in was Sports Science, we were miles behind the other countries and when you're dealing with players who have different levels of physical ability it was important to get the right person in this role. Having known Matthew for a long time, I knew he was studying sports science at Aberdeen and had a keen interest in football. I was delighted when Matthew accepted my offer to join the team. Matthew worked with us last year in our prep and during the European Championships, providing outstanding support to both players and staff. Matthew is now firmly established and a key part of our team for this year's World Cup in Atlanta.”
The Scotland National CP Team is made up of players from across Scotland with Cerebral Palsy, Stroke or Acquired Brain Injury.
Founded in 1995 in partnership with Scottish Disability Sport, the team has competed across the world in many competitions. Over the last 8 years they have competed with the top 16 elite teams, with their highest ranking of 6th in the world.