Copyright dailyrecord
When Scott Montgomery walks through the doors of The Killie Community Hub each morning, he does so with gratitude, purpose – and a smile that once seemed impossible. Just three years ago, Scott was at his lowest ebb. He had lost his beloved son Ben to cancer after years of watching him bravely battle an incredibly rare genetic condition. The grief consumed him. He put on weight, withdrew from friends, and, in his own words, “had my letters written out to my family”. “I know for a fact that if I hadn’t come across The Killie Community when I did, I wouldn’t be here today,” Scott says quietly. “That’s how far down the line I was.” Everything changed the day he saw an advert for one of the charity’s Football Fans in Training sessions – a health and wellbeing programme run at Rugby Park . He decided to give it a try, more to keep his family happy than from any real hope. But from the moment he walked through the doors, something shifted. “Craig, one of the staff, made me feel so welcome. The group was brilliant. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I belonged somewhere.” Over the following months, Scott threw himself into every session. He began to lose weight – dropping from 24 stone to 16 – but more importantly, he started to rediscover himself. “It gave me purpose again,” he says. “I couldn’t wait for the next class. If a week went by without coming here, I’d feel lost.” His commitment and positivity didn’t go unnoticed. The Killie Community team invited him to start volunteering, helping out with walking groups and community sessions. And now, in a story that’s come full circle, Scott has been offered a full-time role as a community hub officer, a job he describes as “the biggest honour of my life”. “When Jordan (Allison, The Killie Community manager) told me, I was blown away. I wasn’t expecting it. He said my experience – especially around mental health – could really help others. That meant the world to me.” Scott’s role involves working with people of all ages and backgrounds, with a special focus on additional support needs– something he’s passionate about after years working in social care. “My aim is to make the Hub the heartbeat of Kilmarnock ,” he says. “A place where everyone feels welcome, supported and part of something special.” The award-winning Killie Community is the official charity partner of Kilmarnock FC, using the power of football to transform lives. Through education, health, sport and inclusion projects, it reaches thousands of people each year – people like Scott, who credits the charity not just with helping him, but with saving him. “The staff, the volunteers, the people who come here – they’ve all been a massive part of saving my life. This isn’t just a job. It’s home.” Scott’s late son Ben would no doubt be proud. Born with a unique chromosome disorder so rare it was named Ben Montgomery Syndrome, Ben endured countless operations and years of poor health, yet never complained. “He cared more about everyone else than himself,” Scott remembers fondly. “He was my hero. If I can be half the man he was, I’ll be proud.” A passionate Killie fan, Ben loved going to matches with his dad. His final game was one to remember– the day Kilmarnock won the league, he ran on to the pitch to celebrate. Today, a plaque in the club’s memorial garden keeps Ben’s memory close. Scott recently took part in the charity’s Strictly Come Dancing fundraiser, performing a ballroom routine inspired by his son’s journey. “We used a sparkly ball to represent Ben,” he says, smiling. “I danced it in bare feet, and although I came last, it was one of the best nights of my life.” Scott laughs as he recalls it, but the message behind his story is serious – and deeply inspiring. “I’m proof that no matter how bad things get, there’s always a way back,” he says. “For me, that way back was The Killie Community.” For further information, visit https://kilmarnockfc.co.uk/community
