by Nicola Brown

WITH the flame extinguished at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, our gaze turns to the light from Clydebank clubs and athletes championing disability sports.

The tally for the paralympic GB team finishing of to the area.

Taking inspiration from local athletic stars, such as para-cyclist Hannah Dines from Anniesland, there's hope the games will bring about positive change.

From an early age Hannah, now 23, suffered from cerebral palsy - a neurological condition affecting movement and co-ordination. Beginning her athletic career as a RaceRunner, she later took up cycling and went on to compete at this year's Paralympic Games.

According to Scottish Disability Sport, within the West of Scotland the representation of disability sport is continuing to increase every year. There is a growing demand for opportunities to participate and compete within West Dunbartonshire, with a 295 per cent increase in the numbers of school pupils attending disability sport sessions within the local authority over the last five years.

One local group proving there is a growing demand is disability football team, the Fortune Flyers, founded in 2013 by Jason Methven from Clydebank.

"We've seen a meteoric rise since the club was first set up in 2013," explained Jason.

"We've grown and grown and now have guys from 18 to men in their 50s taking part and there's no sign of the demand waning."

Having won a number of awards in their three short years, they are a testament to what can be achieved. In their second year the team were crowned Scottish Disability Sport Champions and last year won the SFA Cashback League 1, meaning they will be promoted to the premier league for the next season.

"Three years ago when I first started the club there was nothing, we were the only ones," said Jason. "The growth we've seen and number of players now involved shows just what a demand there is for disability football.

"Two weeks ago we set up the Disability Futsal Glasgow club, a modified 5-a-side game played indoors with a heavier ball, and we're also in the process of starting up a women's league."

One athlete who has a local club to thank for giving him his sporting start is 22-year-old Martin Perry from Paisley.

Born three months premature with congenital limb loss and deformity, his family and active lifestyle ensured sporting success was always seen as achievable.

"Growing up with three older brothers I had no time to sit down and feel sorry for myself," Martin told the Post.

Finding a natural talent for table tennis aged 17 at a Scottish Disability Sport residential summer camp, here he was first introduced to Drumchapel Table Tennis Club and Terry McLernon MBE who started the club more than 25 years ago.

"When I first started playing with the Drumchapel Table Tennis Club I was just playing recreationally," he said. "One of my teammates at the time secured tickets for the team bronze medal matches at London 2012 and he asked me join him. We witnessed Paralympics GB win two medals that day and had an incredible time.

"It was then I knew I really wanted to push myself on as a player and become a Paralympian."

In 2015 Martin's hard work paid off, when he became the table tennis Scottish champion. Withdrawing from university to focus on the sport full-time, he now trains with the GB Para Table Tennis squad in Sheffield and is at a career high, placed 5th in the world for under 23's.

"The London Paralympic Games had a massive impact on paralympic sport for the better," Martin continued.

"More awareness of sport and availability was prominent within the community and members of the public really seemed interested in the events.

"I hope that with the success of London and with para athletes now household names, Rio can hopefully take another step forward in bringing paralympic sport mainstream and to the masses."

Another community group already noticing positive change is the Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club (DDSC).

Set up in 2010, the group was initiated by volunteers who realised there wasn't enough opportunities in the local area to become physically active. Acknowledging the Paralympic Games raising the profile for disability sport, chairman Allan Clark recognised they may have helped us in a successful funding application to Children in Need for a main grant of £48,650, which will help fund activities for the next three years.

He added: "As a parent of children with disabilities I see the impact of the Para Olympics as a hugely positive one and I could see both my disabled children as athletes and Olympians of the future given the right support."