That’s because the determined Duntocher woman will be on a par with her dad Jim — a former Clydebank FC footballer — who was also given the rare opportunity to play at the national stadium in his youth.

Over the years a friendly rivalry has developed between the two about their achievements in the sports world — with Alison’s dad claiming he had the unbeatable accolade of gracing the hallowed Hampden turf while wearing the dark blue of Scotland on his back.

However, 29-year-old Alison, a shot put athlete, is now hoping to go one better and walk in to the stadium wearing her country’s famous blue, but walk out wearing gold. She told the Post: “My dad was a footballer for Clydebank and he played for Scotland juniors and he always reminds me that that’s the one thing he’s done that I’ve not. Now that’s us on an even keel.

“Once Glasgow won the bid for the Commonwealth Games, we always knew it would be at Hampden so I had to qualify to get one over my dad. It was always a competition with us and when I was young I was always trying to catch him.

“He could always say to me that he performed at Hampden and now that’s me above him.” But, despite the banter in the build up to the Games Alison has said her dad has also given her some good advice.

She added: “He’s told me to soak up everything and to make the most of it as it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.” Originally from the town, Alison now lives in Leicester and balances her athletic commitments and training with her full-time work as an HR administrator for Intertek, a quality and testing company. Two years ago she had hoped to make it to the London 2012 Olympic trials before a bad knee injury two weeks before the British Championships left her on the sidelines facing six months out of the sport.

But depsite the adversity she has no regrets and insists that she would rather have made it to Glasgow if given a choice.

She said: “I moved down in 2009, I was training towards the Olympics but that fell through when I got injured but I thought I’d stay down here and try and get to Glasgow.

“I’m training six days a week for two and a half hours each day after work. It’s a pretty long day but you get used to it and I’ve done it for a long time now.

“It’s coming back home for me so it’s going to be extra special to be in front of a home crowd and I’ve got quite a lot of family and friends coming to watch. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like.” Alison is scheduled to take part in the women’s shot put event tonight (Wednesday) and everyone at the Clydebank Post wishes her the best of luck.