A FOOTBALLER who emigrated to New Zealand has become Clydebank's first Olympian. Michael McGlinchey was a member of the Kiwi national football squad who played their last match in the London 2012 games on Wednesday last week. (Aug 1) The player, who enjoyed stints for Celtic, Motherwell and Dunfermline, was based in Scotland for much of his life, despite being born in Wellington, New Zealand.

But his birth country meant he was able to switch nationalities and chose to play for the New Zealand national side who played three games in the London games before being knocked out by Brazil last week.

He now plays for the Aussie-based Central Coast Mariners and has forged a footballing career for himself on the other side of the world.

But the former Bankie says playing in the Olympics has been dream come true for him.

He said: "It's a tournament any player would want to be involved in and it's ashame more Scots weren't part of the GB team.

"I might be the only Scot playing football at the Olympics, which is strange.

"But I've had a rollercoaster three years since moving to Australia getting to the World Cup with New Zealand and now this.

"This is different to any tournament I've ever played in, it was something special."

The Kiwi national side's visit to the UK was a homecoming of sorts for Michael who played for Scotland at under-20 level but changed his allegiance to New Zealand when he reached the ranks of senior level.

The 25-year-old midfielder had risen through the ranks of Celtic after being persuaded by former manager Martin O'Neill to sign with the club at the age of 17.

He was later released by the club in May 2009 and went on to sign a deal with the Aussie side.

But still gets teased about his ccent which he developed during his time in Clydebank.

He said: "I've still got a Scottish accent which I get stick for. But I feel like a proper Kiwi now and don't feel like an outsider.

"The boys have taken to me and I feel like a New Zealander now."