Jelina Berlow-Rahman, who had a kidney transplant in 2009, has become the first woman to compete for Scotland alongside men in an international football competition.
News Norman Silvester 04:30, 13 Apr 2025
A lawyer who spent years on a kindey dialysis machine has become the first woman to compete for Scotland alongside men in an international football competition.
Jelina Berlow-Rahman took part in the European Transplant Football Championship in Oxford, which ended last weekend. Every player had suffered organ failure in the past and gone on to receive a kidney, liver or heart transplant.
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Jelina, who had a kidney transplant in 2009, was the sole woman from the six countries, which also included England, Wales, Ireland, Spain and Italy, to take part in the games.
She said: “The last time I played football was when I was 12. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be putting another pair of football boots on at the age of 46, let alone be selected as the first and only woman to play for Scotland Transplant football in the Europeans at an international level.
“I felt proud and honoured to step out on to the football pitch and represent Scotland. I was surprised to learn I was the only woman to play in Euro 2025, but I wore that badge with my head held high.
“It didn’t hit me until someone turned around and said, ‘You are part of Scottish history, you are not only part of the first Scotland Transplant football team but also the first woman and only woman to represent Scotland.’”
The Scotland side only formed last November and had been training once a month to get ready for the five-day tournament which ended last Sunday. Despite finishing last, they managed an 8-1 win over Ireland and were praised for their performances.
Jelina played in three matches, including the Ireland walloping and against winners England, where she played in midfield and defence.
The solicitor, who runs her own law firm in Glasgow, said: “The team have been very welcoming and encouraged me all the way. We all had one thing in common on that field.
“We could relate to each other when we were exhausted and out of breath. We all had common stories and common medication, and I suppose that united us all.
“Our motto since we formed in November was we were doing this to remember our donor and their families.”
The team was founded by ex-pro player and Inverness fire service support worker Duncan Mcaulay, 57, who had a heart transplant two years ago.
The 21-strong Scotland squad included players aged between 27 and 63 as well as coaches and backroom staff. The matches were seven-a-side and contact was banned to protect the players. Substitutions could be made at any point.
Jelina, who is married with a daughter, had her transplant in 2009 after a four-year wait.
Until then she attended Glasgow Royal Infirmary three days a week for 20 hours of dialysis treatment.
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Jelina was given special permission by the Law Society of Scotland to see clients in the ward and work on cases while having treatment.
She has had a number of high- profile clients over the years including the family of death-in-custody victim Allan Marshall.
