North Greenford United FC will have their very own man at the Commonwealth Games this summer – but there won't be a football in sight.
The Southern League club's U18s assistant manager is John McGuinness, who when not coaching the next generation of talent at Berkeley Fields is a top class international bowls player.
Last month, McGuinness was selected to represent England in the triples and fours in Glasgow – a long awaited first major tournament for a man who has been an England international for 15 years.
For although his list of bowls honours reads like a novel, McGuinness sacrificed the chance to play at the Melbourne Games in 2006.
He said: “You have to be a part of the elite squad picked every year to be eligible, and I was part of it in 2006, but as one of the team's elder statesman I was asked to be performance director. I was still allowed to play, but as one of my duties was picking the team, I didn't think it would be fair to pick myself.
“It was a pretty unusual situation, but I chose to make the sacrifice as I knew I would get another chance. I was in the elite squad again for Delhi 2010 but didn't make the final cut, so I'm delighted to have made it this time.”
The County Londonderry-born 47 year old holds another unique record amongst his peers, having played for both Ireland and England.
But how did a man who started playing bowls as an 11 year old in 1978, and was by 1986 a twice Irish U25 singles champion and a senior Ireland international, get involved with grass roots football in west London?
It was after moving to England at the age of 18 that he took a 10 year gap from bowls, at which point he indulged in his other passion. While studying sports science at Borough Road College in Isleworth, he helped their football team win the British College Championship three years in a row, and also played in midfield for Walton & Hersham.
He returned to bowls in 1996, and within four years, after winning eight national titles in both indoors and outdoors bowls, was an England international.
However, football still runs in his veins through his links with at North Greenford, where eldest son Tom plays as a striker for the U18s when not playing county level bowls, while middle son Mark is a highly rated centre-back in the Arsenal Academy.
But what of England's chances in Glasgow? McGuinness is confident of returning with a medal or two to inspire his North Greenford lads with next season.
He added: “England are respected as one of the top teams on the bowls scene. We medalled in Manchester, Melbourne and Delhi and are expecting more this time, but Scotland will be hard to beat on their home turf.”
