Craig Gordon's wife, Summer, has paid a moving tribute to the Scotland goalkeeper ahead of his World Cup debut this weekend. The 43-year-old is the oldest player in the tournament, and Summer took to Instagram to share her pride.
Heartfelt Instagram Post
Former Celtic TV presenter Summer Gordon, 31, posted a close-up shot of Craig with his goalie gloves on Tuesday evening. She wrote: "Not many get to represent their country. Even fewer do it at a World Cup. Even less are there as the tournament's oldest player. 1248 players… and you're still living your dream. Not by luck, not by chance, but because you're you. World Cup week… see you in Boston x"
Gordon made his Scotland debut 22 years ago, before three of the current squad were even born. The youngest players in the Scotland team are Ben Gannon-Doak (20), Findlay Curtis (20), and Tyler Fletcher (19). If Gordon gets game time, he will become the second oldest player in World Cup history.
Remarkable Comeback from Injuries
Gordon's inclusion is remarkable given his injury history. In 2012, he suffered patellar tendinitis, an overuse injury connecting the kneecap to the shinbone. After three surgeries, experts advised him to retire, and he was unable to play until 2014. More recently, in March this year, he traveled to London to see a spine doctor for a neck injury. Doctor Usamah Jannoun warned him of life-threatening risks, but Gordon was determined to make the World Cup. He admitted that without the tournament, he would "probably called it quits at the end of last season."
Family Support
Craig and Summer, together since 2017, share three sons: Ace (5), Axel, and Archer (born April 9). Summer shared polaroid snaps of the family holding the newborn. She also posted a photo of Ace holding Scotland flags, captioning: "Last day of nursery before we leave. Heading in with flags for everyone." Another snap showed Ace waving flags to 'Free From Desire', which she called "iconic nursery behaviour."
Scotland's first World Cup game is against Haiti at Gillette Stadium in Boston on Saturday, June 12, at 9pm local time. It will be broadcast live on the BBC at 2am on Sunday, June 13 for Scots.
