HARASSED & BULLIED

Wheelchair football legend left dossier damning coaches' unfair demands before he died | Grieving parents say son's life was made a misery and call for inquiry into disabled sport

- MARK McGIVERN

A WHEELCHAIR footballer whose death shocked the sport left behind a dossier alleging persistent bullying in the sport. 

Ayrshire Tigers captain James Doull was hailed as a “true legend” of powerchair football when he died in May.

His passing was marked in a motion at the Scottish Parliament, where he was lauded as an “inspiration to others”.

The death of 34-year-old James, who had spina bifida, came three months after he penned a heartbreaking letter of complaint, which laid down claims of bullying and harassment over a four-year period.

His letter sparked an urgent investigation by the Scottish Powerchair Football Association.

When approached by the Daily Record, the SPFA claimed that no allegations against the organisation or individuals were upheld.

But the probe led to a raft of recommendations designed to overhaul its management procedures.

Now James’s parents have called for a higher level inquiry into bullying within disabled football in Scotland.

Grieving mum Ann Doull, 77, said her son was made to feel isolated and distressed by incessant phone calls from coaching staff.

Ann said: “James’s last months were hard enough but he had this horrific conflict with the powerchair football people hanging over him.

“He felt isolated and alone and he was made to feel that he had brought all the problems upon himself.

“But over a period of months he grew to feel bullied.” Ann, from Irvine, Ayrshire, said her son would have to turn his phone off to block calls from coaching staff.

She said: “James was Scotland’s best player and the powerchair such an important part of his life.