Irish lad chosen for Euro 2004 final ceremony

A brave nine-year-old Irish boy, picked to take part in the final ceremony of Euro 2004, is due to undergo pioneering surgery in less than a fortnight, it emerged today.

Ryan Patterson, from Co Tyrone in Northern Ireland, was born without a right hand.

But he has refused to let the disability hold him back and is a keen sportsman with a passion for football, particularly playing in goal.

His determination was recognised when he was chosen as an escort to walk out with the players ahead of Sunday’s final between hosts Portugal and Greece.

Shortly after Ryan, from the village of Seskinore, returns home, he is due to set off again to hospital in Leeds for an operation intended to give him greater movement.

The operation, scheduled for July 14, will involve removing a toe from each of his feet and surgically attaching them to what there is of his hand.

His mother, Grace Patterson, said: “The date for Ryan’s surgery came through on the same day as we heard he had won the Euro 2004 competition.”

Ryan was put forward to be chosen as an escort by his primary school teacher, Sam Dennison, as part of competition run by fast food chain McDonald’s.

Ryan, who is travelling to Portugal with father Ian, a dairy farmer, said he was “delighted” but "nervous" at his role in the final.