Meet the Scots-born star ready to shine in extra special Super Bowl

Graham Gano is set to play in Super Bowl 50.Keith Allison

It’s a bumper weekend of action for the Scottish sports fan with the start of the Six Nations as well as Scottish Cup fifth round weekend.

But there’s extra reason to stay up to watch Super Bowl 50 on Sunday in the form of Scottish-born star and Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano.

Born in Dundee, the American Football star’s father Mark was stationed in Scotland while working for the United States Navy when his son was born.

Kicker Gano grew up along the coast in Arbroath, learning to play football and he attributes his kicking prowess down to those days spent on Scotland’s east coast.

Having dreamed of turning out for the Scotland national side at Hampden, the 28-year-old claimed the Lou Groza Award, given to America’s best college place kicker during an impressive stint at Florida State.

Gano’s NFL career began in 2009 when he joined the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent before moving to the Panthers in 2012 following a spell with the Washington Redskins.

Now he’s ready to take part in the Greatest Show on Earth at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California in front of an expected TV audience of over 120 million.

Should the favoured Panthers succeed in beating the Denver Broncos in lifting the Vince Lombardi trophy then Gano will follow in the footsteps of fellow Scottish kicker Lawrence Tynes, who helped the New York Giants to two titles in 2007 and 2011.

Have a say in the comment section below.