The SON of a former Celtic football star has spoken of his pride after playing in his first international golfing tournament -- despite only being partially sighted.

Barry McCluskey, the son of Celtic ace George McCluskey who played for the club during the 70s, was registered as partially sighted earlier this year.

But the passionate golfer hasn’t let his sight problems deter him, going on to play in the Blind Golfing Open in July this year.

And Barry now hopes to get sponsorship to enable him to pay in competitions all over the world.

The 36-year-old has been playing golf since he was a teenager but was diagnosed with serious sight problems in 2000 and had a cornea transplant when he was just 18.

Barry from Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, was diagnosed with keratoconus -- an eye condition where the cornea thins causing a cone-like bulge to develop.

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The learning assistant said: "I have been playing golf since I was about 13-years-old. Throughout my childhood, I have always been a big golfing fan.

"I picked it up with my dad and then when I was a bit older I joined a club.

"In 2000 when I was 18 I was diagnosed with keratoconus, so my eye is out of shape now and it doesn’t take in light perception well.

"My eyes are extremely light sensitive and my pupil doesn’t dilate properly.

"I started to notice it when I was in college doing health and fitness. I couldn’t see the presentations in class right or the balls out on the field."

In 2000 Barry underwent a cornea transplant operation to try and improve his sight.

He said: "I had a cornea transplant in my left eye in 2000. I basically had my cornea cut out and a new one put it.

"It was a very serious operation because my eye had to accept the new cornea and thankfully it did.

"But while my eye didn’t reject it my vision is not as good as the doctors thought it would be.

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"It has started to develop in my right eye too now.

"But doctors are reluctant to give me another transplant because I already have so much scaring - they don’t want to give me more if the operation then isn’t successful.

"I also had cataracts removed from both of my eyes in 2008."

Barry, who tees up at Bothwell Castle golf club, South Lanarkshire, plays off a handicap of 16 but needs a guide to help him get around the course.

He said: "Over the years I was able to see the ball on the green but in the last year I have noticed a big change in my sight for the worse.

"And then in January, I was registered as partially sighted.

"It means now I can’t be on the golf course by myself I always need to be with someone.

"I have a golfing guide who tees me up and lines up my shots for me. I can see the ball at my feet but as soon as I play it, someone else has to watch where it goes.

"All the colours merge into one - I can’t tell the green apart from the trees - and I can’t see the hole.

"I do get frustrated because I know I can play better. But I am starting to come to terms with the fact I won't be as good because of my sight."

"I played at the British Blind Golfing Open in July and finished in the top ten which I was incredibly proud of for my first international competition.

"There are opportunities to go to competitions all over the world, so to get some sponsorship would be great.

"I would love to get more people involved with the sport."

Dad George McCluskey signed full time for Celtic in July 1974.

He made his debut in October 1975 when he came on as a sub and scored as Celtic defeated FC Valur 7-0 in the European Cup Winners' Cup at Parkhead.

He is now a coach at Celtic's Youth Academy.