Heart condition has taught me there’s more to life than football, says Larne’s Scott Allan

Larne's Scott Allan in action against Linfield

Larne players wore shirts in support of the British Heart Foundation NI

Glentoran's Fuad Sule during the warm-up at Inver Park

Former Manchester United and Ajax defender Daley Blind was diagnosed with Myocarditis

Larne's Leroy Millar shows his support for the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland

Larne midfielder Scott Allan has revealed how his own health battle changed his life as he voiced his support for an initiative backed by the Northern Ireland Football League and British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland.

More than 1,500 Irish League players and coaches and around 10,000 supporters in Northern Ireland are being given the opportunity to learn vital lifesaving skills during Heart Month in February.

Players wore British Heart Foundation NI T-shirts before Larne’s Premiership clash with Glentoran at Inver Park on Friday night.

The NIFL has agreed to promote the charity’s free and innovative online CPR training tool RevivR.

There are over 1,400 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in Northern Ireland and less than one in 10 people survive, a statistic the BHF is determined to improve by giving everyone the opportunity to learn CPR.

Glenavon manager Stephen McDonnell has spoken about his experiences living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and it’s a journey that Allan can empathise with.

The Glasgow man was diagnosed with the same heart condition and the former Dundee United star has also lived with Type 1 diabetes. Former Celtic and Hibernian man Allan feels blessed to still be involved in football after dealing with difficult health challenges in his life.

The 32-year-old feared his career was over at the age of just 29, but he’s come through that shock and