THE eagerly-awaited Homeless World Cup gets underway in George Square on Sunday.

The tournament - won by Scotland in 2007 and 2011 - uses football to energise homeless people to change their lives.

A total of 64 teams, representing 52 countries, will come together in the city over seven days to highlight the life-changing work of the Homeless World Cup National Partner network.

The 512 players all have a story to tell - among them a man from Glasgow.

There will be a special face in the crowd in George Square on Sunday when William McGeouch walks out at the start of the Homeless World Cup.

Read more: Glasgow Restaurant grabs a slice of Homeless World Cup action

William, 55, is a goalkeeper with Team Scotland. And watching him from the stands will be Susan (not her real name) - the daughter he met for the first time only in February.

"It's fantastic that we're in touch with each other now, and it is going to be brilliant playing on Sunday and knowing that she will be watching me."

William himself was born in Arden. He had an unsettled childhood.

His mum left home when he was young and his dad brought the family up. When he was nine, William stayed with his aunt, and that lasted until he was 14.

He ran away to Edinburgh. “I worked with some pop groups and kidded on I was 17,” he said. “I was caught and they were going to take me back to my aunt but I said no, I’d rather go into a home.”

His two years in a children’s home “was the best thing I ever did. It was absolutely fantastic. We started a football team and played kids from other homes.”

He got a job in a Gorbals sawmill and met the woman who would become his first wife. “We split up and a year later I found out she was pregnant.

“I just got in contact for the first time with Susan recently. She’s 36 years old now. I’ve been looking for her all this time.

“My ex called me and told me that somebody was looking for me,” said William. “She gave me a phone number.

Read more: Glasgow Restaurant grabs a slice of Homeless World Cup action

“I rang it, and it was my daughter’s partner. He asked me a few questions - my full name, date of birth - and he told her, ‘Aye, it’s him’.

“He asked if I could phone her back, and when I rang back 10 minutes later I found myself talking to Susan for the very first time.

“It was absolutely fantastic. We were texting each other on Sunday and she asked me, do you know how many texts we have sent each other?

“She said, ‘Since February it’s been 271 texts.

“We’ve met up, and we’ve spoken to each other on the phone.

“She’s got two kids of her own now. One’s 10 and the other has just turned 14. So I’ve got grandkids now.”

William has two other daughters in his life aged 28, and three-and-a-half years.

“I’ve done a few jobs here and there,” he says. “Window cleaning, gardening, cooking - I got a job in the Clarendon bar in Maryhill Road.”

For the last eight months William has lived in the Salvation Army hostel in Burnbank Gardens. “It’s really good and very clean,” he says. “We all get on great together.”

William, a lifelong football fan, got to hear of Street Soccer Scotland’s drop-in sessions at Townhead through a member of staff at the hostel.

He went along and got hooked. He heard there were trials for the Scotland men’s team at the Homeless World Cup. He was initially told that he wouldn’t be included in the squad, but he persisted, and his luck changed, and on Sunday he will take to the special pitch in George Square as goalkeeper.

The two Scotland teams - men’s and women’s - will both be in action on Sunday, the men’s team against Hong Kong and the women’s against Norway.

“I’m looking forward it so much,” he says. “I’m looking forward to talking to players from other countries, to finding out about different cultures. It will be great to have a meal and a chat with them.

“I walked round the square today and saw the pitch and the stands, and I felt goosebumps on my arm. Even talking about it just now, I’m getting goosebumps.

Read more: Glasgow Restaurant grabs a slice of Homeless World Cup action

”It's starting to feel real now. We can’t wait to walk out in front of a packed stadium to kick off.

“For all of us it's been a journey of hard work, and now we're excited to get things started against Hong Kong.”

William added: “All my mates are coming through to watch the action on Sunday. I’ve told them to come through early if they want to get a seat.”

The best part, though, will be the presence of his long-lost daughter. “She’s coming through with her two kids.

“None of them are into football but they’re coming through because I’m involved in the Homeless World Cup.

“It’s going to be fantastic playing for the team, knowing that Susan will be looking on.”

Websites: www.homelessworldcup.org; www.streetsoccerscotland.org