A sculpture of an East Renfrewshire man who became known as 'the father of Brazilian football' is set to be unveiled this summer.

Thomas Donohoe is credited with first introducing football to the South American country back in 1894.

Artist Kate Robinson has designed and is now creating a sculpture of Donohoe that will be placed in his home village of Busby.

Commissioned by East Renfrewshire Council, supported by Busby Community Council and funded by the Scottish Government, it is hoped the new artwork will attract visitors to the area, as well as adding to the cultural and sporting links between Scotland and Brazil.

Donohoe married his wife Eliza in 1890, by which time he was a well-established print worker, alongside his father Patrick, who was a block printer in the local cotton mills.

Most of his siblings also worked in the mills.

Following a decline in the fortunes of the industry in Scotland, Donohoe immigrated to Brazil to work in the developing cotton industry there.

He arrived in Bangu, which is now on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, in 1894.

There has been quite a bit of family research done on Donohoe through the national archives of Scotland by one of his living ancestors, Jim McGuire.

One of seven children, Donohoe lived in a number of addresses in Busby, most notably Riverside Terrace.

He played football in the Scottish local leagues, alongside and against several players who went on to be professionals.

The first football match in Brazil was organised by Donohoe and took place in August 1894. From that moment, he began to organise matches at the Bangu Mill, where he worked, and staged local competitions with other migrant groups and workplaces.

It was from these humble beginnings that 'the beautiful game' went on to become the premier sport of Brazil, with Donohoe playing a key role.

Today, football has become an essential part of Brazilian culture and the local Bangu football team, Bangu Atlético, take great pride in the contribution Donohoe made to the sport all those years ago.

So much so that they commissioned a five-metre-tall statue of him which was unveiled to mark the 2014 World Cup, the final of which was hosted in Rio.

Kate said she has been inspired by the international aspect of Donohue's story, as well as the connections between people in Scotland and Brazil.

"I am creating the bust of Thomas in clay and then the model is cast in carbon fibre," she added. "Modelling in clay is like telling a story in three dimensions."

East Renfrewshire Council leader Tony Buchanan said: “Already honoured with a sculpture in Brazil, I think it is fitting that we pay tribute to football legend Thomas Donohoe in his home town of Busby.

"I look forward to seeing the finished sculpture and would encourage people to visit Busby and discover the great range of local businesses on offer.”

The sculpture is due to be unveiled at the end of August.