Sad story, but just like gomito i think you people are way too harsh.
Professionally i see quite a lot of people who come from a similar background and quite a few of them are doing well in their later lives...
Placebo, i think you are sounding terribly patronizing. I see you live in Sweden now, do you think that couldn't happen in Sweden...besides nowadays' Sweden is far from the social heaven it used to be.
And if i remember well you used to live in Eastern Europe and Asia too, not exactly social heavens if you ask me, more like dog eat dog societies (i know Asia pretty well).
I don't want to idealize the UK and i know that the class difference is much bigger than in continental Europe, but there are worse places to live than in the UK.
Oh and Foxtrot, if that granddad would have worn a Rangers top, i don't think you would have posted the link...