Problem with SQL query inside a php function

[EquinoxWorld]

Hello everyone, I am trying to wrap a SQL query with a function to later pass as a variables into one of my templates. Whenever I run this simple query (for example to get the number of the contest) not wrapped as a function, it returns the value fine (which is 1). The following works perfect:

PHP Code:

<?php
define('CSRF_PROTECTION', true); 
require_once('./global.php');
    $result = $vbulletin->db->query("SELECT id FROM cotw_sotw_time_end ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1"); 
    $row = mysql_fetch_row($result); 
    echo $row[0];
?>

When I try to wrap a function around it and try and call it to verify the function is printing out what is expected I get a 500 Internal Server Error using the following code:

PHP Code:

<?php
define('CSRF_PROTECTION', true); 

function sotw_number() {
require_once('./global.php');
    $result = $vbulletin->db->query("SELECT id FROM cotw_sotw_time_end ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1"); 
    $row = mysql_fetch_row($result); 
    echo $row[0];
}

sotw_number();
?>

Even using the following code I get the 500 internal server error.

PHP Code:

<?php
define('CSRF_PROTECTION', true); 

function sotw_number($dummy) {
require_once('./global.php');
    $result = $vbulletin->db->query("SELECT id FROM cotw_sotw_time_end ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT 1"); 
    $row = mysql_fetch_row($result); 
    echo $row[0];
}

sotw_number(true);
?>

My question is how can I get the function to "display" the results correctly having a SQL query inside? Any ideas anyone? If anyone has any input or feedback please don't hesitate to share.

Thanks for your time everyone.