Carly- Rose is winner with Gary
Carly- Rose Spence couldn’t wipe the smile from her face.
The 14- year- old got to play at Somerset Park and show off her skills in front of a former Scotland international.
Carly- Rose was representing Belmont Academy at the Bank of Scotland Midnight League South West Regional Final.
And former Ayr United winger Gary Teale, the club’s costliest ever export, was playing a key role.
The Bank of Scotland Midnight League is a national network of diversionary five- a- side football activities, targeting 12 to 16- year- olds across the country.
Run in partnership with the SFA and supported by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities programme, local council or trust funding, the league programme takes place in all 32 Scottish local authorities.
Carly- Rose, of Mossblown, enjoyed the big day. She said: “I love playing football because it is active and it gets you out and about. It’s a great experience.
“This is the first year I have played in the Midnight League and I have really enjoyed it. It was quite nerve- wracking to play in front of Gary, because he is amazing at playing football.
“I used to watch him play when he was a Scotland international, but I was a bit scared to ask him for some tips!”
Played across three categories – junior ( 12- 13 boys), senior ( 14- 16 boys) and a girls section – more than 200 young footballers from across the south- west of Scotland took to the pitch.
Ambassador Teale was on hand to present medals and trophies to participants and pass on a few words of wisdom to the eager youngsters.
Gary said: “The Bank of Scotland Midnight League is a fantastic programme, and football obviously plays a big part in the culture of Scotland and worldwide, so it’s great to be associated given that I have been playing for so long.
“I came down last year to see the work that the guys have been doing, promoting football and giving kids something to do.
“It’s a definite attraction for them, as opposed to hanging about and not doing anything, so I feel very fortunate that I have been asked along this year.
“The talent is wide and varied but a few kids have caught my eye.”
Bank of Scotland Midnight League is a free community football programme delivered across all 32 local authorities in Scotland, aimed at boys and girls aged 12 to 16. For more information visit: www. scottishfa. co. uk/ midnightleague