New strips mean U8 girls join the smart set

Youngsters are part of‘booming’section of Blair club

The “booming” Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club (BRCFC) girls’ section received a further boost recently.

Players with the club’s U8 girls’ team were presented with new strips during a training session at Davie Park in Rattray.

Coach Drew Retson is pictured accepting the strips from Gavin Tolmie, a BRCFC trustee.

Also pictured with the squad are fellow coaches Scott Irvine, Fiona Wolski and David Davey.

Drew explained: “The U8 girls’ team is the youngest generation of a booming girls section at Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club.

“The first girls’ team was started back in 2015 by Lee McDonald, whose team are now playing at U16 level.

“That was the only girls team in the area for quite a while until Claire Mackenzie got involved and started another team in 2018, who are now playing U14 level.

“After an open day held by the community club, that attracted 80 new girls, Lee and Claire were instrumental in getting the girls’ section to where it is now.

“We now have teams at all pathways – U8s, U10s, U12s, U14s and U16s – and a ladies’ team, which trains on Tuesday nights.

“Most of them all train at the new 3G facility at Davie Park, which the community club brought to Blairgowrie.”

The BRCFC U8 girls train for an hour from 5.45pm on Wednesdays and also take part in football festivals across the region on Saturdays – including one in Perth last weekend.

Drew added: “The girls have come on a lot since the team was started a year ago and really seem to be enjoying it.

“I think that has a lot to do with the efforts and enthusiasm of my fellow coaches.”

New players looking to get involved with BRCFC at any age level, girls or boys, can contact the club via its Facebook page.

Free taster sessions for those aged six to 12 years are currently taking place from 4.30pm to 5.30pm on Wednesdays at Davie Park, supported by McDonald’s.

Sessions for any children born in either 2016 or 2017 are being held between the same times at the same venue on Mondays.