Brora Rangers Ladies and Girls win £1000 in funding from ScottishPower Highlands and Islands competition
Brora Rangers has been awarded £1000 in a ScottishPower funding competition dedicated to providing essential support for women and girls football clubs.
Launched specifically for clubs across the Highlands and Islands, as part of ScottishPower becoming the first ever title sponsor for Scottish Women’s Football’s Highlands and Islands league, the competition is the latest initiative in the landmark three-year partnership deal, dedicated to energising women’s football at every age and stage across the country.
Four separate prizes of £1000 were up for grabs, with Brora Rangers being joined by Caithness WFC, Shetland Girls and Buckie Ladies.
The club will use their winners’ funding to support their focus on youth development by purchasing new training equipment for all junior sections of the club, beginning with their ‘Mini-Kickers’ section which starts with girls as young as three years old.
By improving training equipment, the club hopes to attract new players and provide a high standard of playing experience for girls in the region, as well as developing players to feature in the club’s senior section.
Throughout the partnership, ScottishPower is working closely with SWF in supporting the women’s game for both this and future generations by driving equality and diversity all the way from grassroots to elite.
Commenting, SWF chief executive officer Aileen Campbell said: “Congratulations to Brora Rangers Ladies and Girls on their funding award.
“Improving equipment and creating opportunities for girls to get into football at early age groups is vital to the continued growth of women’s and girls’ football in the Highlands and Islands.
“The entries from all clubs showed the unique challenges they face across the Highlands and Islands and the aspirations they have to overcome them.
“The competition wasn’t easy to judge but it was clear Brora Rangers demonstrated a commitment to youth development that made them worthy winners, and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact that the funding can have for the club.
“As we mark the first anniversary of our partnership, together with ScottishPower we’re committed to energising women’s and girls’ football at every level across Scotland”.
Claire Matheson, Brora Rangers Ladies and Girls senior player, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this prize money, which will enable us to take a significant step forward in our ambitions to improve equipment and attract new players to our women and girls’ teams.
“It’s so important that girls across the region have a chance to play and enjoy football and we’re excited to see the positive impact this will have on the growth and development of our football community.”
Julie Keough, brand director at ScottishPower said: “Being able to support Brora Rangers Ladies and Girls to invest in youth development through our competition is an honour and we have no doubts we will see great things from them in the future.
“We were so impressed by the calibre of entries to our competition, many of whom have incredible ideas about how they can bolster women’s and girls’ football in their area.
“It’s been wonderful to see the enthusiasm the teams and their supporters have and shows, once again, how important it is to provide support and funding to women’s football teams of all levels – something we are very proud to be playing a part in.”