Young footballers at Cumnock Juniors Girls have received a major equipment boost after being nominated for a ScottishPower prize giveaway by Kilmarnock midfielder and local PE teacher Abby Robinson.
The club is the latest grassroots side to benefit from a ScottishPower “Power Moment”, receiving six kit packages containing footballs, training bibs, cones and water bottles.
Ten pairs of brand-new football boots were also donated, helping to reduce some of the financial barriers that can prevent girls and young women from taking part in football.
ScottishPower is the exclusive Principal Partner of Scottish Women’s Football and the Scottish Women’s Premier League and supports the women’s game from grassroots level through to the elite leagues.
Cumnock Juniors Girls was nominated for the giveaway by Abby Robinson, who plays in midfield for SWPL2 side Kilmarnock.
Abby, who still lives in Cumnock, is also active in encouraging the next generation of players through her role as a community coach, having progressed through Kilmarnock’s Leadership Academy.
She joined Stuart McMillan, Ayrshire District General Manager at ScottishPower’s SP Energy Networks, at a Cumnock Juniors Girls U14 training session to meet the players and hand over the new equipment.
Abby said opportunities for young female footballers in the area had improved significantly since she first started playing.
She said: “When I was growing up, there weren’t many opportunities for girls to play football here. I even trained with a boys’ team for a while. When you see the set-up that Cumnock Girls has now, it’s fantastic.
“Facilities were limited when I was young, and the hand-me-down kits were always far too big for me because I was quite small.
“Having their own kit packages now, thanks to ScottishPower, makes a real difference. It gives the girls a sense of pride and responsibility and helps them feel part of the team.
“It’s so important that girls feel included, especially at this stage of their football journey. Inclusion can make a huge difference to confidence and participation.
“It’s a real credit to ScottishPower for supporting young people and helping create opportunities for girls to enjoy the game.”
Abby also encouraged young players to continue working towards their goals.
She added: “My advice to girls playing football today would be to always believe in yourself, keep striving to be the best version of yourself and never give up.
“If you work hard and keep pushing forward, you can achieve great things.”
Cumnock Juniors Girls U14 head coach Grace Carson said the club had experienced significant growth during the past five years.
It has expanded from one team to around 10, with more than 140 girls and women now taking part.
The club’s youngest player is six years old, while its oldest member is 70 and plays in the walking football team.
Grace said: “I’ve been coaching the girls here for around five years now, and it’s been fantastic to see the team I started with continue their journey through the age groups and progress to playing 11-a-side football.
“This current squad is incredibly talented, full of individual ability and a great group of girls to work with.
“The club has grown massively too. We started with just one team and now have around 10 teams, with more than 140 girls and women taking part.”
She said the equipment would help players feel more confident and provide them with a stronger sense of belonging.
Grace added: “A huge thank you to ScottishPower for providing this kit for our girls. It will make a real difference.
“We’re based in an area facing significant challenges, and having a club like this gives girls a place to come together, stay active and enjoy being part of a team.
“Having their own kit helps them feel a real sense of belonging and confidence and supports them on a pathway to achieve whatever they set their minds to.”
ScottishPower chief executive Keith Anderson said the company’s partnership with women’s football was focused on promoting inclusion, equality and long-term opportunities.
He said: “Our goal as a company is to promote sustainability and inclusion, which is why we work to energise the women’s game, breaking down existing barriers to facilitate growth, promote equality and inspire support for girls in sport for generations to come.
“Grassroots football is the heartbeat of our communities, which is why we must promote inclusivity so that girls have equal opportunities to play too.
“Our support helps to realise potential and recognise and grow the talent of the future, so it’s great to see Cumnock Juniors join our long list of Power Moment partners.”
ScottishPower said it is investing £18 million every day in projects supporting Britain’s transition to clean energy.
The company is also a major employer in Scotland and has placed a particular focus on encouraging more women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Its work in women’s sport complements the activities of parent company Iberdrola, whose support is estimated to have reached around 600,000 athletes.