ELEVEN girls from the Inverkeithing-based team, Swifts FC, have been recognised for their voluntary work by their local MP. 

Douglas Chapman, MP for Dunfermline West, awarded the girls a framed version of a Government Early Day Motion (EDM), recognising their achievements in supporting the Euro Nations qualifiers for Amputee Football in Dalgety Bay.

Before presenting the framed EDM to the volunteers, Douglas joined the girls for a training drill before showing off his own football skills in a penalty shoot which he diplomatically allowed to end in a draw.

He said: “The message on the EDM says it all. The girls’ conscientiousness helped raise the profile of amputee football in Scotland and across Europe, and I commend them for being a fantastic credit to their parents and great ambassadors for the club and the region.

Dunfermline Press: Douglas Chapman MP with the Swifts team.Douglas Chapman MP with the Swifts team. (Image: Contributed)

“By giving up their own free time, they helped make the event a huge success and will hopefully provide an inspiration for many more children and youths across our region of Fife to do similar in the future.”

The girls acted as ball girls throughout the qualifiers and while Scotland qualified for the next round of the tournament, the event was blighted by horrendous weather. Unlike the players and officials who were given some respite between their own games, the girls had to sit out in the lashing rain and high winds throughout to ensure every game was supported by an efficient and hard-working team of ball girls.

The recently honoured girls were Izzy Breach, Ellie Breach, Robyn Clarkson, Lucy Final, Amy Inness, Sophia Hanlon, Erin Lane, Erin Milne, Keira Moffat, Ava Morris and Olivia Morris. Co-ordinating them for the two days was David Breach, who coaches the girls as part of the Swifts All Blacks U-14s side.

Dunfermline Press: Douglas joins in training to show off some of his own footballing skills.Douglas joins in training to show off some of his own footballing skills. (Image: Contributed)

“The girls were amazing all weekend in horrendous weather and made a great impression on the players and officials of the tournament,” said David.

“They received an almost minute-long round of applause at the closing ceremony, and I received many messages from around the world in the weeks after the event, thanking them for their efforts.

"The national Amputee team now train regularly at Dalgety Bay and I am sure the impression the girls made on them was part of their reason for doing so. The girls even have a small fan club in Kosovo that asks about All Blacks results regularly!

“At a time when children are often maligned in the press, the volunteers represented the true, selfless face of Fife youth.

"For a Westminster MP to acknowledge the girls with an EDM and to then take the time to personally present them with a framed copy is a testament to that, and the club and I are very grateful to Douglas for doing so."