CAROLINE WEIR says that she is still amazed to see youngsters sporting her name and number on the back of their replica football shirts.

And the 28-year-old admitted that she couldn't have dreamt being invited in to the home of her childhood heroes to pass on some hints and tips when she was beginning her journey in the sport around two decades ago.

The Real Madrid and Scotland ace teamed-up with The Pars Foundation to lead a special camp for more than 150 lucky kids on Friday, and met the Dunfermline Athletic men's first team playing squad and management.

She then joined them for lunch at KDM Group East End Park, where she regularly attended games as a youngster, before embarking on a career that has taken her to, arguably, the world's most famous club.

"It feels different to anything I ever do. Doing anything at home is so nice, and is something I genuinely really enjoy, and would like to make the time for," she said.

"Even coming to East End and going in the changing room bit, seeing the grass and talking to the players - if you told me that that's what I would be doing 20 years ago, when I was coming every Saturday afternoon, sitting in the freezing cold watching the game, I would be like 'no way, that's so cool'!

"I do feel myself kind of progress into a wee girl as soon as I come anywhere near East End. It's been really nice.

"The fan side does come out. It's the only place that really happens because I don't really support any other team. When it's your home town, and you've supported them from when you were really young, it's hard not to be a fan.

"It's nice as because I'm around football all the time, and go to games, I don't really feel like a fan really any time. I don't really watch football the same way, so coming here, I feel like more of a fan, which is nice."

Although finding time to get back to Dunfermline to watch matches is difficult due to her own playing commitments, she does keep tabs on their progress - and revealed she tried to give the players some encouragement.

"I did try! I gave them a few words, but I'm very hopeful. I think things are going to turn around for them," she continued.

"I've got the app on my phone where you can follow different teams, so I follow Dunfermline, and get notifications. Obviously, recently, the notifications haven't been too positive, but I think that's going to change.

"It's obviously a tough league as well, and I know they've had injuries - that can happen - but I was saying that it can turn so quickly. You can be in a bit of bad moment and then, literally, this time next week, we could be having a different conversation if we have a good game."

If finding herself in conversation with the Pars players was something she would've struggled to believe when she started playing football, Caroline admitted the sight of youngsters sporting shirts with her name on continues to feel surreal.

"I think for me, and the coolest thing, that I still can't get my head around, is that kids have your name on the back of their shirt and your number," she added.

Dunfermline Press: Caroline Weir returned to Dunfermline to lead a Pars Foundation football camp.

"I saw so many Real Madrid kits with 'Weir 10', and I think that's so cool because I always Zidane on the back. For kids to have my name on the back, and really be like a fan or whatever, and follow your career, I think is really cool.

"It's not something you ever think of. Even now, it still gets me a little bit. It still surprises me - it's really cool.

"It's just so positive to see so many girls down there playing football."