Greenock Juniors 2009s have enjoyed an outstanding 2025/2026 season, achieving significant success both on and off the pitch while making a meaningful impact within the wider Inverclyde community.

On the pitch, the team experienced one of the most successful seasons in the club’s recent history. They reached both the Inverclyde League Cup Final and the West Region Cup Final, an exceptional achievement given the scale and quality of competition, with around 70 teams entering the West Region Cup. The squad went on to be crowned West Region Cup Winners, overcoming some of the strongest grassroots teams in the west of Scotland. They also narrowly missed out on the Inverclyde League Cup after a penalty shootout and secured a top-half finish in Division One, demonstrating consistency across a highly competitive campaign.

The season also included an unforgettable international experience, with the squad travelling to Barcelona to compete in the Copa Castell tournament against teams from across Europe. The players recorded impressive victories over sides from Switzerland, Germany and France, showcasing the strength of grassroots football in Inverclyde. The trip provided valuable exposure to different styles of play, while also building confidence, strengthening friendships and allowing the team to represent both Greenock Juniors and Scotland with pride.

While these footballing achievements are significant, the impact of the team extends far beyond results. Through a partnership with The Anchor charity and the Beyond the Pitch programme, every player engaged in education around mental health, wellbeing, resilience and suicide prevention awareness. This has helped embed a culture where success is defined not only by performance, but by how players support one another.

The squad has also made a strong contribution to the local community, collectively completing over 300 hours of volunteering and supporting a range of initiatives. This includes fundraising and practical support for Children in Poverty Inverclyde, as well as raising money through events such as the Kiltwalk. In addition, players worked together throughout the season to fundraise for their trip to Barcelona, demonstrating teamwork, responsibility and commitment.

The team has created a positive, inclusive environment where all players feel valued and connected. Individuals who had previously stepped away from football were welcomed back, maintaining friendships and promoting a strong sense of belonging across a diverse group of young people. This supportive culture has also opened pathways beyond playing, with many players accessing volunteering roles, coaching opportunities, qualifications and employment through connections built within the club. Several are now preparing to become role models for younger children through mentoring and school-based activities.

Ultimately, while winning the West Region Cup and reaching multiple finals highlights the team’s sporting success, the greatest achievement of Greenock Juniors 2009s this season has been the culture they have built. Based on respect, resilience, friendship and community spirit, the team has represented both their club and Inverclyde with pride, demonstrating the powerful role grassroots football can play in positively shaping young people’s lives.

This is not just a group of talented young female football players; it is a team that has defined excellence, resilience, and unity both on and off the pitch. Over the past year, they have set a standard that goes far beyond results — although their results alone would be enough to turn heads.

Competing in the top Regional league for their age group, they achieved what many teams only dream of: an invincible season. Twelve wins, one draw, and not a single defeat. League champions, deservedly so.

But numbers only tell part of the story.
Yes, they finished as joint top goalscorers. Yes, they also boasted the strongest defence in the league. And across all competitions, they scored an astonishing 192 goals in just 46 matches — a remarkable testament to their attacking quality, consistency, and work ethic.
Yet what truly sets this team apart is how they achieved it.

Every performance has been built on teamwork, discipline, and a relentless commitment to improving. They play for each other. They support each other. They celebrate each other’s successes and lift one another in challenging moments. Their attitude has been as impressive as their ability — a rare and powerful combination.

Their success began early in the season, lifting the Cumbernauld Summer Tournament trophy and setting the tone for what was to come. From there, they carried that momentum through the league campaign with focus and determination, never letting standards drop, never taking success for granted.

Off the pitch, they are equally impressive. They represent their club, their community, and themselves with pride, humility, and respect. They are role models — not just for younger players coming through, but for anyone who values commitment, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Ensuring women and girls are given opportunities to be celebrated in the world of sport is so important. This is a group that has worked tirelessly to develop their skills, push their limits, and grow together as a team. They have embraced challenges, risen to expectations, and consistently delivered performances to be proud of.
They are champions — not just because they won a league, but because of how they played, how they conducted themselves, and how they inspired those around them.
Let’s celebrate girls in sport! 

This year, the Notre Dame Senior Girls side won the P&D SFA Senior Girls League. This competition takes in all of the Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire schools. This is the first time that a school from Inverclyde have won the Senior Girls league since the league was established.

The team finished top of their initial section. This was a highly competitive section which featured Clydeview, Gryffe, and Johnstone High. The team then played St Ninians High School, who had also won their section, in the league final. Notre Dame won this final 7-3.

The girls also reached the St Mirren Cup final, but were narrowly beaten in the final after an exceptional cup run, knocking out Dunoon, Clydeview and Renfrew High along the way.

This is an incredible achievement considering this is only the second season that Notre Dame have entered into the Girls Competitions. The initial goal for this year was for the team to simply be competitive. However, due to their commitment, attitude and ability, the girls surpassed all expectations. Overall, 22 players ranging from S1-S6 contributed to the team over all the games. Reaching both league and cup final in the same season is incredibly rare due to the number of schools involved, and then going to win the league final was a fitting achievement for how the team developed throughout the year.

There were a number of individual players who stood out in specific games, but the team as a whole deserve the nomination for their collective performance and achievement.

This year, the Notre Dame Under 15s Girls side won the P&D SFA St Mirren Cup. This competition takes in all of the Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire schools. This is the first time that a school from Inverclyde have won the Girls Under 15s St Mirren Cup since it was established.

This was the first year that the school have entered a Girls Under 15s side into the P&D competitions. The ambition for this year was for the girls to establish themselves and be competitive. The girls surpassed all expectations with an incredible cup run which saw the team lift the trophy at the end of the season.

16 schools entered the competition which demonstrates how competitive this competition is. In the last 16 the girls defeated Gryffe away 9-0. They followed that up with a 4-2 home win over Mearns Castle in the quarter finals. This set up a semi final tie away to St Lukes in which the girls won 3-0.

In the final the girls played St Ninians High School, who were the reigning champions. The girls scored a late equaliser to draw the game 1-1 and take it to penalties. Notre Dame then won the game on penalties.

The Under 15s side takes in S1-S3 pupils and girls from all across these year groups contributed to our success. The team were incredibly convincing across all games and were well deserved winners. The girls also had a great Scottish Cup run, winning several games in a run that took the team throughout Glasgow and Ayrshire.

Very quickly the girls have established themselves as one of the strongest sides across the division. The teams that the girls defeated en route to their St Mirren Cup success were also some of the strongest sides, which demonstrated incredibly resilience and self-belief to defeat these teams. The girls are very deserving of a nomination.

Port Glasgow Bowling Club have engaged with Active Schools Inverclyde for the past 7-8 years now. The club had a vision of getting more juniors playing bowls with the sport suffering from the stigma that it is only for older people. The club started out meeting myself and Brad the other ASC for the Port Glasgow Area. This was the start of what has been a highly successful partnership which has given numerous children in Port Glasgow and beyond the opportunity to take part in bowls. This year alone Sandra and the club have targeted all P4 pupils in the Port Glasgow/Kilmacolm area which is around 200 pupils. This is a huge commitment from the bowlers who love seeing the pupils get these opportunities. For the past number of years, the club has had the idea of a P4 bowls competition which we finally managed to get off the ground. This competition was organised by Sandra and the club, with 4 pupils from all 6 local schools (including Craigmarloch) coming along to take part in the event at Port Glasgow Community Campus. This was as huge success and allowed 24 pupils the chance to compete, these were mainly pupils who wouldn’t attend these sorts of comps but felt more comfortable with bowls opposed to a team sport event. The club also has plans to invite P4 pupils to the green over the next few weeks which will give another 10-25 pupils the chance to play bowls outdoors. Sandra and the club also regularly deliver during holiday periods giving the pupils something to focus on whilst schools are off. All in all Port Glasgow Bowling Club volunteers have given up numerous hours in their retirement, even more so this year with the addition of KPS, Craigmarloch and the P4 Bowls Competition. I know first-hand there aren’t many clubs in the local area who are this prominent in the schools and local community and have given up the amount of time they have, especially in the stage of life they are all in. They are more than deserving of this recognition and would be a worthy winner considering the time and effort they have given in a hard-to-reach area and the impact they have had in the Port Glasgow area and beyond.