LAST Monday night saw the newly formed Gala Fairydean Rovers women’s football squad train under the floodlights at the 3G Arena for the first time. The ladies have been enjoying coaching sessions at Tweedbank over the summer.

But the fledgling team have now been fully integrated into the Gala club’s training schedule.

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Gala Fairydean Rovers Ladies was started by Annette Bell, whose husband Dougie is a junior coach at Netherdale.

Annette said: “I played a bit of football when I was younger along with some of the girls who have helped set up the team.

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"We would always reminisce of the the good old days when we saw each other.

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"So I thought I would put the feelers out to see if there was any interest and the response was overwhelming."

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Gala Fairydean Rovers Ladies are now part of the Netherdale club's growing community engagement programme which provides football for around 300 primary and secondary aged children and young people, a girls developments squad, walking football for the over 50s and a disability football squad. The ladies train each Monday at the 3G Arena between 7.30 and 8.30pm.

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Annette added: "We started just as a kick about together at a pitch in Tweedbank before being approached by Gala Fairydean Rovers to become part of their community engagement programme.

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"After a few meetings and several discussions the ladies and I jumped at the chance to be part of the local club.

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"Since we started a couple of months ago we have seen around 25 different ladies take part in training which is great.

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"I know it's early days yet but all the girls have been so supportive and we would encourage anyone to come along and give it a try and see if they get the football bug like the rest of us.”

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New players will be made welcome and can contact us here on the GFR website for more info.

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