In a heartening display of fairness and recognition, the girl’s football team of South Morningside Primary School in Edinburgh has secured a significant victory off the field. After winning the prestigious Edinburgh Schools Cup last year, the team was initially presented with a small plastic trophy, paling in comparison to the grand trophy awarded to the winning boys’ team on the same day.
Outraged by this glaring inequality, the 10, 11 and 12-year-old players wrote a strongly worded letter to the organisers of the competition, highlighting the issue. Their determined efforts have now paid off, as the Edinburgh Primary School Sports Association (EPSSA) president, Willie French, has admitted to being “quite embarrassed” by the disparity.
Responding swiftly, French spent £1,600 on a new trophy, identical in size to the one given to the boys’ team, and presented it to the victorious girls’ team last week. “I feel quite proud now because we stood up for ourselves,” said Caitlin Tierney, an 11-year-old member of the winning side.
The team captain, Clara Stewart, proudly held the new trophy aloft, a symbol of their hard-earned triumph and the recognition they rightfully deserve. “It spoiled our day because all the P7s came down to watch us and we get handed this tiny trophy and I was just mad for the whole night,” Tierney recounted, reflecting on the initial disappointment.
Vivienne MacLaren, the chairwoman of Scottish Women’s Football, lauded the team’s actions, stating, “We need to be seen as just as important as and deserving of respect as the boys, so I think it is really admirable what they have done.”
James Dalgleish, the City of Edinburgh Council’s education, children and families convener, who was present at the trophy presentation ceremony, commended the team, saying, “The South Morningside Primary School girls’ football team have secured their place in history having influenced the commissioning of a new trophy, helping to level the playing field not only in football, but all sports.”
This inspiring story serves as a testament to the power of persistence and the unwavering pursuit of equality, setting a positive example for young athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.
