A determined squad of footballers aim to be the most northerly female team in mainland Britain as they ratchet up funding efforts.
Caithness Ladies Football Club (CLFC) need support to fund joining the Scottish Women Football League Division 2 – North.
To do that, they need to raise about £12,000 to cover the huge costs of travel from Thurso to other grounds.
Each match can set the team back as much as £400 after reserving bus services that are also in demand for other local sports teams.
The team Captain Hannah Morrison, 26 said: “Travel is such a massive thing for us so if we went just to Dingwall, our nearest opponents, from Thurso then that is £400 for one game.”
The closest divisional opponent to CLFC is Ross County in Dingwall but their most distant is a “journey and a half away” in Stonehaven.
Miss Morrison set-up a JustGiving page and the initial goal of £200 has been exceeded by 210 per cent thanks to the “really positive” local support for the team.
She said: “Up north it is crazy, it is mental how people are so supportive of us – they are like: ‘good on you.’”
The squad is made up of players as young as 15 all the way to people in their 40s who form part of the “originals” that founded the club in 2010.
Now, having been around for the almost a decade both players and coach, Ian MacDonald, want the challenge of playing every week.
Miss Morrison said: “We have always struggled to get games but this year is different for us, we have been given the chance to enter the Highland League.”
Joanne Murphy, the SFA Girls and Women’s Club Development Officer North Region said: “It is fantastic effort from Caithness Ladies.”
“The club have been preparing for this for a number of years now, making the step up from playing in friendly games and tournaments.”
She added: “The commitment level from these women is fantastic and we wish them all the best this season and looking forward to seeing how they get on”.
Miss Morrison said: “I am so excited. The whole team is excited that we are going to get a game every other Sunday.
“Thanks to everybody who has helped and supported us so far – we are totally buzzing.”
