Flower of Scotland Ainsley called up to international squad

Nov 13 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Accies Girls’ FC starlet Ainsley Douglas was selected for Scotland under-15s’ squad for their match against Wales last week.

And coach Jim Erwin has tipped Ainsley for the top, if she continues to show the same attitude to the game and life in general.

The talented 14-year-old is already playing with the club’s under-17s, and has rocketed through a series of developmental stages since she was seven.

Ainsley started with East Kilbride Youth Club. She was the only girl in the team and moved on to South Lanarkshire Council’s girls’ soccer centre in East Kilbride. She was quickly recommended for a development squad.

In July, 2005, Ainsley signed for Hamilton Accies Girls’ under-13s despite only being 11 at the time, and has quickly moved up the ranks.

Last season Ainsley was top goalscorer with the team which won the South West of Scotland Under-15s League. She later made it into an eight-girl squad that South Lanarkshire Council took to the 41st International Children’s Games in Reykjavik, Iceland, where they finished fourth.

Ainsley, from East Kilbride, was then selected for the SFA South West of Scotland under-15 regional squad in October 2007, which led to her selection for the match against Wales.

Coach Jim Erwin said: “Ainsley has done fantastically well and at 14 is playing for the under-17s here – she’s way ahead in terms of development.

“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before we can start to think about full ladies’ international caps, but she’s one of a small clutch of players at the club that we think can go all the way.

“Ainsley has the right sort of approach to life and to the game, so it’s up to her to keep that attitude going and hopefully one day she will get a full international cap.

“Currently performing excellently at both under-15 and under-17 level for Hamilton Accies Girls, she has not looked out of place competing with current under-17 Scottish internationalists, which shows the high hopes the club has for such a young talent.

“She has the opportunity, so we’ve got our fingers crossed. This shows to us as a club that we are going in the right direction.”

Dad Richard said: “To say that Ainsley is very excited about being part of this Scotland squad is an understatement, as this will be a fantastic opportunity for her, and one she is looking forward to.”

Hamilton Accies Girls and Ladies’ FC are always looking for players at all age groups, coaches and volunteers.

For more information email Jim at: jimerwinhagfc@hotmail.com or call Derek Thomson on 07753 247131.