Dalbeattie Star Girls will jet out to Spain next Thursday for a dream football tournament in Catalonia.
A total of 19 young players will compete in the Barcelona Girls Cup thanks to their head coach and generous community backing.
Danielle Houston led a huge fundraising effort to pay for the trip – while on the pitch the team has come on leaps and bounds.
Jill Gilmour, mum of under-12 team captain Daisy May, said: “When Danielle first came up with the idea everybody was like ‘aye, right!’
“We could never have done this without the parents and the amazing support from the community.
“But it’s Danielle who not only has given the girls their dreams – she’s made them come true as well. She really is an incredible lady.”
She added: “My’ daughter is so excited – teams from all over Europe will be competing.
“She’s grown up in a family of all boys who play football and had never kicked a ball until this team came along.
“She is naturally talented and absolutely loves it – and her ambition is to play for Scotland.
“There’s a few in the team with the passion to go much further in the game.”
Danielle said: “The parents of the teams thought I was crazy at first – but we could never have done this without them.
“All this has shown the girls that if you put hard work and commitment in you can achieve anything.
“The girls are brilliant with me, we are like a family and this is like taking a huge family on holiday.
“Everybody has been so generous and kind and I’d like to thank every single person that has come to our fundraisers, given donations and supported us.
“We’ve even had anonymous cheques handed in.
“A recent one was for £250 and I have no idea who it was from. Everybody is talking about it – it’s just been unbelievable.”
Key donations included £3,000 from local charity the Bert and Ruth Dunn Trust and £1,000 from Dalbeattie Rotary Club.
Jas P Wilson’s pop-up shop in Maxwell Street and the town hall also staged fundraising events.
Meanwhile, on the field, big kick off for the group stages is Saturday, June 10.
In the under-15 tournament, Star will line up against Ashton Town Girls from England, AS Poissy Football of France and German outfit FFC Turbine Potsdam.
For the under-12s seven-a-side tournament, Daisy May will lead her team against Barcelona side UD Viladecans, Irish clubs Lucan United White and Merville United FC, and English outfit Lichfield City.
The top sides will progress to the knock-out stages and finals the following day.
Danielle said: “The main thing is just to enjoy it.
“Playing against teams from so many different countries will give us an idea of the standard – and we will see how other teams train.”
