YOUNG footballers from East End United BC say they are 'gutted' that their dreams of Scottish Cup glory have been left in tatters.

The side made the semi-finals and were due to play East End Lewis in Aberdeenshire but the game had to be cancelled due to the blanket sporting suspension caused by coronavirus.

Coach Scott Laird said he felt sorry for boys but the club's priority was the health and safety of everyone and the team understood and supported the decision.

He said: "To be honest we do feel sorry for the boys considering the work they've put in this season so far but we fully back the decision to postpone the games for the immediate future.

"As a club we put people's health and wellbeing above anything else and the boys fully back this.

"If the season doesn't resume this year then even though we will be disappointed, we will work hard again next year and hopefully get to this stage again.

"The morale is more of boredom than low - the boys just want to play football and unfortunately it's on hold for the time being."

The 2007s were thrilled after triumphing in their quarter final on home turf against Gairdoch United.

Scott said: "It is this age group's first year at competitive football and the first time the boys have experienced travelling around Scotland.

"The boys were buzzing about getting to this stage and enjoyed every second of the journey."

The club has been running for more than 30 years and has always been based in the east end.

They train and play their home games at Lady Octavia Sport Centre.

The 2007 age group squad is currently the oldest in the club, with younger players hot on their heels behind them.

Scott said: "The club holds the title of the only team in Inverclyde to win the Scottish Cup, which they took in 2015.

"East End United is a proper community club where we fully back and support each other, which is one of the main reasons we've got this far."

Scott had hoped the boys would have gone all the way to lift the Scottish Cup but says he will always be proud that they reached the semi-finals out of 490 clubs who started in the competition last year.

Scott, part of a management/coaching team which includes Alex McWaters, John Docherty, John Lafferty, Davie Stewart and Rab McDonald, said: "All the coaches are immensely proud of the team, each round they have been improving and more importantly they are flying the flag for Greenock as we can all agree we need a bit of positive news now more than ever."