A RECORD-breaking number of young girl footballers from Inverclyde are pushing for a place in the national team.

Inverclyde's magnificent seven have their sights set on the Scottish Schools under-15 international team after being selected for the regional squad.

The pupils - from Notre Dame, Clydeview Academy and Port Glasgow High - are impressing after some tough trials.

Leading local figures in the game hope it is the beginning of an exciting new era.

Scottish Schools Vice President Gillian Duffy, who is from Greenock and this year became the first woman to take on the role, said: "We had a record number of girls from Inverclyde trying out for the West Region and for the first time seven girls are through to the representative squad.

"The other girls gave a great account of themselves and should be proud of the way they conducted themselves.

"This is testament to the hard work and dedication of the many volunteers who are giving up their time to provide these opportunities for the girls, and also to the girls themselves.

"Girls football has never been stronger in the area and there are so many opportunities now for them to play.

Rising star Aimee Murray, who is at Port High and is also a Rangers midfielder, said: "The girls game is just getting bigger, even since I started playing.

"When I was younger there were just one or two of us.

"When I first started playing we used to get the boys old kits, now we have our own."

Fellow Port High pupil Taylor Coulter, 13, who also lines up for Rangers, also made the cut.

She said: "It was such a high standard at the trials, so I was so pleased to get picked."

Notre Dame High has four goal-den girls in the playing pool.

Second year star Ruby Whyte, who plays for Celtic, is joined by Erin O'Brien of Rangers and Brooke Taylor and Christy Campbell, who both play for Morton.

Brooke said: "We are really excited to be playing for the regional team."

Clydeview Academy's Millie Paton, who is also with Rangers, has been playing football since she was a little girl.

Millie added: "I just love it - I really look up to Erin Cuthbert, she is a great player."