A PIONEERING footballer from Greenock who broke a ban to play in the first women's Scotland v England final in Greenock is coming home for an anniversary match.

Former St Columba's pupil Marian Mount was only 17 when she made history in the inaugural game at Ravenscraig.

Fifty years on, as the countries' under-15s national sides get ready to play again in the town, the Tele traced the local player who lined up in the match all those years ago.

Marian recalled the moment she proudly lined up for her country in 1972, when women's football was still outlawed in Scotland.

Gran Marian, who now lives in Leamington Spa down south, said: "It all seems such a long time ago, but it was very emotional.

"I think we were all nervous, but to represent my country was so special - especially against England.

"You don't forget that feeling.

"But back then women's football was nothing like it was now.

"We were not taken seriously at all, everyone thought you were an oddity and you'd get all kinds of comments.

"People came to see because it was a novelty.

"They really did think there was no place for women in football - people thought your place was at the kitchen sink, it was the 1970s.

"I mean, we were not even allowed to play!

"I used to get trains up to Glasgow to play matches, it was a real commitment but I loved it.

"I just loved football, in fact I loved all sports.

"Everyone assumed you were a tomboy, but it wasn't like that at all.

"I would finish a game, then go and put my makeup on, dress up and go out with my friends."

The ban on the women's game was imposed in 1921 because it was deemed 'unsuitable'.

It remained in place until the 1970s and the game would remain officially blocked from Scottish Football Association pitches for another two years after that.

It was recently announced that to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic match in Greenock the Scotland and England teens would meet at Ravenscraig in May.

Once again there will be a local in the lineup, with Millie Paton in the Scotland squad.

Following an appeal in the Tele to track Marian down, we were quickly put in touch with her.

Schools football vice president and international coach Gillian Duffy, who comes from Greenock, has invited Marian to the anniversary match as a VIP.

Marian added: "I am honoured to be asked to come up and I will look forward to it.

"I don't get to Greenock as much as I used to, though my sister Margaret is still there."

Sport is in Marian's blood, as her dad Jim, the former St Columba's High janitor, was a Scottish champion boxer.

She said: "I was the youngest of nine children, I loved sport and so did my brother Jim, who was also a boxer."

Sadly not long after the historic match, Marian was forced to give up the game - and her dream of becoming a PE teacher - because of recurring knee injuries.

She moved to Lemington Spa to study before ending up training as a primary teacher instead.

But after meeting her husband Gerry and having her daughters Mairi Claire, 44, and Mairi Claire, 42, she returned to work as a clerk in Warwick Crown Court.