AN INSPIRATIONAL Greenock sports coach who battled cancer while fighting for women's rights in football has been nominated for a Greenock Telegraph Community Champion award.

Former PE teacher Gillian Duffy, vice president of the Scottish Schools Football Association (SSFA), is in the running for the Sporting Champion of the Year honour.

Gillian, 43, coaches young people all over the west of Scotland and will take on the prestigious role of the first ever female president of the SSFA, founded in 1903, in June.

The Greenock woman told the Telegraph she was 'completely overwhelmed' to find out she was in running for the Tele honour.

She added: "I do what I do because I love it and because I want to give something back.

"You never expect to get this kind of recognition for it.

"I just want to say a huge thank you to whoever has nominated me, it means a lot."

Gillian was diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia in 2018 and had to undergo a stem cell transplant, using a German donor, to save her life.

More than four years post-transplant she's doing well and is adjusting to her 'new normal'.

The football guru said she's so thankful to be able to do what she loves.

Gillian added: "It's a privilege after what I've been through.

"Someone saved my life and that's allowed me to go on and do what I love.

"Having come through treatment and going through an illness like that, you may end up taking a different route in your life but you can always navigate back to what you enjoy."

Gillian comes from a sporting family and says she's always been 'football mad'.

When she qualified as a teacher in 2002, she pledged to create more opportunities for girls in football. She now works setting up leagues and competitions with local and national girls teams all over the west of Scotland.

Gillian added: "There weren't a lot of opportunities for girls to play football when I was growing up and it is now the fastest growing sport in Scotland, so it's vital that the opportunities are there.

"It's something I would have loved to have had when I was younger.

"It's great to see young women and girls flourishing in the sport.

"Playing professionally isn't a dream for them any more, it's a reality."

Gillian recently formed a partnership with Cure Leukaemia and is hoping to help the charity raise £10 million to fund the first clinical trial for children with cancer at the Schiehallion unit in Glasgow.

She added: "I know a lot of people who are living with leukaemia and it's quite prevalent.

"I really want to support the charity and the easiest way for me to do that is through football."

Gillian has encouraged local people to get involved in the awards to raise awareness of the amazing work happening across Inverclyde.

She added: "A lot of people will be shocked to find out they've been nominated as for them they just do what they love doing every day and don't see it as something exceptional.

"If people didn't do these amazing jobs across Inverclyde, it wouldn't be the place it is today."

*The Greenock Telegraph Community Champion Awards recognise, reward and celebrate the people who make our communities a better place.

The gala awards night - sponsored by Inverclyde Council and Platinum Paving - will take place on Friday, May 5 at Greenock Town Hall.

You can help your local heroes get the recognition they deserve by nominating them online before March 30.

To find out more visit https://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/greenockcommchamp/