A TRIO of talented footballers are all set to star for Scotland in a record-breaking year for Inverclyde.

It is the first time three local youngsters from Inverclyde have been chosen for the Scottish School sides at the one time.

Inverclyde Academy's Jamie Low and St Columba's High pupil Owen Doyle are team mates in the Scottish Schools boys under 18s side.

The Inverclyde duo will even get to play in front of a home crowd when they take on Wales at Cappielow in March.

Top young player Erin O'Brien from Notre Dame High is joining them in the Scotland ranks after being selected for the Scottish Schools girls under 15s.

This comes in the same year as Gillian Duffy from Greenock became the first woman and the youngest ever President of the Scottish Schools Football Association.

Jamie Low, from Greenock, who also plays for Patrick Thistle, said: "I'm really buzzing to be playing for my country, it was tough to get selected, we were up against the best players from all over the country.

"I'm looking forward to playing at Cappielow. I am just loving my football, playing for Patrick Thistle.

"We also have a good side at Inverclyde Academy under Peter Given. We won the league for the first time in 39 years."

Owen Doyle, who joins Jamie in the squad as the Under 18s prepare to take on the Republic of Ireland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England in the Centenary Shield, said: "We are looking forward to the games. It is a real honour to play for Scotland."

Owen has already captained the side and plays for St Mirren.

They head off first to Athlone to play the Republic of Ireland next month, then in March they play Wales at Cappielow, before playing Northern Ireland at Stenhousemuir and then England at Chesterfield.

Fourteen-year-old Erin O'Brien from Gateside, who plays for Rangers, can't wait to get started.

The under 15s first match is a friendly against Celtic in Glasgow next week before Erin heads for Belfast to play Northern Ireland in a one-off game next month.

She said: "The girls won the trophy last year so we will be hoping to do the same this again."

Scottish Schools FA president Gillian is devoted to encouraging as many kids as possible to get involved with football in school.

She said: "We would like to thank all our volunteers who give up their own time to take the school sides and to organise the tournaments.

"I would also like to thank Morton for their support and we look forward to the game at Cappielow."