500 miles. No, not The Proclaimers most well known anthem, but instead the distance Dumbarton U14s midfielder Leah Dunn travels each week for training and matches.
Dunn, from Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute, plays for both Campbeltown Pupils Boys at home and Dumbarton Girls U14s, with 130 miles separating both towns.
And her parents were more than happy to look into avenues far from home to help progress his daughters football career.
Her father Kris said: “She’s [Leah] got dual registration, so she can play for the boy’s team.
“She was part of the girl’s setup in Campbeltown, in a good wee team, but there’s no competitive football for them unfortunately in the rural areas.
“So they can train, and they can go to a couple of festivals, but that is it unfortunately for the girls down there, so a lot of girls are being left behind.
“So we got her into the boy’s team because there is actually a boys league, so they can play competitive football. But coinciding with that, Leah got picked up for the Scottish FA emerging talent.”
Dad Kris and Mum Jen also play the role of driver, making the six-hour round trip twice a week. However, there was an occasion when daughter Leah FLEW into training!
“So its 130 miles from Campbeltown to Dumbarton, so 260 mile round trip on a Wednesday and then 260 mile round trip on the Saturday night.
“Two weeks ago, she actually flew up, flew up for her training! There’s actually a wee LoganAir flight that takes you from Campbeltown straight into Glasgow international, it’s quite funny!”
And Leah herself is aiming higher than a LoganAir aircraft at peak altitude.
“I’m 100% focused on becoming a pro footballer I want to become like my favourite footballers Caroline Weir who plays for Real Madrid and Leah Williamson who plays for Arsenal.”
With Dumbarton now in the process of installing a synthetic pitch, all youth teams will soon be able to play and train at the iconic The Rock.
Find Dumbarton’s website here: https://dumbartonfootballclub.com/
Find Campbeltown Pupils here: https://campbeltownpupils.co.uk/
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