A TALENTED team of Pars youngsters have joined one of Scotland's most recognisable stars in being nominated for a prestigious national awards ceremony.
Dunfermline Athletic Girls and Ladies FC's Under-14 Whites, alongside Real Madrid superstar, Caroline Weir, have been nominated for accolades in the ScottishPower Scottish Women's Football (SWF) Annual Awards.
Earlier this week, the shortlists for accolades in 16 categories were released by the ceremony's organisers, after supporters put forward their candidates throughout September.
That has led to nominations for the Pars youngsters, in the Youth Team of the Year category, and Dunfermline-born Caroline, who is in the mix for the International Player of the Year award.
The under-14 whites team have had an extremely successful 2023 so far.
In June, they lifted the SWF East Region League Cup by defeating Jeanfield Swifts at Station Park, Forfar, and, earlier this month, won through to the semi-finals of the ScottishPower Youth Challenge Cup for their age group.
They will play Musselburgh Windsor, at Spartans' Ainslie Park, next month for the right to play Holytown Colts, or Forfar Farmington or Hamilton Academical, in the final.
READ MORE: Talented Pars kids reach national semi-final
A win over Murieston United, after they had successfully defeated Cambuslang FA, and Inverurie's Colony Park, the latter after extra-time, sealed a last four spot for the team, who also lead the East Caroline Weir League with seven wins from as many matches.
They are one of four nominees for Youth Team of the Year, alongside Hearts U16s NAP, Glasgow Girls U16s, and Musselburgh U18s.
Joining them in being nominated for an award is former Pittencrieff Primary and Dunfermline High school pupil Caroline, who is up for International Player of the Year alongside Scotland team-mates Rachel Corsie, Martha Thomas and Lee Gibson.
The 28-year-old, who secured a dream move to Spanish giants Real last summer, won her 100th international cap in July, captaining the team, and scoring, in a 2-1 friendly win over Finland.
She described that landmark as a "really proud moment" to Press Sport, and went on to win her 101st, and 102nd, in UEFA Women's Nations League games with England and Belgium last month.
However, in the latter - a 1-1 draw at Hampden - Caroline, who signed a new deal with her club in the summer, suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in her left knee, which is set to sideline her for a lengthy spell.
Caroline, who in May was named as the Scottish Football Writers' Association's International Women's Player of the Year, and the Pars under-14 whites will find out if they are award winners on November 25, when the ceremony takes place at Hampden.
Aileen Campbell, Scottish Women's Football CEO, said: "Women’s football has become more visible than ever before, which has led to more players registered and more teams being launched.
"It’s therefore tremendously exciting to reveal the shortlists for the ScottishPower SWF awards, which showcases the best the women’s game has to offer."
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