Spanish trip was a dream come true

The coach of a football team who fundraised to compete in a tournament in Spain has shared the "pride" he has in the squad after they almost won the competition.

- TAYLOR MURRAY

Houston United Girls Under-18s team spent a year raising money through fundraising activities including race nights, football cards and hosting sporting event days in a bid to travel to Barcelona for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play in the All Together Cup last October.

The girls' journey came about after an off-the-cuff comment from coach Grant Whyte's daughter Gabriella in 2024 when she asked about going to Barcelona to compete in the tournament.

From there, the idea spiralled with the young squad taking charge of the fundraising efforts.

The team and coaches also scaled the mighty Ben Nevis for a sponsored climb.

In total, they raised £14,000 while Scottish Gas provided funding for new kits and sports manufacturer VSN ensured they arrived on time before they flew out to the Catalan capital.