The budding footballers of St Paul's Primary School in Shettleston are looking forward to being winners all the way, thanks to their brand new strips sponsored by local company Vanilla Blush.

Vanilla Blush chief executive, Nicola Dames, dropped in at the Glasgow school on Thursday 8th February, to present the strips to the teams which are coached by janitor Tony Eadie and former parent helper David Malcolm.

And Scottish football former player and commentator, Gordon Smith, came along to give the kids, whose goal is to play up and play the game, a pep talk on how to get the very best out of the new team spirit engendered by their stylish strips. 

Gordon, who answered questions about his own footballing career, told the teams: "Being successful in football is certainly about technique and training, but equally, it's about doing your very best and working hard as part of a team." 

Head teacher, Geraldine Millar, said: "We work hard to build a sense of community in our school and football is very important in doing that. Thanks to Vanilla Blush, this is the first time we've had matching strips for our teams and that's giving our footballers a new sense of unity and purpose. We're very grateful to Nicola and Simon for their sponsorship which is a huge boost for all our pupils." 

Nicola Dames said: "At Vanilla Blush we are committed to putting  something back into our community. Helping St Paul's Primary School develop its football teams is an ideal way to do just that for us as a successful locally-based business." 

The strips presentation was alo attended by Tony Hamilton of the CelticFC Foundation, which has links with St Paul's and several east end schools. Tony, who is a former pupil of St Paul's said: "It's great to see support being given in this way to my old school by Vanilla Blush. School football develops all sorts of social, as well as sporting, skills and I know that the youngsters will put the new strips to very good use."

(Article and photos by Hugh Dougherty)