UK Girls’ Football Team Speak Up Over Smaller Trophy Than Boys

A Scottish primary school girls’ football team has turned disappointment into victory after successfully campaigning for equal recognition following a major tournament win. Their story has sparked wider conversations about fairness, respect, and equality in school sports.

The South Morningside Primary School girls’ team won the prestigious Edinburgh Schools Cup last year after an impressive run that ended with a 5–2 victory over Liberton Primary School in the final. For the players, aged between 10 and 12, the achievement marked months of hard work, teamwork, and determination.

However, the celebrations were short-lived. At the awards ceremony, the girls were presented with a small plastic trophy, while the boys’ team, who won their equivalent competition, received a large silver cup. The contrast was immediate and upsetting.

According to a report from BBC News, the girls said they felt “shocked and angry” when they saw the difference between the trophies. What should have been one of the proudest moments of their school lives instead left them questioning whether their success mattered as much as the boys’.

Caitlin Tierney, an 11-year-old member of the team, explained how the moment affected them. Speaking to BBC News, she said, “Why did the boys get this big massive trophy and we’ve just got this plastic little thing. It spoiled our day. We were very upset and thinking, were we not good enough?”

The disappointment was shared across the team. Many of their classmates had come to watch and celebrate their victory, which made the moment even more painful. Rather than staying silent, the girls decided to take action.

With support from their coach, but driven by their own determination, the team wrote a letter to the organisers of the competition, the Edinburgh Primary Schools Sports Association (EPSSA).

In the letter, they explained how the trophy made them feel and why they believed it was unfair. They asked for recognition that matched the importance of their achievement.

Organisers Respond, and a New Trophy Is Awarded

Their letter made an impact.

Willie French, president of EPSSA, admitted the situation had embarrassed him. He told BBC News that he only fully realised the problem when he saw all the trophies together at the presentation. “There was this sad wee diddy looking trophy,” he said, adding that it did not properly represent the girls’ success.

French praised the way the girls expressed themselves. He said they had “very articulately and eloquently” explained that the trophy made them feel inferior to the boys, an argument he said he completely agreed with.

In response, French decided to act quickly. He purchased a brand new trophy costing £1,600, matching the size and status of the boys’ cup. The new trophy was presented to the team at their school last week, giving the girls a second chance to celebrate their victory properly.

For the players, the new trophy meant more than just a replacement prize. It was proof that their voices mattered. Young footballer Caitlin said, “I feel quite proud now because we stood up for ourselves.” Her words captured the sense of confidence and empowerment felt by the whole team.

The team’s head coach, Tom Wills, said he had initially worried that the small trophy might undermine the girls’ sense of achievement. He was proud not only of how they played in the tournament, but also of how they handled the situation afterwards. He added that the decision to write the letter came entirely from the players themselves.

The issue has also drawn attention from figures involved in women’s football in Scotland. Vivienne MacLaren, chairwoman of Scottish Women’s Football, said it was disappointing that the girls were not given a suitable trophy in the first place. She said girls’ teams need to be seen as just as important and deserving of respect as boys’ teams.

Local leaders echoed that message. James Dalgleish, City of Edinburgh Council’s convener for education, children and families, attended the ceremony where the girls received their new trophy. He said the team had helped level the playing field, not only in football but across all sports.

What began as a moment of disappointment has now become a powerful lesson in equality. For the South Morningside Primary School girls’ football team, winning the cup twice, once on the pitch and once through speaking out, is an achievement that will be remembered long after the final whistle.