Inverness Caledonian Thistle footballer and Milne’s High School pupil beats women twice her age to player of the year award during season where she was picked to play for Scotland

A 15-year-old Scotland football international has beaten adult players to the player of the year award at her club.

Alex Whelan landed Inverness Caledonian Thistle women’s team’s player of the year award in her first senior year, as well as scooping the young player prize.

A fourth year pupil at Milne’s High in Fochabers, the centre midfielder made her debut for Scotland under-16s in Ireland last year and said she is proud of her achievements so far.

The youngest of six sisters, Alex has mixed it with the boys in schools football and while playing for Highland League club Keith’s under-14s side.

Her performance for the Moray Girls, who she first joined at the age of eight, attracted the attention of ICT women’s manager Karen Mason last year at regional development training sessions.

Alex was soon snapped up by the Inverness outfit, who play in Scottish football’s third tier, the SWF Championship.

“I’ve got five sisters and most of them played football so I wanted to get involved as well, and that’s how it started when I was in primary school (at Milne’s Primary),” she said.

“I joined Moray Girls but I didn’t like it at first because I was one of the youngest there, so I carried on with the school team and played for Keith’s boys team.”

A switch back to Moray Girls saw a more confident and established Alex make her mark, and earn her move to Caley Thistle.

She made an immediate impact, making her debut against Hutchison Vale and coming off the bench to score in her first game.

Before long she was a regular in the centre of the park, playing against women twice her age and putting in some impressive performances for the team.

“I was really pleased to score on my debut, and then the first few games with me being new to the squad, I wasn't fully confident.

“So I wasn't fully starting, just getting some game time. And then as I started to warm up, I started to find a place in the squad and become a regular starter at centre midfield.

“At the start of the season, the first half we were doing really well and we were at the top at some point. Maybe the second half I'd say we dropped a bit and some players left, and we ended up finishing sixth.

“I got Young Player of the Year award, then I won the Player of the Year as well so I was really pleased.

“The coach said I'm hard-working, dedicated and passionate. She said how I never go into a challenge with fear or anything - I'm just straight into it.

“I am really passionate about my football and I just want to keep playing and see what happens. I hope I will get a chance to play for Scotland again.”

Her international breakthrough came this year when she was called up for Scotland Girl’s under-16s for two matches in Ireland.

“It was around August last year when they held the first trials in Elgin for the Scotland team. After we'd done that, I got through to the next trials at Dundee, then the next stage in Glasgow.

“After that it was a two-day camp and I got picked for the squad in Ireland for the double header, and I played in the first game.

“As a young girl, I didn't really expect it to play for Scotland, coming from up north.

“My dad (Mike) was watching in Ireland so it was just a really proud moment.

“There’s been a few training days for them to kind of just see what's going on, see who's playing well and hopefully more opportunities will come up.”

Through Moray Girls, Alex built up a close friendship with fellow footballer Zara Ramage, an Elgin High School pupil who was also selected to play for Scotland this year.

Zara was initially signed by Caley Thistle but has now moved to Aberdeen under-15s.

“We played together at Moray Girls under 16s and then we got really close and just been friends ever since.

“Now the season’s finished there’s a bit of a break so I’ll just keep myself fit, and I train with Zara a lot.”