Wallace High girls receive legendary coaching boost ahead of Hampden showdown

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The young women of Wallace High School will have the support of an old hand when they attempt to make history at Hampden Park tomorrow (Thursday).The Stirling school’s under-18 footballers will face St Ninian’s High, from Giffnock, in the final of the Scottish Cup on Thursday.It’s the first time the Scottish Schools’ Football Association have opened up the national stadium to the showpiece of the girls’ game and it will be the only school football final – boys or girls – to be hosted at Hampden this season.Wallace High launched its School of Sport in November 2012 and now supports its pupils’ potential in football, rugby, swimming, dance and basketball.Its coaching staff includes local football legend Jimmy Bone, an icon of the Scottish game who played as a striker for clubs including Partick Thistle, Celtic, St Mirren and Hearts – winning two caps for Scotland.Jimmy was a member of the fabled Partick Thistle team that defeated Celtic 4-1 in the League Cup final at Hampden in 1971 and he was also assistant manager to Alex Smith when St Mirren won the Scottish Cup 1-0 against Dundee United at the national stadium in 1987.He works closely with Wallace High’s under-18 coach, Rachel Whillans, and as a coach and mentor to the players.

He will also be at Hampden at Thursday hoping to make it three-in-a-row at the famous old ground.Jimmy said: “Girls and women’s football is here to stay and I’m incredibly proud of the job that has been done by Rachel and the players in reaching the Scottish Cup final.“This is the opportunity of a lifetime and the Scottish Schools’ Football Association and the SFA deserve enormous credit for allowing the big game to go ahead at Hampden.