GALA Fairydean Rovers have paid tribute to a local business who have been supporting children’s football in the town for over a decade.

Netherdale based SPG Fire & Security Limited started sponsoring the junior team in the town in 2007.

And they have continued supporting the club for over 10 years whilst it has grown from small beginnings to one of the largest junior sports clubs in the region.

SPG started sponsoring Galadean Juniors Football Club when they were formed a decade ago, at which time there were only a handful of primary school aged children playing football in the town.

The company have continued their support as the club has grown and become part of the formal structure at Gala Fairydean Rovers FC where children are now part of one of the biggest player pathways at a sports organisation in the Borders.

Chair of Gala Fairydean Rovers Kevin Temple told us: "The support children’s football in the town has received from Simon Gillie and SPG has been magnificent.

"For 10 years the company has been the major contributor to the success we have achieved.

"In 2007 when Galadean JFC started there were only a handful of kids playing football in the town.

"Thanks to the hard work of volunteers and the support of SPG hundreds of children have trained and played football during this time. There are currently over 300 children and young people playing football at our club.”

SPG Fire & Security Limited designs, installs and maintains security systems.

Managing Director Simon Gillie founded the company in 2002.

He explained why SPG has continued support for junior football in the town.

Simon said: “We take kids health and wellbeing very seriously and our support for junior football in Gala reflects that desire to help get children fit, healthy and active.

"SPG plays a broader role in our local communities in which we live and work beyond what we deliver through our core business activities. We do this through community investment programmes and supporting local groups and with the direct efforts of our employees.

"Over the years hundreds of adults and children have benefited from taking part in the SPG Community Programme through our support of local sport.

"We support a number of initiatives including football, rugby and trainee jockeys ”