HAYLEY PREECE has said her time at Alloa has been fantastic so far as she turns role model for the future generations.

Alloa Athletic Women were due to play on Sunday but the game was postponed due to the death of the queen.

Hayley and other players made the most of their free day by attending a match for the Under 10 girls to offer support, encouragement and be a visible presence in the young players’ careers.

Reflecting on her time at the club Hayley told Advertiser Sport: “It’s been fantastic. It’s not been a rollercoaster but when I went along at the end of April we were kind of flung in, I went along with Heather [Dickson].

"We went together as a confidence booster, done two nights of training and then we were into our first game.

“It took a wee while to find our feet and find out where we fitted in to the team, both on the pitch and personality wise.

“I’ve loved every minute of it, I’m glad to say that we all get on really well together and we’ve started spending time together outside of the club too.

“It’s been really good, I’ve really enjoyed every minute of it.”

The team are bonding on and off the pitch with activities such as trips to Loch Venachar really helping the team gel together.

Hayley said: “It was a great night, we had fun and that then transfers into training and on to the pitch because we’re getting to know each other on a more personal level.

"It was really good and we were hoping to do a bit more of that.”

The relationships between the players were beginning to come to fruition on the pitch before the mid-season break and Hayley and the rest are now eager to get going again.

She said: “We had a bit of a dip. We had really picked up and got into a good place before we had that four week break and we were all a bit lost during that four weeks.

“We were just desperate to get back on to a pitch.

“We’re back in a good place now, we were mega disappointed that Sunday’s game was postponed.

"We were buzzing for it so we’re hoping we can get that game organised as soon as possible.”

Sunday’s game for the young girls will hopefully provide the youngsters with a clear path to follow and show that there is a visible team they can aspire to reach.

Hayley said: “Allan [Salvona, women’s team manager] had mentioned to us as a team if anyone would be interested in popping along to the girls’ sessions, getting involved and being more visible to them so they know there’s a pathway to move on to.

“It was really, really good. One of the girls came up to use afterwards with a football and asked us to sign it.

"They were buzzing and their coach said you could see a real determination on the park because we were there.

“Those wee girls were thinking we were something really special.

"When I think of myself at their age with my football boots on there was nobody [to look up to], not as visible anyway. I just thought little inner me would have enjoyed it.”