The club turned to the housebuilder to help pay for the cost of hiring its training pitch at Wemyss Primary School, during the winter shutdown.

Launched in April 2021, Ardgowan Thistle has around 200 players from the age of 5 to 12 from the Inverkip, Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay area.

Philip Lindsay, committee member, said: “With the winter shutdown from December we can’t ask the parents of players for fees, but our pitch rental costs still have to be met until play begins again

“We are so grateful to Bellway for helping us out, the money came just in time for us and is really appreciated. The club has such an important role in the local community now more than ever as so many people look to outdoors sports as a vital way of keeping both physically fit and mentally healthy.”

The current club grew out of the ashes of Ardgowan Football Club which folded after more than 20 years, and the new club has big ambitions for growth in the years ahead.

Philip, who has two sons Zander and Grayson in the Club, added: “We have been busy since the launch and now have teams all the way up from Primary One to First Year and have managed to put over 50 coaches through their SFA qualifications.

“In the longer term we hope to be able to branch out into the Junior League so that people of all ages can be involved in the club. Ideally we would love to have our own grounds.”

Pauline Coates, sales director for Bellway Homes Ltd (Scotland West) said: “We are delighted to support Ardgowan Thistle which is at the heart of the local community and does such a tremendous job keeping the players fit and teaching them the importance of teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship.”