Property consultancy Bidwells has awarded £2100 to Clachnacuddin Football Club’s under-16 squad through its Community Impact Fund, covering the cost of travel to the team’s three furthest away fixtures this season.

The funding will help ensure every player has the opportunity to pull on a Clach shirt and represent the Inverness club..

The under-16s will travel to face Wick Academy, Orkney and Fort William FC during the 2026/27 season. The three journeys are expected to cost around £700 each and are considerably longer than the club’s other away fixtures, which can generally be managed through parents sharing transport.

For grassroots football clubs in the Highlands, the distances involved in league competition can add considerably to the cost of taking part. By covering the cost of transport for these fixtures, the Bidwells funding means those additional costs will not have to be passed on to the players’ families.

The under-16s form part of Clachnacuddin’s wider youth development programme, which supports around 140 young players from under-12 to under-18 level.

Run by volunteers, around 20 qualified coaches collectively give an estimated 200 hours each week to training and developing the club’s young players.

Based at Grant Street Park in the Merkinch area of Inverness, Clachnacuddin has been part of the city’s footballing life for more than 140 years.

The £2100 award followed an application to the Bidwells Community Impact Fund which supports social initiatives in the communities where the firm operates.

Through its local Community Involvement Champions, Bidwells invests funding, time and skills in community partnerships, with a focus on creating meaningful and lasting benefits.

Valerie Houston, associate, grid and infrastrusture, Bidwells said: “Anyone involved in grassroots sport in the Highlands knows that distance can make something as simple as getting to an away game a significant expense.

“Clach is part of the fabric of Inverness and the amount of time its coaches and volunteers give to developing young players is incredible.

“I’m thrilled that Bidwells’ Community Impact Fund has been able to provide the full funds to get the players to their fixtures. It means the team can travel together and the players can concentrate on getting on the pitch and playing football.”

Tommy Wilson, manager of Clachnacuddin FC under-16s, said: “We want every player to have the same opportunity to pull on a Clach shirt and represent the club, regardless of their family’s circumstances. That is what makes this support from Bidwells so valuable to us.

“Playing league football in the Highlands inevitably means travelling some considerable distances and the costs can quickly add up. Having these three journeys covered takes that pressure away from families and means we can concentrate on the football.

“Clach has a proud history in Inverness, but just as significant to us is developing the next generation of players and giving young people the opportunity to be part of the club.

“On behalf of the players, coaches and parents, I’d like to thank Bidwells for getting behind the team.”