A HELENSBURGH football club has been congratulated in the Scottish Parliament after reaching its 50th birthday.

Local MSP Jackie Baillie lodged a motion at Holyrood hailing the milestone achieved by Ardencaple FC, which was formed in 1968 by friends John McGinlay and Wallace Murdoch.

Ms Baillie’s motion praises the club’s efforts to “bridge the so-called Old Firm divide by supporting kids irrespective of their disability, ethnicity, language, religion or politics; thanks the club for its continued commitment to the local community, and wishes it every success for the next 50 years”.

Ardencaple’s 50th birthday is being marked by a series of events in and around Helensburgh, most recently a ‘ladies’ lunch’ which was held at the town’s Commodore Hotel on Sunday.

The club also announced the formation of its first adult men’s amateur team earlier this year.