Ending a busy few days for Bobby and the boys, two more players have put pen to paper.
LIAM SHEWAN
Firstly, we have signed Liam Shewan on a permanent deal from Rothes Football Club. Liam was part of a swap deal which has seen Ross Logan go the other way. We would like to thank Ross for his services as a player. We would also like to thank Rothes for making this possible and a smooth process. Liam’s former clubs include Grantown FC, Clachnacuddin, Nairn County, Rothes and for a small part of last season a short loan deal with the Jags. He has now made his move to Seafield Park permanent after a very impressing during his loan spell. Welcome (back() to the club Liam!
JAMIE CALDER
Also signing up is Jamie Calder from Loch Ness FC for the upcoming season! This is another exciting addition to our squad. Jamie is a young centre half with great composure and has had Highland League experience at Clachnacuddin before his move to Loch Ness FC. It’s great to have you on board Jamie and we look forward to welcoming you to Seafield Park.
Today we are happy to announce more arrivals to the playing squad at Seafield Park. This time it’s a double signing in the shape of Conor MacPhee and Jordan Laidlaw that new manager Bobby Backwith has added to his pool of players.
Conor MacPhee was signed from Loch Ness FC. The former Loch Ness captain had won the North Caledonian League with them, and has also won several trophies and a league title in junior football with Nairn St Ninians JFC. He has also played for Clach, Fort William and Inverness City.
Jordan Laidlaw has also won the North Caledonian League and other trophies whilst he was with Invergordon FC. Jordan has also played for Loch Ness FC and most recently, Avoch AFC .
HERE WE GO, HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS……SEASON 2024-2025
And you thought we were gonna be quiet……
NEW MANAGER APPOINTED – 1 MAY 2024
Manager Bobby Beckwith
Strathspey Thistle are delighted to be able to confirm the return of Bobby Beckwith – better known as Bobby Becks – as the club’s new manager. Bobby was one of the key players in the formation of Strathspey Thistle and as well as the main striker, he was also the club’s first ever lottery convenor. He later went on to be the coach of the Strathspey Thistle Boys Club which won the Highland Youth League in a play-off against a strong Peterhead side. Bobby was then manager at the Moray Junior side Lossiemouth United before going on to be assistant manager at Elgin City when they gained entry into the Scottish League. He also had a similar role with Turriff United, before going on to was manage Clachacuddin Ladies, and then Lossiemouth in the Highland League and recently he stepped up from assistant manager to interim Manager at Rothes.
So it has been a long journey to come back “home” and everyone at the club is really excited with what he can bring to the club. The one thing we can be sure of, no one will be more excited and passionate about making Strathspey Thistle a success both on and off the pitch. We hope Bobby will help usher in a new era for STFC.
Welcome home Bobby!
THE THREE AMIGOS We are also excited to announce two new additions to STFC who are going to be working behind the scenes in helping Bobby, our new manager .
Fraser, Bobby and Josh
First is our newly appointed Director Of Football Fraser Tulloch (left). Fraser is a former Jags captain and a man who brought junior trophies to both Grantown FC and Spey Valley United. Secondly we have Josh Horton (right) who is taking up the mantle of Sporting Director. Josh is a former manager of Grantown FC in the welfare league and was chairman at a very successful Grantown FC in the Juniors. We’re delighted to welcome both and are exited to see what the future holds with our new structure. The future is bright! The future is jaggy…….
JOSH RACE SIGNS We are absolutely delighted to announce the signing of Josh Race from Loch Ness FC.
Josh has had a very busy few years in football and is returning to us having started in our youth ranks. He is a creative midfielder with an eye for goal and was also a North Caledonian League winner with Loch Ness. He is a very talented player who has incredible work rate. Josh’s C.V. includes Strathspey Youth, Ross County youth for 3 seasons, Strathspey Thistle for 1 season, Spey Valley FC 1 season and Loch Ness for the past 3 seasons. It’s come full circle and we are elated that he has decided to come back to his local club.
Welcome back Josh!
LOTTERY And of course we can’t not mention our fundraising lottery giving you the chance of winning the jackpot of £5700 – click here if you want to play…
LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES As previously intimated after the current jackpot has been won, therefore completing that game, there will be couple of changes. There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly. The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).
The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw.
If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players.
Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100.
THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
It was another disappointing season on the pitch for the Jags culminating in a very torrid final week with two games home and away against the clubs who finished top and third in the league, who were very intent on topping up their goal difference, which both teams managed to do. Our caretaker manager for the final six weeks of the season Michael Rae decided not to renew his contract for family reasons We wish him all the very best in his future endeavours. This, as well as some players moving on, then opens the door to a brand new dawn more of which will fully reported when all the pleces of the jigsaw fall into place, but initial reports look very promising.
BUCKIE THISTLE WIN LEAGUE
The victorious Buckie team
All at Strathspey Thistle would like to send our congratulations to the other Jags, Buckie Thistle in their achievement of winning this season’s Breedon Highland League – especially after their finishing sequence of thirteen league games and one cup game over forty-five days. Congratulations also go to Brechin City and Fraserburgh for finishing second and third respectively.
Local lad Sam Morrison and his dad Eddie with the League Trophy
Brechin finished on the same points so the title was decided on goal difference and Jagsweb was very disappointed with some of the comments made by the Brechin chairman in an national newspaper interview. We were then taken aback in what sounds like a very complicated episode, with the revelations of Buckie’s failure to achieve SFA Bronze status. They needed this to move up to the Scottish League if they were successful in overcoming both East Kilbride of the Lowland League and then Club 42 of the Scottish League.
FOOTBALL WEEKEND MAGAZINE
We recently welcomed Alan Price, who writes for Football Weekend magazine, to our home match against Fraserburgh. Alan arrived very early and after touring the ground went off to sample the views and delights of the surrounding area, returning for the match and some after-match hospitality. Football Weekend is a monthly glossy magazine for fans who want to visit various areas of the world and combining it with attending various football matches and stadia – the magazine is available at all good newsagents eg WH Smith and on subscription.
Football weekend magazine
We’ll give more details regarding the magazine when Alan’s article is printed sometime over the summer.
We’d also like to thank Gavin, Tom and Frances from our local newspaper for all the help and coverage they have given the Jags over the past season.
OUR SPONSORSAND SUPPORTERS
And finally, we would like to thank all the businesses both near and far and our supporters for all the help, especially financially throughout the year….THANK YOU ALL.
3rd: Heavy rain caused a lunchtime call-off for the planned trip to Buckie Thistle
6th: Game on at Turriff United despite heavy rain overnight. An unpredictable wind caused problems for the Jags in the first-half and they trailed 4-0 at the break. Owen Loveland pulled a goal back soon after the break and for a short period it looked as though a comeback could be on before three more strikes from the hosts put a slightly unfair gloss on the final scoreline.
13th: The first of four games in a week, all against title contenders at a time of the season when the Jags squad was stretched to the limit, saw Fraserburgh run out 5-1 winners at Seafield Park. Young goalkeeper Ethan Rae again impressed while Jack Davison took advantage of a defensive error to score a neat consolation goal. Keep an eye out for a feature on a trip to Seafield Park for this game which is due to appear in Football Weekends magazine over the summer. We’ll highlight when on the club website and social media pages.
15th: No rest for the Jags as they travelled to face Buckie Thistle at Victoria Park. Another battling display, despite a 6-1 defeat, with Owen Loveland scoring the visitor’s goal.
17th: And, just 48 hours later it was Buckie Thistle again the opponents, this time for the final home league game of the season at Seafield Park. While the game was in progress, news of scores elsewhere in the Midlands League meant that the Jags place in next season’s Highland League was secure. With Buckie needing goals to overtake Brechin City at the top of the table, Strathspey fought hard but couldn’t prevent a 7-0 defeat.
After the game we said thank you to Betty and Davie Love for all of their hard work over the years both in keeping Seafield Park clean and the pitch looked after.
Betty and Davie Love with Charlie Sinclair, Donly McLeod and Graeme Stuart.
20th: A fourth game in eight days proved too much for the Jags as Fraserburgh scored 11 times without reply in their attempts to overtake Buckie and Brechin City at the top of the table. Our usual warm welcome off the pitch wasn’t replicated on it by a ruthless home side although results elsewhere meant the Broch finished the season in third place.
25th: Buckie’s efforts were seemingly in vain after a shock statement released by the Scottish FA confirming that their play-off against Lowland League champs East Kilbride had been postponed due to our fellow Jags’ not meeting the criteria for promotion to the SPFL.
Thank you – to Mike Rae for guiding the team through to the end of the season, in difficult circumstances, and to Robbie Flett and Charlie Brown for their help.
Keep an eye on our website and social media pages on Facebook and X for more news on the Jags over the close season.
STRATHSPEY THISTLE F.C; APPEARANCE RECORDS 2023/24 Records kept by Club Secretary – Clive Wolstenholme
AWAY GAME v FRASERBURGH FC BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE BELLSLEA PARK, FRASERBURGH AB43 9BB SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2024 – KO 3pm
Well, well, well – that’ll be it for another season.
Not the easiest physically and mentally of finishes for all the title chasing teams over the past couple of weeks.
Fraserburgh is always an exceptionally welcoming place, and, despite whatever the result may be, is one of the days during the season, that the management committee always look forward to – perhaps not so much the players….!!
Results this week mean that Fraserburgh, even if they beat us substantially, will have to rely on Keith beating Buckie Thistle and Brora Rangers beating Brechin City to win the league – a bookie would give you very distant odds for that possibilty to happen….but as we always say in football you never know.
MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY’S MATCHES v BUCKIE THISTLE. Firstly I think we were impressed with the application and fitness of the Buckie boys over both games – considering this was games four and five over a twelve day period…we thought there may have been tiredness allowing us to maybe take the initiative here and there…and even though there were some controversial moments and decisions they still beat us convincingly in both games.
In pretty dire weather it has to be said Monday’s game finished 6-1 although many onlookers from both sides thought perhaps a 3-1 scoreline would have been more fitting. Again our start was abysmal with losing two goals within the first five minutes but on twenty-two minutes Owen Loveland scored but Buckie regained their two goal advantage in thirty-nine minutes and that’s how it stayed until half-time although we did miss great chance right on the forty-five.…but second half Buckie upped the pace and scored three more goals – one from Grantown’s own Sam Morrison, Buckie’s no 5… Our trialist goalie Kit Fletcher, had a great game, and was named Man of the Match by most of the spectators present, so we will hopefully see him at Seafield Park next season.
A very busy Seafield Park loaded with Buckie fans
It was no real difference on Wednesday, apart from the weather which was a really nice evening for football, with Buckie 3-0 up by halftime – Jags supporters were convinced that included a contested offside and contested penalty decision – but second half Buckie were more sharp but without some fantastic defending and blocking by the home team it could have been more. Home fans were very congratulatory on the players especially as tiredness must have played a part as we are also in the middle of a four game in seven days run. Strathspey Thistle would like to thank all the Buckie fans for making the journey to Grantown – Seafield Park has never looked so full for ages.
Saturday is going to be a very exciting day for the fans of Buckie and Brechin!
THANK YOU PRESENTATION TO BABS MCLEOD
Thanks Babs
After the half time rush in “The Shack” during the last home game of the season Charlie Sinclair presented Babs McLeod with a bouquet of flowers in appreciation of all her hard work during this season in catering for all our committee, other teams committees and guests. Well deserved..thanks Babs.
JAGS LOSE SWEEPERS
Betty and Davie Love with Charlie Sinclair, Donly McLeod and Graeme Stuart.
Betty Love has decided to retire after over twenty years of keeping Strathspey Thistle’s clubhouse, dressing rooms and toilets clean and tidy aided and abetted by her husband Davie, and the day after our last home game of the season against Buckie Thistle, they were presented by representatives of the Club, with a bouquet of flowers, season tickets for next years games in the Highland League and a voucher in appreciation of their commitment to the club. Davie has also been responsible for mowing the pitch so they will both be a great miss to the club. They have also been ardent supporters of the Jags for many years and as such we look forward to welcoming them every home game at Seafield Park next season. Our photograph shows the presentation L to R : Charlie Sinclair, Davie and Betty, Donly McLeod and Graeme Stuart
NEXT SEASON Probably the biggest smiles that were going around Seafield Park were not on the Buckie supporters – they were on the faces of the Jags committee who heard midway through the first half that their opponents, if there were to be a play off for a place in next years Highland League, had been beaten. Lochee United from Dundee had to win all their remaining four matches to secure the Midlands League but had been beaten convincingly by Dundee North End – so it meant that preparations could now begin for what looks like an exciting campaign next season with a lot of new faces throughout the Jags structure.
No matter what Saturday’s result will be be at Fraserburgh it will mean the parting of the ways of some familiar faces from the Jags dressing room and we would like to take this opportunity in thanking them for their efforts throughout the season, which let’s face it must have been really tough at some times, and we wish them all the best in their plans for the future.
At the moment we do not have much indication of all the changes that will happen over the summer but at this present moment the future looks very positive and here at JagsWeb we will, along with our other social media outlets on Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram try to keep you as informed as we can of all the goings on.
LOTTERY As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £5500 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…and remember please support us with the lottery over the close season – we wish you luck – and thanks for playing.
LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES As intimated a couple of weeks ago after the current jackpot, has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of changes. There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly.
The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).
The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw.
If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players.
Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100.
THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
All winners will be notified.
Here’s to season 2024/2025 and thanks to all our loyal readers and supporters….and as Bon Jovi would tell us ….keep the faith!! We’ll be back intermittently throughout the close season.
AWAY GAME v BUCKIE THISTLE FC BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE VICTORIA PARK, BUCKIE AB56 1BJ MONDAY 15 APRIL 2024 – KO 8pm
HOME GAME v BUCKIE THISTLE FC BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN, PH26 3JN WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL 2024 – KO 8pm
Apologies for not being up to speed with results etc as I am writing both posts on Monday am.
MONDAY NIGHT So, scheduled for Monday night we will be under the floodlights of Victoria Park, and this season’s first encounter with Buckie Thistle. We were to meet in Grantown in October but advice from the Scottish Government regarding inclement weather postponed that fixture and water problems at Victoria Park last month postponed our meeting there.
Victoria Park, Buckie
Buckie have had a season to remember so far- a recent win against Brechin put them very much back in contention in the title race but congestion of fixtures may lead to burn out before the final ball is kicked in the title race to be finished a week on Saturday – This will be Buckie’s fourth game since last Monday so perhaps tiredness may come into play especially playing on some of the rain soaked surfaces which can drain fitness levels very quickly.
We will be playing our second game in three days so fingers crossed tiredness and fatigue levels hold out for another two games at least until Sunday, then the promise of the long days of summer ahead….
LAST SATURDAY GAME v FRASERBURGH
Well it was the proverbial four seasons in one day here in Grantown – the photo here would have you believe it was a beautiful summer’s day but don’t you believe it!!
The Jags on the attack v Fraserburgh
The game panned out more or less as the neutral observer would have predicted. Scott Barbour opened the scoring in six minutes for the visitors and Sopel doubled their lead in thirty three minutes. The Jags defence were working very hard with on-loan Ross County ‘keeper Ethan Rae turning in another man of the match performance with some superb saves. Soon after the interval the ‘Broch scored again and were then awarded a contested penalty..(!) on sixty five minutes and with Barbour scoring again seven minutes after that, that completed the ‘Broch scoring…we then had then about twenty minutes of slight dominance having couple of good scoring chances before Jack Davison netting in eighty four minutes and that is how it finished. Fraserburgh deserved their win.
Jack Davison, lone scorer for the Jags
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
It’s our turn to pay for the floodlights as we welcome last year’s league runners-up, Buckie Thistle. As noted above this will be the second time in three days that we will be facing the might of Buckie, who as we have mentioned a few times have in their ranks two local lads, defender Sam Morrison who scored recently at Keith, and up front Aviemore’s Josh Peters. Buckie won both games against us last season, one quite heftily, so we are hoping that our exceptionally varied form this season may stand us in good stead and provide the fans from both sides at Seafield Park a good and exciting game of football. As Buckie are again, at the time of writing, in second place in the league, although I would imagine for Wednesday’s game there is a good chance of being joint top, the second game in two days against Buckie again will not an easy task by any means.
We would like thank Fife Creamery for their match sponsorship and to local painter and decorator Dai Lovatt for his sponsorship of our annual match programme which will be available to purchase at the ground.
For more information about Fife Creamery please click here
As usual we expect a fair entourage of Buckie supporters and look forward to welcoming them to Grantown and if any have not been here before or wanting a refresher of the facilities click HERE and enjoy the game.
Safe journey here and back and hopefully the weather will behave and not as is the forecast.
We will be back on Friday with the second last scheduled blog post of the season.
HOME GAME v FRASERBURGH FC BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2024 – KO 3pm
Well here we go – the last week and with four games to complete our league season as far as finishes go this must be up there with THE most difficult ever!! …..mind you as demanding finishes go the focus must be on Buckie Thistle who will be playing six games in twelve days to finish their season off – in comparison to rivals Brechin and Fraserburgh who play three games and Banks O’ Dee with two. In the Highland League there is usually some congestion of fixtures at this time of the season, but this is quite exceptional in Buckie’s case. – various factors have contributed to this scenario, some of their own doing unfortunately. It is a very exciting contest this year – as it is most years in the HL – with Brechin, Fraserburgh, Bank’s O’ Dee and Buckie all vying for top spot…so by playing two of the teams in contention twice this week, Strathspey Thistle will play a major part in realising where the league flag will be unfurled at the start of next season. The reason for this end of season compressed set of fixtures for us all is that because Buckie are in contention for the league title, the title must be won by April 20 so as to enable the Breedon Highland League winners to go forward to a home and away play-off against the winning team from the Lowland League as part of the SFA’s pyramid system. The winners of that tie, play home and away against the bottom club in League Two of the Scottish League and the victors book a place in next year’s League Two, hopefully following in the footsteps of Cove Rangers, Bonnyrigg Rose etc.
THIS SATURDAY’S GAME AGAINST FRASERBURGH FC So with Fraserburgh hunting the league title we can’t see them showing any mercy, so we have to go into the match with the same attitude we have had playing in some of the games against the top teams already this season….we expect a really tough game but hopefully we can get something from it perhaps not a win but a close game and a good performance. The weather forecast is for the sun to be shining and a blue sky – hopefully, fingers crossed it is correct and the fans of both teams can at least be dry as opposed to being soaked and cold! Fraserburgh are motoring on just fine in the race for the league title and currently sit in second place, with Buckie Thistle, three points behind leaders Brechin City with three games to play. Today is the first of two games in a week against the ‘Broch, as we finish our league campaign next Saturday in Fraserburgh. I would imagine we will also be welcoming a very strong ‘Broch following on Saturday, and if if there are any newbies to Grantown or any wanting a resumé of what is available in Grantown click here for a reminder. Safe journeys! Unfortunately, Jags caretaker manager Mike Rae may be struggling to put together his ideal eleven for the final four fixtures, especially with the way the games have come about over the past few weeks, injuries have taken their toll as well as some players moving on….
WHAT OF NEXT SEASON….. We will finish bottom of the league no matter what happens – and being part of the SFA’s pyramid system, retaining our position in the Highland League for next season and what is happening in the Midlands League in the Dundee, Fife and Angus (!) area is what concerns us most…. The fortunes of Broughty Athletic FC and Lochee Utd FC are especially important….because if Lochee win the league then we must play them home and away in a play-off tie for that place in the Highland League…Dundee based Lochee have the necessary criteria in place and intimated, as all clubs have to, their intentions at the start of the season that they would join the Highland League if they won their league title. Broughty Athletic did not – and currently with three games left Broughty sit on top of the league eight points ahead of Lochee, but, Lochee have two games in hand…so it’s going to be an exciting finish in that league too!!
DIARY DATES As indicated last week, this week’s games are comin’ at ye thick and fast….Buckie Monday night away, Buckie Wednesday night home, both 8 pm kick off, and we finish off at Fraserburgh next Saturday afternoon. With thoughts turning towards the summer and with the Master’s in Augusta this weekend on television a date to pencil in is the STFC Golf Day which takes place this year on Saturday 13 July at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club. Full details will be available soon.
LAST SATURDAY AWAY TO TURRIFF UTD
It was another disappointing Saturday. Playing both a very good Turriff side and a strong wind in the first half we were four down by the interval. We hoped with the wind behind our backs in the second half we may make a bit of a comeback especially when Owen Loveland
Jags goalscorer Owen Loveland
scored four minutes into the second half, but it was not to be and Turriff scored a further three goals after that making the final score 7-1 to Turra….
LOTTERY As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £5400 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…
LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES As intimated a couple of months ago after the current jackpot, has been won, so completing that game there will be couple of changes.
There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly.
The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).
The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw.
If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players.
Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100.
THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
AWAY GAME v TURRIFF UNITED FC BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE THE HAUGHS, QUEEN’S ROAD, TURRIFF, AB53 4EF SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2024 – KO 3pm
As we enter April the league begins to draw to a close and this week we visit The Haughs and Turriff United. This time we hope to play a good bit better than we did did when we last met at Seafield Park in November, when we were hammered by eight goals to one – not an afternoon we want to remember.
So, hopefully, Mike and the rest of the gang will be able to curb the enthusiasm of the Turra team and put in a good shift so we can leave with heads held high, home for a few days respite! After Turriff on Saturday we have four games left and a busy seven days it is going to be…..on Saturday the 13th we have Fraserburgh, currently in second place in the league at Seafield Park, followed by fellow title contenders Buckie Thistle at Buckie on Monday 15th then it’s back to Seafield Park on Wednesday 17th for our home match against Buckie then culminating on the Saturday the 20th with the away match at Fraserburgh….not the ending any team would want to finish their league campaign with, especially the one that is sitting on the bottom of the table……but as we always say you just never know in football….and having said that, Buckie will be playing ten games between the March 20 and April 20…!!…and as they also say….it’s tough at the top!
FINAL DATES FOR YOUR FOOTBALL DIARY THIS YEAR So to recap with confirmed dates from the Highland League are the following rearranged fixtures. Saturday April 13 v Fraserburgh (H) KO 3pm Monday April 15 Buckie Thistle (A) KO 8pm Wednesday April 17 v Buckie Thistle (H) KO 8pm Saturday April 20 v Fraserburgh (A) KO 3pm, our scheduled last game of the season.
LAST SATURDAY’S GAME v NAIRN COUNTY
Even although our drainage system is admired by many, sometimes the elements fight against you as was the occurrence we had last week at Seafield Park. We had a huge downpour thirty minutes before kick off during the pre-match warm up which continued more or less throughout the first half – the result of which was a mightily ripped up Seafield Park as the photo taken on Sunday morning shows ….but the second half was a calm spring afternoon with blue sky…..the joys of a Scottish “spring” – As I reported earlier in the week Nairn managed the conditions better and were well worthy of their 3-0 lead by half time. The Jags more or less dominated much of the second half and had four really excellent scoring chances, none of which were converted unfortunately and a very good penalty shout, before Nairn scored again in the dying minutes of the game.
Seafield Park on Sunday morning after Saturday’s torrential rain.
Sadly, the weather conditions turned most of the pitch into a quagmire and with that, the obvious damage to the playing surface. With ten days to our next home match we’re hoping that the weather will now be kind and help the pitchfixers in their task of getting the surface back to the condition it was before.
LOTTERY
This week we are offering you a jackpot win of £5300 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…
LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
After the current jackpot has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of changes. There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly. The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).
The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw.
If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players.
Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100.
THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
All winners will be notified.
So that’s all Jags fans this week and hopefully we will see you at Seafield Park next Saturday in a Breedon Highland League match against high flying Fraserburgh FC – kick off 3pm.
2nd: Heavy rain caused a lunchtime call-off for the planned trip to Buckie Thistle
6th: On the pitch it was a difficult evening for the Jags as they conceded ten goals at home to Brora Rangers with only Owen Loveland’s strike in return. The big news off the field was confirmation that North Caledonian League club Loch Ness FC had approached STFC about a potential merger although talks were at an early stage.
7th: Having earlier announced his decision to step down at the end of the season, Robert MacCormack confirmed that his time as manager of the Jags was over. The club would like to wish Robert all the best for the future and thank him for his dedication and hard work in trying to make this a success. If all the work Rob put in had been mirrored on the park, we would have been a top six club this season!
9th: A hard-fought home game against Keith ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Jags, Michael McKenzie scoring the hosts’ goal to equalise just before the hour mark.
Going very close against Keith
13th: After two call-offs earlier in the season, Wick Academy finally made the trip to Seafield Park and will be glad that they did, a 6-1 victory making their long journey home worthwhile. Owen Loveland scored the Jags goal from the penalty spot.
16th: A long-awaited second win of the season for the Jags and also a second against Deveronvale as second-half goals from Michael McKenzie, Owen Loveland and Ross Logan earned a fine victory in Banff which marked the final game in charge for the home side’s manager Craig Stewart.
18th: Local newspaper reports confirmed the end of exploratory talks between the club and Loch Ness FC of the North Caledonian League over a potential merger.
23rd: Second-bottom Inverness Clachnacuddin were the visitors to Seafield Park and the gap between the two teams was cut to seven points by the final whistle as goals from Ian Ross and Daniel Whitehorn, sandwiched by a penalty for the visitors, made it two wins on the spin for the Jags and put them into double figures for points for the season. Young goalkeeper Ethan Rae continues to attract praise for his displays between the posts.
30th: The Jags couldn’t make it three wins on the spin although a 4-0 defeat against Nairn County at Seafield Park was harsh on the home side.
*****************Remaining Matches This Season***********************
Wednesday 3rd April: (A) versus Buckie Thistle
Saturday 6th April: (A) versus Turriff United
Saturday 13th April: (H) versus Fraserburgh
Wednesday 17th April: (H) versus Buckie Thistle
Saturday 20th April: (A) versus Fraserburgh
As the season begins drawing to a close, a big thank-you once again to everyone who helped the club by sponsoring a pitch-side advertising board.
Montage of the current crop of pitch side advertising boards
STRATHSPEY THISTLE F.C. APPEARANCES SEASON 2023-2024
(up until the 31st March 2024) Records kept by Club Historian – Rob Clark
