Strathspey Thistle FC

HOME MATCH v NAIRN COUNTY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN PH26 3RH
SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2023 – KO 2pm

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A 2PM KICK OFF

This Saturday we welcome from across the Dava Moor, Nairn County FC and their supporters.
Nairn are going very well at the moment and are climbing the league after a slowish start, and we are preparing for what will be another tough encounter and no doubt Jags fans will recognise two or three familiar faces in the County ranks.
Nairn currently sit in ninth position in the league and hopefully we can do a wee bit better than our last encounter in October when we lost 4-2.

Usually Nairn take a good support with them and for them more information is available click here.

NEW FACES

The Club are delighted to announce that we secured the services of our new Assistant Manager Robert MacCormack, whose work at Alness United has been very impressive, and we warmly welcome him to The Jags. He will make his debut in the dugout alongside our interim management team on Saturday.

As well as our earlier January signings of Ross Logan, Cairn Giles and two loan signings, from our visitors Nairn County, Seamus McConaughy and Rory Williamson, we will be welcoming some more new faces with the recently signed goalkeeper James Kendall, ex Nairn County, and forward Rory Mackinnon and both could also be involved on Saturday.
Two more signings brothers Robert and Cameron Breen are unfortunately unable for selection this week but will be available from next week.

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STRATHSPEY THISTLE NEEDS YOUR HELP – URGENT HELP REQUIRED

With the recent departure of Vice-Chairman Ian S Anderson due to an ever increasing work schedule, and, having to devote the required time he felt his position in the club required, he thought it was necessary to step down from the committee as well as long serving committee member and kit man Ian B Anderson. The Club would like to thank them very much for all the extremely hard work they have put in over the years and wish them all the best.

However, that now means we have a very much reduced committee and would be delighted to hear from anyone who loves their football and would want to join us, or just to give us a hand on home match days – please come along on a match day you will be very welcome to see the set up, or you can contact at any other time Chairman Donly McLeod (01479 872668) or Secretary Clive Wolstenholme ( 01479 811334) for more information. 

….and on the subject of help – as most of us are finding this economic climate a bit challenging the club are no different – energy bills, players wages, referees fees, travelling costs, pitch maintenance etc etc, so, if any local business or person can offer sponsorship or any help financially the Club would be very appreciative indeed. 

Although this sounds a bit gloomy, we are as a Club feeling very positive on how our future looks – especially with a very positive and ambitious new management team in the making and all but ready to go, and our recent association with interim manager and our Head of Football Development Brian Ritchie’s local community team which have already supplied some of the current Jags team, there is a lot to look forward to. 

CLUB LOTTERY

Now as ever at this time of the post we offer you the chance of winning this weeks jackpot of £3100 by playing our Club Lottery on line – click here to play. Bon Chance!

See you next week.

3^rd After many days of snow, ice and minus temperatures today has been when the thaw began so keep our fingers crossed that the game at Mosset Park Forres will be played.  

4^th It was confirmed today that the contract of striker Ben Cullen had been cancelled. He is an aircraft engineer based at RAF Lossiemouth and he has been posted to England. We didn’t see the best of Ben after he suffered a bad facial injury in our home game with Deveronvale in August. We wish him well.

5^th Confirmation today of the signing until the end of the season of 21-year-old midfielder Cairn Giles. He has had experience with Boat of Garten Ospreys, Cromdale and Spey Valley United. 

6^th Forres confirm Saturday’s game is on.

7^th First game in charge for Brian Ritchie and what a baptism. Again conceding the early goal made life difficult but the team held their own until the break when they went in 2-1 down. Our goal was a shot come cross from Owen Loveland which the Forres keeper turned into his net. This was one of the own goals in the game. The second half saw ‘The Jags’ blown away by the men from Mosset Park. Not the kind of second half showing that Brian expected. Final score 8-1. Brush ourselves down again and prepare for the visit next Saturday of Lossiemouth FC.

14^th   Home match v Lossiemouth – An exciting game and much improved performance left all Jags fans gutted at the final whistle. Making his debut we welcomed Nathaniel Valente as goalkeeping cover and he was soon in action with a penalty save just five minutes in which gave everyone a massive boost. The first 45 minutes were pretty even with both sides missing chances but it was good to go in at half time with a clean sheet. 
The second half was also exciting and despite going a goal down on 55 minutes, Jags heads did not drop and instead they took the game to Lossie. Man of the Match Alan Kerr equalised on 75 minutes and the game became end to end. Two quick goals on 89 and 90 gave Lossiemouth a victory but a draw would have been fair. A much improved team performance was also very welcome.

20^thA week of very cold days and nights together with some heavy snowfalls in the Grantown area made you wonder if we would make the 135 mile journey northwards to Wick on the A9 tomorrow. The answer was given to us this afternoon after a pitch inspection that there was no prospect of the park being playable. Attention now turns to our visit on the 28^th to Glebe Park to face title favourites Brechin City.

26^th   18 year old Cameron Breen has joined the club until the end of the season. He is a midfielder. Born and raised in South Africa he has now moved to the UK. 

28^th   One of our longest trips of the season to current league leaders and SHFL title favourites was as daunting a task as it turned out. On the way we stopped at Kellockbank Garden Centre for breakfast. Lovely welcome and good food was a positive way to start the day.
Arriving at Glebe Park for a 2pm kick off and our Team Manager had selected Cairn Giles for his debut and he and the other players were soon under the cosh. We conceded our normal very early goal but for the next 35 minutes we competed well but went in at half time down by 2-0. Another very early goal within a minute of the restart knocked the players confidence and Brechin then dominated the rest of the game and ran out winners by 6-0. Now for the long journey home.

30^th  The club have made further additions to the playing staff with the registrations of Robert Breen Jnr. and Rory Mackinnon. Robert is a midfielder and has joined his brother Cameron on the staff. Rory is a forward who has played local welfare football with Aviemore Thistle and Nairn St. Ninian.

31^st  Another addition to the squad is 31 year old Goalkeeper James Kendall. He has played for Nairn County and Nairn St. Ninian.

February fixtures

Saturday 4^th Nairn County (H, 2pm)

Saturday 11^th Inverurie Locos (A, 2pm)

Saturday 18^th Huntly (H)

Saturday 25^th Brora (A)

PLAY THE CLUB LOTTERY BY CLICKING HERE

AWAY MATCH v BRECHIN CITY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
GLEBE PARK, TRINITY ROAD, BRECHIN DD9 7BH
SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2023 KO – 2pm

If you are making your way to Brechin for the match please be aware of a 2pm kick off.

Well …..lets hope we’re not singing the soul classic from Johnny Johnston & his Bandwagon on our long way back from Glebe Park this Saturday evening…

As is now,  Brechin are sitting second in the Breedon Highland League, only two points behind leaders Buckie Thistle and with two games in hand, which is more or less diametrically opposite to our position – eighteenth out of eighteen!

Early days yet though as we have still thirteen games to play.

Having missed last week’s match owing to snow and ice on the Wick Academy pitch, Thistle caretaker manager Brian Richie says in this week’s local paper “The Strathy” that the Jags can’t realistically expect to get too much out of Saturday’s match as Brechin are proving weekly they are an excellent team, especially at home, but as long as the Thistle boys give 100% and play for the jersey such as we did in our last game, the management team will be content with the progress we are hopefully beginning to make.

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CLUB LOTTERY

The jackpot has reached £3000 and if you wish to take part and buy a ticket online please click here and you will be taken to the webpage.

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That’s all this week sportsfans – back next week with the preview of our next home game on 4 February with the very much in-form Nairn County…

AWAY MATCH v WICK ACADEMY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
HARMSWORTH PARK, WICK, KW1 5NH
SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 – KO 3pm

It wasn’t madness that some clever person invented the NC500.
On Saturday, The Jags will be on the team bus travelling the A9 – the part of the NC500 between Inverness and Wick This is one of the longer journeys we make – approx 135 miles and upwards of 3 hours – on a good day – and then do it all again for the way home – but Wick are doing this every other week…so no more moaning!

,Having put in a strong performance last week against Breedon Highland League leaders Buckie Thistle, the Scorries will be ready to face a rejuvenated Jags.
We also put in a decent performance last Saturday against Lossiemouth – losing 3-1 with Lossie scoring two in the last minutes – most spectators thought a draw would have been a far fairer result.
Wick Academy sit in twelfth position in the league – fourteen points ahead of us – so lets hope at five o’clock on Saturday its only eleven.

BAD WEATHER
As I write this there is about twenty cms of snow on Seafield Park and with all the bad weather going about if you are planning travelling to the game please check our social media pages – Facebook and Twitter for up to date information – and a safe journey!

LAST WEEK MOTM

Congratulations are due to the Cairngorm Gin MAN OF THE MATCH Award from last week’s encounter with Lossiemouth – Alan Kerr.
Alan, who joined last summer, has played all his matches as centre forward but the interim management team must have seen something in training last week as he took the field as centre HALF ! Watching him you would have thought he had played there all his life ……and I would imagine he will be at the back again this week….honourable mention was our stand-in keeper from Alness, Nat Valente who’s first job was to save a penalty in the first five minutes…and continued to have a really good game. As Mike McCallum is unavailable again this week, I would imagine Nat will be back between the sticks.

LOTTERY

As is usual in this part of the weekly JagsWeb production, we entice you to have a go in the weekly Club Lottery game – this week’s jackpot is £2900 and to play click here.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

Friday 17 February – 7.30pm Grant Arms Hotel…..Club historian Rob Clark will be giving a talk all about the history of football in Grantown.

HOME MATCH v LOSSIEMOUTH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN, PH26 3HF
SATURDAY 14 JANUARY 2023 – KO 3pm

Leaving the silver sands of Lossiemouth behind them, the town’s football team head towards Grantown’s Seafield Park on Saturday afternoon and a Breedon Highland League clash with the Jags – our second league meeting of the season  – please note it is a 3pm kick off this weekend. Both teams had very disappointing results last week and will be striving to get back to a winning game mentality. Lossie currently sit in 15th place in the league with sixteen points.

When interviewed by our local paper The Strathy, with regards to last weeks game against Forres Mechanics, Jags interim manager Brian Ritchie was not at all happy complaining bitterly about the attitude of the team after the break. It was a very disappointing second half performance after being very much in the game at half time – an attitude hopefully to be improved greatly this week.  Lossie won their home fixture in August against us – let’s hope we can match that and keep the three points at Seafield Park.

We usually welcome a good turnout of Lossiemouth supporters and if any of them want to find out more about Grantiown click here

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THE JAGS ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW MANAGER

As advertised in our Facebook and Twitter pages and as well as in some printed publications we are in the hunt for a new manager.
Applications for the position of Team Manager are now invited.
Any interested parties please contact :
strathspeythistlefc@highlandleague.com
and/or
Ian Anderson – ST Vice Chairman 
07876025538

CLUB SPONSORS

MKM – the UK’s largest independent builder’s merchants, and one of our major sponsors, are celebrating opening their 100th branch nationwide by “The 100 Good Deeds
Campaign” throughout the UK.
The Aviemore branch will be taking part and will be supporting the Aviemore British Legion’s local community involvement. – the full story is in this weeks Strathy –

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CLUB LOTTERY

As ever we finish with offering you a chance at winning £2800 in the Club Lottery which will be drawn on Sunday night – play here.

Thanks again sportsfans…see you next week

AWAY MATCH v FORRES MECHANICS FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
MOSSET PARK, FORRES, IV36 1AU
SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 2023 – KO – 3pm

That’s the festive season over for another year and for the first time since the beginning of December we are ready to go. This Saturday our first match of 2023 is away to Forres Mechanics FC at Mosset Park in Forres, the town famous for its’ superb and winning summer flower displays.

The Can-Cans are going pretty well this season and currently sit in seventh place in the league with twenty seven points from twenty games – a tally which shows how tight and unpredictable it has been for the middle league teams this season – everyone seems to have upped their game and unfortunately we have been left behind a wee bit.

But hopefully a new year will bring us a change of fortunes – and will see us take some points after a blooming good and hard game!!

Over the past couple of weeks we have featured heavily on the back pages of our local newspaper The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald, and as we have not had a game since December 3, it has given our new interim management team some time to assess the playing squad. 
The management team of Brian Ritchie, Craig Ireland and Robbie Flett have used the enforced break well and have been hard at work preparing the squad starting with this weekend’s match,  with sessions on Nairn beach and at Ross County,  and also using Aviemore’s Dalfaber indoor facilities. 
Much to the delight of everyone at the Club we have secured the services of Ross Logan from Clach on a permanent deal – Ross was with us for a couple of months last season on a loan and we were very sorry to see him go – and Ross will be joined by midfielders Seamus McConaghy and Rory Williamson who have signed until the end of the season on loan from Nairn County. Also joining us is local lad Cairn Giles who has impressed the management team with his work in the Community team….
There was however a setback in preparations when Elgin City FC recalled their very promising youngster Aiden Cruickshank – Aiden who scored three goals in his spell with us is a fine prospect and we wish him all the best for the future.  

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CLUB LOTTERY

It’s all back to normal this weekend with the draw as usual on Sunday night – last play online is 6pm – and if you want to play here and have the chance of winning this weeks’ jackpot of £2700 – please play here.

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Thanks very much for supporting the Club and all the best for 2023.

3^rd   Another low point in an already disappointing season with a 7-0 thrashing from Rothes.  A familiar start of being two goals down in the opening ten minutes said it all and there has to be some serious soul searching amongst everyone connected with the club, including the players, as to our future in the SHFL.

8^th   It was confirmed that our home game with Lossiemouth on January 14^th would kick off at 3pm.
During the afternoon the club announced that our team manager, Charlie Brown, had stepped down with immediate effect. Charlie admitted in the Press and Journal that after some of their defeats this season he has barely been able to speak to his family with his mind occupied by problems on the pitch. ‘It puts a toll on your personal life’ he said.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for the help he has given to me over the last season and a half, and wish him all the best.

9^thOur first snowfall of the season and minus overnight temperatures has resulted in tomorrow’s home game with Buckie Thistle being postponed.
Until the club finds new management, Brian Ritchie, Craig Ireland and Robbie Flett will take charge of the first team. We wish them well.

15^thA good article in The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald sets out what Brian Ritchie expects from players with regard to attendance at training. This week has seen very cold temperatures and snow with no sign at the moment of any thaw coming. Our visit on Saturday to reigning Champions Fraserburgh is currently on.

16^thFraserburgh have confirmed a pitch inspection for 8am on Saturday. The club have confirmed the signing of midfielder David Ross, who has previously played for ‘The Jags’, until the end of the season.

17^thFraserburgh had monitored their pitch and in the afternoon informed us that tomorrow’s game was off as certain parts of the pitch remained unplayable. Fraserburgh had planned to stream the game live, cost £8. Maybe the way forward?

20^thThe club have decided to advertise for a new team manager.

22^nd Santa has decided to visit us early with the permanent signing from Clachnacuddin, on a two and half year deal, of Ross Logan, an exciting signing. 

26^thBoxing Day snow and frost means a pitch inspection at Rothes at 09.30 tomorrow.

27^thAnother disappointing postponement as pitch frozen. We now have three games to be re-arranged, Buckie (h) and Fraserburgh and Rothes (a).

29^th The club has agreed with Nairn County to take on loan, until the end of the season, 18 year old defender Rory Williamson and midfielder Seamus McConaghy, 22.

31^st   We come to the close of a very eventful year for ‘The Jags’ with all to play for to the end of the season. It is also the end of the second year publishing this newsletter which I hope you have enjoyed. Any feedback would be appreciated. Happy New Year to all.     

AWAY MATCH v ROTHES FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE 
MACKESSACK PARK, STATION STREET, ROTHES
TUESDAY 27 DECEMBER 2022 KO – 3pm

Lets hope it’s not a blue Christmas for Brian and the boys as we head towards Rothes and our second league match against them this December.  Our last meeting in Grantown unfortunately ultimately resulted in the resignation of our manager, Charlie Brown. Hopefully the game will go ahead as it’ll be the first with our new management team in place and they and the players are raring to go.

So it’s all change at the top and we look forward to our next adventure as we wish Brian, Craig and Robbie all the very best over the next few weeks until a new permanent management team is appointed..

Applications for the position of manager can be directed at our Club secretary Clive Wolstenholme. 

Our next scheduled league match is on Saturday 7 January with an away match against Forres Mechanics FC in Forres with a 3pm kick off.

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WELCOME BACK ROSS

Christmas came early to Seafield Park with the news that former player Ross Logan has returned  – and Strathspey Thistle FC  are delighted to announce his permanent signing.

Gaffer Brian Ritchie  had this to say on his new addition.

“Delighted to have the opportunity to work with Ross again having previously coached him during our time together at Clach….Ross is a top quality player with a first class work rate and attitude towards his football and training. I am also very grateful to Strathspey Thistle for putting this fantastic piece of business together. 
Hopefully this signing will show any interested parties in the vacant Manager’s position the clubs ambitions to build a quality squad for the future. “

We would like to thank Clachnacuddin FC for allowing this deal to happen.

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CLUB LOTTERY

As ever in finishing we would like to offer you the chance of winning the jackpot of £2500 – just in time for the New Year- click here to play online.

As you know the draw usually takes place on a Sunday evening and because Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on a Sunday this year the following draw arrangements have been made for over the festive season.
The dates and times are as follows:
Sunday 25 December’s draw is moved to Wednesday 28 December at 7pm – last online sale 6pm
Sunday 1 January’s draw is moved to Wednesday 4 January 2023 at 7pm – last online sale 6pm  
Sunday 8 January 2023 draw remains the same at 7pm – last online sale 6pm 

2022 -2023

ALL THE VERY BEST TO YOU AND YOURS FOR 2023

Everyone and their families involved with Strathspey Thistle would like to thank all our sponsors and supporters and all their families for their loyalty throughout 2022 – it’s not been easy but hopefully there will be a turn of fortune in 2023.

We wish everyone all the best for the New Year and beyond at this reflective time of the year.

AWAY MATCH v FRASERBURGH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
BELLSLEA PARK, FRASERBURGH, AB43 9BB
SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER 2022 KO – 3pm

Did you know that the first ever mainland lighthouse was situated in Fraserburgh in 1787 – neither did I! 
Anyway, back to the fitba and this week sees us on our travels east again to the coast and Bellslea Park for our second league encounter this season with the current Highland League champions, Fraserburgh FC. 
We always get a good welcome from The ‘Broch and we look forward to our visit there. 
However, our last meeting in Grantown resulted in a fairly hefty home defeat so hopefully although the odds are against it, we hope to dent the welcome with a good result.

It’ll be the first time that Brian, Craig and Robbie will be temporarily in charge of the team after Charlie’s departure, so we would like to wish all of them all the best from Jagsweb and look forward to what happens in the new year.  

Hopefully the extreme winter weather conditions will not affect the match but I have my doubts.
For up-to-date news on the game’s playability please keep a check on social media and local radio.

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SEAFIELD PARK

As you can imagine with a flurry of snow showers and temperatures reaching -14 C the pitch is under about 15cm of snow and unplayable……but as the League fixtures would have it, our next home match is scheduled for the 14 Jan 2023……so hopefully, fingers crossed the winter weather will improve by then!!!

Our next league match after Fraserburgh is in Rothes on the 27 December and this is our last game of 2022.

2023
Away League match v Forres Mechanics FC Saturday 7 January 2023 – 3pm kick off
Home League match v Lossiemouth FC Saturday 14 January 2023 – 3pm kick off
Away League match v Brechin City FC on Saturday 28 January 2023  will have a 2pm kick off.
Away League match v Inverurie Loco Works FC  on Saturday 11 February 2023 will have a 2pm kick off

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CLUB LOTTERY

As ever in finishing we would like to offer you the chance of winning the jackpot of £2400 – just in time for Christmas – click here to play online.

As you know the draw usually takes place on a Sunday evening and because Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on a Sunday this year the following draw arrangements have been made for over the festive season.
The dates and times are as follows:
Sunday 25 December’s draw is moved to Wednesday 28 December at 7pm – last online sale 6pm
Sunday 1 January’s draw is moved to Wednesday 4 January 2023 at 7pm – last online sale 6pm  
Sunday 8 January 2023 draw remains the same at 7pm – last online sale 6pm 

A MERRY CHRISTMAS 

As this will be the last post before Christmas, everyone at Strathspey Thistle FC would like to wish all our supporters, helpers and everyone who takes an interest a very Happy Christmas and hope Santa is good to you all….and as ever lets not miss the opportunity of promoting our merchandise – buy clicking here….. 

Following on from the announcement yesterday we are in a position to announce the Interim Management Team to take the club forward until we appoint a new Management Team.
Brian Ritchie will be taking charge and assisted by Craig Ireland and Robert Flett. We wish Brian and team all the best for his time in the role.