Saturday 1st August 2026: Wick Academy 0 vs. Strathspey Thistle 2
Strathspey Thistle made the 270-mile round trip to Harmsworth Park, Wick on the 1st of August and not only did “The Strathy Jags” come away with only their ever second win at the ground where they played their first ever Highland League match on the 4th October 2014, it was the first time ever Wick Academy failed to score against us on their home ground.
Before yesterday the record was played: 29; Wick Academy 25 wins; Strathspey Thistle wins 2; Draws 2. Wick Academy goals 111 Strathspey Thistle 31.
Strathspey Thistle playing in their first Breedon Group Scottish Highland League fixture in their new Yellow and Royal Blue away strip, played some superb football despite the heavy rain showers. In the 3rd minute of the match, Josh Race went close to given us the lead, but his effort came off the goal frame when it seemed a certain goal.
Strathspey Thistle’s pressure finally paid off just after the half hour mark when a good move was rounded off when Josh Race set up ROBBIE THOMPSON to score! Strathspey Thistle could and maybe should have extended their lead in the first half, but they went in at the interval 1-0 in the lead.
Wick Academy got more into the match in the second half but despite this they never really tested Trialist Strathspey Thistle Goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw.
With just two minutes left, a powerful run and cross by sub-Shaun Morrison set up the in rushing ANDREW GRIEG to fire the ball back across goal and into the far corner of the net for his first goal for Strathspey Thistle! The photo shows him wheeling away in celebration!
This result sets up Strathspey Thistle nicely for the visit of Buckie Thistle to Seafield Park on Wednesday night with an eight pm kick-off…
A huge thank you to everyone who played again this week — your support keeps this club powering forward and we appreciate every single ticket bought!
The Jackpot proved stubborn once more… and now climbs to a fantastic £1,200 for next week! 💰⚽ It’s getting serious now.
But we do have a winner tonight… 👏 Massive congratulations to Sandra Murray of Grantown-On-Spey, who takes home this week’s £100 prize! Great stuff, Sandra — enjoy it!
Now then… With the Jackpot rising to £1,200, could you be the one to land it next week? Only one way to find out.
Strathspey Thistle FC will face a demanding schedule throughout August, with seven Highland League fixtures lined up as the squad continues its early‑season campaign.
The Jags begin the month away to Wick Academy before returning to Seafield Park for back‑to‑back home ties against Buckie Thistle and Banks O’ Dee. Further challenges follow against Inverurie Loco Works, Brora Rangers, Turriff United, and Huntly as the team looks to build momentum and consistency.
Supporters are encouraged to get behind the squad both home and away — your backing makes all the difference.
AWAY MATCH v BANKS O’DEE FC BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE SPAIN PARK, ABERDEEN AB12 3AB WEDNESDAY 18 MARCH 2025 – KICK OFF 8pm
It’s on the bus and over the hills and far away to Spain Park in Aberdeen for our second meeting this season in the Breedon Highland League against Banks O’Dee. We were meant to visit just before Christmas but our squad was struck down by the flu bug and we had to ask for permission from the Highland League for postponement of the game much to Banks O’ Dee’s chagrin. However, Wednesday night’s game is now the main focus and we travel there on the back of three straight victories so there will be confidence within the team but, after all the games being played throughout the league by all teams, all players and managerial teams are beginning to feel the effects of Wednesday/Saturday fixtures. Although Banks sit in sixth place in the league, with forty-eight points from twenty-seven games, they probably feel that they could have done a bit better, but as I say constantly this season there have been strange results with very few games being routs so I am surmising that this game will be pretty close and as both teams have played four games in March already, fitness levels could play a big part. We met at Seafield Park in August in what was a really difficult day to play football with very strong gusts of wind and both teams struggled with the conditions. It took nearly eighty minutes for the deadlock to be broken when we succumbed to a killer five minutes or so losing two goals – compounded by a very controversial penalty decision resulting in a 3-0 loss to the The Jags – however had we been given what was, especially to the home support and players, a stonewall penalty late in the first half who knows how the game would have panned out.
As ever we wish Aaron, JLF and the boys all the best on their trip to Aberdeen in what will be a very hard game.
SATURDAY’S HOME MATCH v WICK ACADEMY
Although a cold crosswind hampered temperatures it wasn’t too bad a day for fitba’. The Jags had the better of the first half and Andrew Macleod’s cool drive into the Wick net twenty-five minutes in and that was how it remained until half time.
Action in the Wick goalmouth.
After the break Wick brought on 16yr old Jamie Steven who in all the Jags’ committee and spectators opinions is destined for big things in football. For a good part of the second half Wick were threatening but the Jags’ defence again put in a great shift and after eighty minutes Calum Brown secured the points outrunning the Wick defence and slotting the ball past the keeper.
Andrew Macleod and Calum Brown
Aaron Doran in an interview with the P&J said it was a good performance and that we are getting better, and meaner to opposing teams and was delighted with the clean sheet.
Another historic win – that was the first time in our Highland League history that we have won three games in a row….and we now sit in eleventh place in the league on thirty seven points – again our best ever total – so well done to Aaron, JLF and the boys for another excellent performance!!
MOTM
DJ, Calum and Darren.
Calum Brown was voted man of the match and is pictured here with DJ and son, Darren MacIntyre, both Ross County fans but are enjoying their visits to Seafield Park more and more and we look forward to seeing them again soon.
HALF TIME RAFFLE This week’s winner was Strathy Jags’ supporter supreme and friend of the Club – Davie Milne.
The legend that is Davie Milne.
Davie, who is always accompanied by his daughter Lindsay to every home match, was delighted with his win and so were we!
WELCOME BACK SCOTTY
Scot Docherty
We’re delighted that Scotty Docherty has signed up until the end of the season
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Saturday Mar 21 v Nairn County (A) 3pm Wednesday Mar 25 v Keith (A) 8pm Saturday Mar 28 v Inverurie (H) 2pm Wednesday April 1 v Fraserburgh FC (H) 8pm Saturday April 4 v Turriff United (H) 3pm Saturday April 11 v Lossiemouth (A) 3pm
As you can see we will be playing every Saturday and Wednesday until the end of the season so it’s going to be a tough shift for the boys…..and that’s not counting their day jobs during the week…..ah! the joys of playing football in the North of Scotland!!
FUND-RAISING SPORTSMAN’S DINNER – Saturday 2nd May 2026
We are delighted to announce the return of the Strathspey Thistle Football Club Sportsman’s Dinner which will take place on Saturday 2nd May 2026, at Seafield Park, Grantown-on-Spey, hosted in a luxury marquee, with champagne on arrival The evening will be hosted by Ian Thain and will feature two fantastic guest speakers. Firstly, Tam Cowan, one of Scotland’s most recognisable football voices, renowned for his sharp wit, storytelling, and unrivalled insight into the game. He will be joined by Strathspey Thistle’s newly appointed Footballing Ambassador, Gordon Smith, the former Scotland international and a highly respected figure in Scottish football, who with a wealth of experience gained in a glittering career will have many an entertaining story to tell. Guests can look forward to a three-course dining experience with wine, alongside sporting stories and entertainment, plus a grand auction, raffle and player end of season awards presentation. Saturday 2nd May 2026 7:00pm – late £75 per person + VAT (tables of 10 available) For more ticket and booking information please email hospitality@strathspeythistlefc.uk
Early booking is strongly advised as this promises to be a very popular event. We look forward to welcoming you for what will be a memorable evening.
We’ll be back on Friday with more of the happenings from Seafield Park.
HOME MATCH v WICK ACADEMY FC BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2026 – KO 2PM
On Saturday we welcome players, officials and supporters of Wick Academy FC to Seafield Park. Our last meeting in October resulted in a ninety-third minute winner for Wick in a very closely contested match. Josh Race had equalised for us with an excellent goal in the second half after Wick, who were the best team in the first half had scored just on half-time. We then missed a glorious chance to take the lead but paid for it in the dying seconds. Wick who sit below us in fifteenth place on twenty-four points have, like a lot of HL teams this season have had a mixed bag of results and arrive in Grantown on the back of narrow home defeat by a much improved Keith side, so again we will expect a very tough match. Wick may be the fresher team as they did not have a mid-week fixture but as ever we wish Aaron, JLF and the boys all the best and a win would give us three wins out of four for the new management team.
If any of the Wick travelling support wants a resumé of what’s available in Grantown – click here – our Snack Bar situated in the ground serves non-alcoholic beverages and foodstuffs and, in addition, is our Mackellar Suite, also situated within the ground, and is available for pre and aprés match alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and foodstuffs.
This is our last game at home until 28 March when we host Inverurie Loco Works, and we’re now on the road visiting Banks O’Dee, Nairn and Keith.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S GAME v BUCKIE THISTLE
Well, another night when history was made in the story of Strathspey Thistle.
Goalscorer Caelan Mutch is congratulated by Shaun Morrison (18) after putting the Jags 2-1 up against Buckie – 11/03/26
We reached thirty-four league points, one point ahead of our best ever total of thirty-three in back in 2018, and we still have eight games to play… Secondly, this is the first season that we beat Buckie Thistle twice in a season – and according to Club historian Rob Clark even as a junior club we were never able to beat Buckie Rovers twice in a season either.
On a bitterly, bitterly cold night with a howling wind and rain threatening many Strathy Jags supporters must have been wondering whether their choice of live football – or a night at the television with a roaring fire and a Champions League match on the telly was a wise decision. Come full time at Seafield Park all the shivers and cold feet were wll and truly worth it as the Strathy Jags ran out 2-1 winners.
The first half was probably shaded by Buckie although both teams had their chances but it was probably the wind that won. Two minutes after the break Bodhan Campbell, who was on loan at Seafield Park earlier in the season put Buckie ahead, and were looking to double their lead until the seventy-second minute when Calum Brown equalised with a low drive from inside the box.
Caelan Mutch and Calum Brown.
Possibly against the run of play, this goal rejuvenated the home side and were the better team over the last twenty minutes or so and deserved their second when Zach Macphee’s cross ball was met by Caelan Mutch at the far post – and so it remained until full time. Two wins out of three for the new management team – onwards and upwards!!
HALF-TIME RAFFLE WINNER
The winner of the Half-Time Raffle was Angus Macleod, who hails from Stornoway. Angus is the father of Ross County loanee Andrew Macleod, and he was making his way home from his job off-shore and, as he realised the ferries would be cancelled decided to stay in Inverness and take in the Buckie game en route. Angus donated his winnings back to the club in a very generous gesture and we appreciate it tremendously. Angus was saying that he retires in a couple of months time – we wish him well – and hopefully see him back at Seafield Park sometime in the future.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Wednesday Mar 18 v Banks O’Dee (A) 8pm Saturday Mar 21 v Nairn County (A) 3pm Wednesday Mar 25 v Keith (A) 8pm Saturday Mar 28 v Inverurie (H) 2pm Wednesday April 1 v Fraserburgh FC (H) 8pm Saturday April 4 v Turriff United (H) 3pm Saturday April 11 v Lossiemouth (A) 3pm
As you can see we will be playing every Saturday and Wednesday until the end of the season so it’s going to be a tough shift for the boys…..and that’s not counting their day jobs during the week…..ah! the joys of playing football in the North of Scotland!!
LOTTERY
Last week our lottery jackpot was again won by a ticket sold in Aviemore.
The winning numbers were 6-8-10-16-20 and Barry Wass who was holidaying Aviemore bought a paper ticket from Jim Seaton, our seller in Aviemore. Barry won the £1100 jackpot – Congratulations Barry and we hope you enjoy your winnings! So this weekend the jackpot has returned to £1000 and if you want to have a chance of winning click here… GAME RULES The entrant must be at least sixteen years old to play the STFC Fundraising Lottery Game. The game is to forecast five winning numbers, which are drawn at random from numbers on a grid from one to twenty. If you are playing the paper ticket, the five numbers chosen are marked with a cross (X). The jackpot prize starts at £1000 and the game continues weekly until it is won. The draw is normally held every Sunday evening at 7pm. If no-one wins the jackpot then after the first draw in each calendar month the jackpot increases by £100 per month up to a possible maximum of £5000 at which level it is capped. After the game is won, the jackpot then immediately reverts to £1000 which is increased by £100 after the first draw of the next calendar month. If more than one entry correctly forecasts all five numbers the jackpot will be divided between the winning entries. If no entry matches five numbers, then any entry matching four numbers will be entered into a secondary draw for a single consolation prize of £100. All winners will be notified.
Strathspey Thistle Lottery Results! 
No Jackpot Winner Tonight! 
Congratulations to Caroline Brandrick from Aviemore, this week’s £100 winner!
