July 2: The Strathy Jags played their first pre-season game against Nairn County under 20’s at Nairn High School and got the new season underway with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Fraser Russell and, on his debut for the club, Ben Cullen.
July 4: 18 year old striker Dylan Lawrence from Elgin City, who was with us on loan for part of last season and scheduled to be with us up to the end of this year, has been recalled by his club and has been added to their first team squad for that start of this season. He scored four goals in 12 first-team starts and also three substitute appearances. We wish him well and hope he makes their starting XI.
July 7: Our first home game of the season tonight and we welcomed everyone connected to the Strathspey and Badenoch Welfare Football Association to Seafield Park. In a competitive and entertaining game the Strathy Jags were winners 5-1. We thank everyone connected with the Welfare for the hard work they put in to get the game played and hope it becomes a feature of each pre-season in the future.
July 9: For the first time in three years we were able to hold ‘The Jags’ Golf Day at Grantown-On-Spey Golf Club and with good weather it was a success and enjoyed by everyone who travelled from far and wide to take part. As life returns slowly to normal let us work towards making the tournament at GGC a regular date in the diary.
July 16: The Jags were due to play Nairn Saints at Showfield Park, Nairn but the game was cancelled at the last moment as ‘Saints’ had a shortage of players. The team’s last pre-season game is scheduled for Tuesday July 19 against St Duthus FC, of the North Caledonian League, at Grant Park, Tain.
July 18: Back page article in the Press & Journal by Paul Third on ‘an exciting season for the best league in Scottish football’. The arrival of Banks o’ Dee to join Brechin City, Buckie Thistle, Brora Rangers and last season’s Champions Fraserburgh should ensure an exciting title race, not forgetting outsiders Rothes, Formartine United and Inverurie Locos. The big question he poses is who will replace Fort William at the bottom. He thinks it is between the Strathy Jags and Deveronvale. We will have to see about that.
July 19: Tonight’s game at St. Duthus has been postponed which is again very disappointing but some good news on the players front. We have signed former Clachnacuddin, Loch Ness and Rothes striker, 29 year old Alan Kerr. Welcome to Grantown.
July 20: Two more signings three days before the new season starts. Welcome to 21-year-old forward Thomas McInnes and 24-year-old midfielder Darren Brew. Darren is with us on loan for a month and if all goes well we have an option to make the deal permanent. He spent last season with Fort William. He played 31 games and scored one goal. Boss Charlie is pleased with his three new signings but is hoping to add one, maybe two new signings in the upcoming days.
July 23:Always an exciting time for any football fan is the start of the new season but for Strathspey it was anything but. It was a really bad day at the office for all concerned with Forres worthy 4-0 winners even though they played for over half a game with ten men. Callum Murray scored a hat-trick and Ben Barron the other, three minutes before full time. New starters for Strathspey were Oliver Kelly, Stephen Kelly, James Fraser, Darren Brew, Thomas McInnes and Alan Kerr.
Midweek action on July 27th when Golspie Sutherland are our visitors in the North of Scotland Cup.
July 27: An early morning phone call informed us that Golspie had withdrawn from the competition so we now travel on August 17 to meet Brora Rangers in the next round.
July 28: 21-year-old local lad, defender Liam Grant has joined the club from Boat of Garten Ospreys. To make it an even better day 26-year-old Connor McLeod, also a defender, has joined the club from Boat of Garten Ospreys too. He is also from Grantown and we all wish them well in their careers. More signings are coming!
July 29: Pleased to announce the return to the club on loan, until January 2023, of striker Liam Taylor. He was with us from July 2019 to May 2021
July 30: Before leaving for the long trip to Formartine we were pleased to confirm the arrival of 19-year-old defender Stephen Kelly. He has spent time with Clachacuddin and Ross County. The game at North Lodge Park proved to be a tale of two halves.
Another early goal on four minutes for Formartine was disappointing but the team played their way back into the game with a goal from Ben Cullen on 33 minutes, his first competitive strike for the Jags.
The game was evenly balanced but a goal just before half time proved to be the turning point. Formartine added four further goals to run out winners 6-1, two from the penalty spot.
Home Games in August
Saturday 6 v Deveronvale
Saturday 20 v Fraserburgh
Saturday 27 v Wick Academy
