Month: October 2023

HOME GAME v LOSSIEMOUTH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 28 OCTOBER 2023 – KO 3pm

This Halloween weekend we will be welcoming Lossiemouth FC to Seafield Park to only our third game in October. This match is a monster to the Jags and as we have no league points we hope to be able to get something out of the game.
With a weighted away game start to the season and a couple of cancellations outwith our control, our season has been a bit stop start but we now hope to get a run of fixtures, especially some home games, and to build up a momentum before we get into part of the season where we know the weather will really dictate. The cancellation of the league programme last Saturday due to Storm Babet was the correct decision, as the safety of players and travelling supporters is of paramount importance and always will be.

Lossie currently sit in fifteenth position in the league with five points and this well be the second time we have played them this year as we met in the first round of the GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup. We won by a single goal – a penalty scored by Owen Paterson – so I would imagine The Coasters will want revenge. 

However, Jags manager Rob MacCormack should have more or less a full squad ready to go, and, hopefully we can get our first three points on the board before the witching hour and the dookin’ for apples starts.

For any Lossiemouth supporters coming to Seafield Park click here for information on the town.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST 3PM KICK OFF AT SEAFIELD PARK UNTIL MARCH APART FROM OUR GAME AGAINST FORMARTINE ON DECEMBER 16 – KICK OFF WILL BE 2PM – DATES CORRECT AS OF 26 OCTOBER

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SEAFIELD PARK 2009 -2023

Recently I have been randomly trawling through my vast library of images and I came across a couple of photos taken on March 22 2009, four months before the Strathspey Thistle played our first game in the Highland League – so as there was no game last week to report, I thought I would share the photos with the JagsBlog readers along with a more up to date drone photo taken four months ago – photo courtesy of our drone guys Mike Shand and Raymond MacWilliam. You can see the floodlights already in place – love the dug outs!

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LOTTERY

As ever we conclude this weeks meanderings offering you a first prize jackpot win of £3000 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

As Storm Babet rages around Scotland the Highland League has decided to postpone all games that were meant to be played today.
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As many other matches in all the senior leagues around the country were being called off, the HL took into account the warnings that were being issued by government agencies and in our opinion the League had no option but to postpone.

With hospitality booked and the possibility of a large Buckie support we are obviously disappointed but the safety of spectators and players travelling to and from games and their participation within is absolutely paramount.
Hopefully we will welcome them all when the match date is rearranged.

Our thoughts are obviously with Brechin City FC and the people of Brechin and the damage that has been done to their burgh and surrounding area.

HOME GAME v BUCKIE THISTLE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2023 – KO 3pm

This week we welcome last year’s league runners-up, Buckie Thistle, who have in their ranks two local lads. Grantown’s Sam Morrison who recently returned to his parent club after a loan spell with Clach, and prolific goal scorer Aviemore’s Josh Peters. 
Winning both games against us last season, one quite heftily, we are hoping that our form this season, although admittedly variable, will 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 currently in second place in the league it will not an easy task by any means.
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 be a cruel as is the forecast.

MATCH v ROTHES – WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER 2023
There is something magical about a football match under the floodlights especially if the weather is good!

As ever we started slowly and found ourselves one down in eleven minutes from an own goal by Jack Gilliland, who unfortunately could not get out of the way quick enough and the ball rebounded into the net. We created one or two chances after this but in the thirty second minute – controversy – did the ball cross the goal line or not – the linesman thought so – and to be fair one or two others who had a good view did as well – so we were two-down and two minutes later after a right good goal mouth bagatelle scramble three down which it remained until half time.

I don’t know what manager Rob said at half time but it worked. A slight change in formation seemed to suit the boys a lot better and in the first minute of the second half the Jag’s Mike Mackenzie headed home a beauty. We started putting the Rothes defence under severe pressure and came close three times – this was possibly the best the home support, which was very good for a Wednesday, had seen The Jags play for a long time. We were unfortunate to lose another goal in the eighty third minute but Jack Mackay pulled one back two minutes later with a slightly deflected lob. 

Although we lost the match 4-1 we won the second half 2-1 – and much promise for the games to come.

YOUTUBE FOOTY ADVENTURES

Attending the game was Sam North whose YouTube channel Footy Adventures is an excellent watch – subscribe……..

Although he titles his visit to Grantown “The Pointless Club” – which I thought was going to be a bit of a hatchet job – but it turned into a really affectionate blog about visiting Grantown and Strathspey Thistle and his thoughts and experiences at last Wednesday nights game against Rothes – please watch it, you’ll really enjoy it – Thanks Sam.

TO WATCH CLICK HERE : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmtQZ_cjb0A

Sam wants to come back for an afternoon game and we look forward to seeing him again.

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BACK TO FORKING

So the beauty with away games is there is no pitch maintenance involved by ourselves, but now with home games aplenty if anyone has a couple of hours to spare it would be very much appreciated…usually it is a Tuesday morning at 10am after a Saturday game, and a Thursday morning after a midweek Wednesday fixture, same time 10am.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Just a wee reminder that we will soon be moving in November to a 2pm kick off – the next couple of home games in October are still 3pm.
Our visit to Inverness for our game against Clachnacuddin on 18 November is now also a 2pm kick off. 
Also if you had planned travelling to Fraserburgh on Dec 2 – don’t! 
Fraserburgh are involved in the League Cup Final so the game has been postponed.

LOTTERY
As ever we conclude this weeks meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £2900 from our online fundraising lottery – click HERE if you want to play….

HOME GAME v ROTHES FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER 2023 – KO 8pm

The floodlights are on and we welcome players, committee and supporters of Rothes FC to Seafield Park on Wednesday night.
As midweek matches go, this is one that should enable more supporters to come along as opposed to some of the more further away fixtures – and hopefully we will hear some of the League’s more vocal fans and some good old fitba’ banter that we normally expect when Rothes come to town.
Rothes are currently sitting in tenth position in the league with thirteen points so again, it’s going to be a tough game for us, but hopefully the Jags will put in a stellar performance and can earn our first points of the season.

If any of the Rothes fans haven’t made the trip to Seafield Park before click here for more information about Grantown – and as it is a midweek game there will be parking available in the neighbouring Golf Club car park – our thanks to the Golf Club for allowing this.

LAST SATURDAY v INVERURIE

Pouring and incessant rain in the build up to our visit to Inverurie, and with match postponements aplenty around Scotland, we thought that Saturday’s match would be in jeopardy. But when the Jags contingent arrived at Harlaw Park they were very impressed with the condition of the pitch….so must have been the home team as it took them only three minutes to open the scoring, doubling their tally before half time and adding a further three goals in the second half – again some defensive mistakes didn’t help our cause.

Hopefully with more home fixtures over the next few weeks we will manage to eliminate the mistakes and can pick up some much needed points – that’s seven league games we have played now – six away from home – someone on the Highland League FB page was wondering if we had a home ground !!!!

OCTOBER GAMES
We don’t have a game this Saturday (14th) so our next games are also both home fixtures. Firstly at home to Buckie Thistle on Saturday 21st and then Lossiemouth on Saturday 28th so hopefully we will see you at Seafield Park…..three home games in a row……

NEW CLUB MERCHANDISE
The last home game against Fraserburgh match also saw the following items with the 30^th season anniversary logo go on sale for the first time – made by www.thehighlandcoo.com.
If you want to place an order please contact our Commercial Manager Rob A. Clark directly on stfcprogramme@gmail.com and he will get in touch with further details.

The photo shows L to R – photo slate (20.7cm x 20.7cm) £30.00, the coaster (11cm x 11cm) £10.00and the coffee mug £10.00.

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PREMIER STORES
We wish Arul and everyone at Premier all the best with their new store in Nethy Bridge which opened last Friday.

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LOTTERY 
As there will be no further posts until next Tuesday if you wish the play our online fundraising lottery with the possibility of winning this week’s jackpot of £2800 – you can…. and for more details click here

AND MY SINCERE APOLOGIES GO TO……….
I have to apologise for not mentioning in our FaceBook post of thanks, Sandra Willox who helped cover the front door for over three hours at last weeks successful fundraising dance in the RBL Grantown  –  oops, sorry Sandra…..

AWAY MATCH v INVERURIE LOCO WORKS FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
HARLAW PARK, INVERURIE, AB51 6AN
SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER 2023, KO – 3pm

After another weekend with nae fitba’ we’re on the road to Inverurie and Harlow Park – home of Inverurie Locos Works FC. 
Although formed in 1902, it was 2001 before they gained entry to the Highland League so there is a lot of history from the formation by a group of Great North of Scotland Railway workers in a meeting in the Railway Works Hall at the start of the last century until one hundred and twenty one years later. 
The Locos are not having the best of seasons culminating last month in dispensing with the services of managerAndy Low, so they will be looking to keep all three points in the home locker but the Jags have been improving their performances weekly – the final scores may show differently – but we have played most of the top-seeded teams in the league, and mainly away from home, so, hopefully this Saturday everything clicks and we leave Inverurie with the three points.
Unfortunately injury will keep captain James McShane on the sidelines again this week but everyone is raring to go and we wish Robert and the boys all the best in this very important fixture. With the Locos lying one point and one place ahead of us in the league all rails lead to Harlaw Park 3pm Saturday!!!

LAST SATURDAY’S WICK GAME

Or….last Saturday’s non-game. 

Unfortunately due to a road accident on the A9 near Brora which closed the road in both directions, the Wick Academy FC bus  could not complete the journey to Grantown – then began a rapid operation in trying to inform all supporters of both teams that the game was off.
There were a few who did arrive at the gate who did not hear or read about the postponement. They were gracious in accepting the news and two ground hoppers from Aberdeen were offered a tour of the ground which possibly slightly helped in their disappointment.
As yet, there has been no date confirmed for when the match will be played.

FUNDRAISING DANCE

Strathspey Thistle Football Club would like to thank everyone who attended the fundraising dance in the Legion in Grantown last Saturday night- 30 Sept.

Thank you for buying a ticket and making it a fantastic evening.

Special thanks go to K and the Pupils – Kirsten, Brooksie, Duncan, Andrew, Colin, Marcus and Fraser – for a blistering night of great music and to Gina Smith for starting the evening off brilliantly and also a guest appearance on moothie- Geordie Bain.
Thank you.

We would also like to thank the Legion for hosting the dance with Ewan, Graeme and Sandra looking after door, and the bar staff – Rob, Dan and Stephen who put in a very busy shift . 

We hope you had a great night – and, hopefully, here’s to the next time…..

LOTTERY

As ever as we finish we ask if you would like to take part in our weekly lottery fundraiser – please click here for more details in how to win £2700…..

REMEMBER WE HOST ROTHES FC IN A BREEDON HIGHLAND LEGUE AT SEAFIELD PARK NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 8pm.

Substitution
Regular readers of the monthly Strathspey Thistle FC Newsletter will notice a slight difference to the style and layout for the next few months. Club Secretary Clive Wolstenholme has asked me – Club Commercial Manager Rob A. Clark to take over the task of keeping you informed about the club.  Clive has set a high benchmark to keep up, but I hope my years as match reporter and programme editor will make sure you find this both engaging and informative. 

2^nd: Breedon Highland League – vs. Nairn County away 
Strathspey Thistle travelled to Station Park home of local rivals Nairn County keen to put the disappointment of the midweek cup defeat behind them. In bright sunshine Strathspey Thistle had the best of the pressure in the goal less first half, however all their good play was undone after the first minute of the second half when the home side took the lead. Nairn County went on win the match 4-1 with the Strathspey Thistle consolation goal being scored by Michael Mackenzie in the second minute of injury time. 

3^rd: Scottish Gas Scottish Cup – 1^st round draw                         
The following evening Strathspey Thistle Management Committee and Players attention turned to social media to learn the outcome of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup 1^st round draw made by former Scotland International Goalkeeper Craig Gordon.  The draw handed Strathspey Thistle with a 181 miles journey to the borders to play against Gala Fairydean Rovers of the Lowlands League with the tie to be played on the 23^rd of September.

4^th: Sponsored Dugouts                                               
Since last season MKM Building Suppliers based in Aviemore have had their logo on the back of the home and away shirts and now their branding and logo can be seen on both the home and away dugouts at Seafield Park and very smart it looks too! 

pictured  L to R : MKM’s Marty Wares and Steve McRitchie, Strathspey Thistle chairman Donly McLeod and MKM’s Alan Carson

9^th: GPH BUILDER’S MERCHANTS Highland League Cup
Quarter-Final vs Fraserburgh
After our victory at Lossiemouth a couple of weeks ago, the quarter-final draw gave us a home match against Fraserburgh FC. With our friends from the Dulnain Bridge Garage enjoying the full Jags hospitality which included a fish and chip supper which was supplied by the Royal Fish Bar. Although we lost 3-1 the home crowd were happy with some good play. We held our own throughout the first half even though we lost a goal in the 20^th minute, but the main concern was that captain James McShane had to leave the field with an ankle injury. The visitors doubled their lead in the 57^th minute though a penalty and then a second again two minutes later to go 3-0 in front however Daniel Whitehorn headed home a great goal for us in the 73^rd minute and there were some tense moments in both goalmouths including us hitting the bar in the closing minutes.
A good match and we wish Fraserburgh all the best in the semi-final.   

                                                                             

Player of the Match, Liam Grant was chosen by Dulnain Bridge Garage
as shown above Liam, centre, is pictured with Connor Clark and his Grandfather Duncan Clark.  

 Club Merchandise
The Fraserburgh match also saw the following items made by www.thehighlandcoo.com with 30^th season anniversary logo go on sale for the first time, should anyone reading this want to place an order please contact me directly on stfcprogramme@gmail.com and I will get in touch with further details;

Coffee Mug; £10   Coaster (11cm x 11cm); £10  Photo Slate (20.7cm x 20.7cm) £30

SITUATIONS VACANT

Strathspey Thistle has two roles currently vacant and would like to hear from anyone who is interested in either; please in the first instance contact me via stfcprogramme@gmail.com or text message me / call my mobile; 07803307455

14^th: New Signing: KANE DAVIES SIGNS:                                                    
We can confirm we have signed Kane Davies from Forres Mechanics on an initial 1-year deal.
From the manager Robert MacCormack “I’m Delighted to manage to bring Kane back to the club after a lot of interest in him. Another local player that will come in and make the squad stronger which is exactly what we are looking to do. We want the best local players here and he is certainly one of them. He’s an experienced Highland League player and will bring that much needed experience to the squad. I’m looking forward to working with Kane and I’m confident he will be a great signing for us.”

16^th: Breedon Highland League – vs. Brechin City away
Well we were back on the road one of our longest journeys of the season in the league fixture list – eighty two miles over hill and dale arriving at Brechin in rural Angus.
The match would have been difficult enough with our full squad available but with injuries and players having to work we were missing no fewer than five that did so well the week before.
We were 4-0 down at half time but a slightly better second half saw only one more goal conceded in a 5-0 defeat.

23^rd: Scottish Gas Scottish Cup 1^st Round – vs. Gala Fairydean Rovers away

Strathspey Thistle players, management and committee members had an early start with some catching the team bus just after 8am and picking up others on route south for the journey.
We stopped for breakfast at Bankfoot Services just before Perth before completing the 193miles arriving in Galashiels just before 1.30pm and all were made immediately welcome.
The match saw us play some of our best football of the season for the opening 20 minutes and goals by Kane Davies and Mike Mackenzie put us 2-0 in front and it could have easily been more.
However, before half-time a mixture of poor defending, injuries to both our ‘keeper Steve Martin and captain James McShane and good goals, saw the home side lead 5-2! The final score ended 8-2

25^th: Kick-Off Time Changes!

Please note that the following visitors to Seafield Park have agreed to a 2pm kick off: 

Deveronvale Saturday 11^th of November
Turriff United Saturday 25^th November
Forres Mechanics 09^th December
Brora Rangers 30^th December            

2024              
Nairn County 13^th January
Brechin City 27^th JanuaryI
Inverurie Loco Works 17^th February
Keith 09^th March

30^th: Unfortunately because of a serious accident on the A9 between Brora and Golspie, the team coach of Wick Academy was unable to continue it’s journey to Grantown-on-Spey for the Highland League fixture and the decision was taken to postpone the fixture. 

30^th: Fund raising event sold out

The evening of the 30^th of September saw Strathspey Thistle Players, Management and some committee members in attendance in the Royal British Legion Scotland – Strathspey Clubrooms in Grantown-on-Spey for a fund raising evening with local rock band “K & The Pupils” with lead singer Iain Brooks being a former Strathspey Thistle player.
Many former players were in attendance too and it was a huge success, special mention to committee member Graeme Stuart who was doorman for the whole evening.