OUR NEXT GAME IS AT THE HAUGHS, TURRIFF ON SATURDAY
16 NOVEMBER KO 3pm
We finally managed to get the squad photographed – the first time in two years – on Saturday before the Fraserburgh game. – see above….
WALLACE SIGNS
We are delighted to welcome 25-year-old defender Wallace Duffy to Strathspey Thistle on a 3-year deal.
Wallace began his career at Rangers and has since gained valuable experience with clubs like Celtic, St Johnstone and Inverness Caledonian Thistle and was a Scotland Under-19 international . After recently departing Inverness following their unfortunate entry into administration, we’re excited to see Wallace bring his dedication and experience to our squad.
Manager Ryan Esson: “We’re really pleased to add Wallace to the squad. His experience and knowledge will be a huge benefit to all our players, and I’m thrilled he’s agreed to join us. Having worked with him before at Inverness, I know exactly what he brings to the table, and I’m confident he’ll be an important part of what we’re building here.”
Ryan was interviewed in the Press & Journal about the signing and said he was thrilled with his new recruit as he looks to push Strathspey up the table.
He said: “Credit to the owner and the people behind the scenes for making this happen because as soon as I spoke to Wallace and he showed an interest, I went to the directors and they’ve made it happen.
“It’s been a collective effort from the club to sign Wallace and fair play to the people running the club because they’ve got ambitions in terms of the next few years.
“If we can, we want to add quality players like Wallace, and the club is showing ambition on and off the pitch. There is a new hospitality suite and there are various other things happening to move the club forward”.”
When it comes to winning games, Ryan believes Duffy can make a major impact at the heart of Strathspey’s defence.
He added: “Wallace adds real experience, he’s quick, he’s aggressive and he’s good tactically.
“I don’t just want to add bodies for the sake of it – we want to bring quality players to Strathspey and Wallace is a quality player.”
LAST SATURDAY’S BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE GAME v FRASERBURGH FC – report by Ian Davidson edited for the web – full match report in the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald – https://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk
The general consensus of all attending was that the Jags produced their best performance of the season and deservedly came away with a share of the points following a hard fought 2-2 draw.
To a man they gave everything they had in terms of commitment, effort and togetherness as they secured another valuable point in their quest to get themselves out of the relegation zone. They lacked nothing in terms of desire, and with a bit of luck could have secured another famous victory.
It was the visitors who held the upper-hand in the opening period with Euan Storrier called into action twice In the opening ten minutes to blunt the threat of Logan Watt and Scott Barbour.
After twelve minutes, Caelan Mutch raced onto a cross in the box, chipped the ball over the onrushing Joe Barbour before knocking home the opener despite the attentions of Kieran Simpson.
The Broch response was swift as they drew level within three minutes.
Six minutes from the interval the home side should have regained the lead. Caelan Mutch raced onto a slide-rule through ball from Paul Brindle and after rounding the keeper saw his final effort blocked by Kieran Simpson.
Two minutes later Liam Shewan went close when his deft angled lob beat the advancing keeper but agonisingly drifted over the crossbar.
Disaster struck the home side within five minutes of the restart. A corner was flighted into a crowded box, and when the loose ball landed at the feet of striker Logan Watt he poked home the loose ball to give the visitors the lead.
Four minutes later a corner from Liam Shewan was met by Steven MacDonald to bullet home a superb header for the equaliser.
Later, a sweeping move from the home side ended with Stephen Rennie firing a teasing cross into the box with Paul Brindle only inches away from adding the final touch with Barbour looking on anxiously.
With play now swinging from end to end, Jamie Beagrie went close with a header for the visitors and returning after a lengthy injury Jags’ substitute Dylan Lawrence went even closer with a strike that drifted just wide of the far post.
The last twenty minutes saw the home side the likelier to grab a late winner with further efforts from Brindle, Rennie and MacPhee just failing to hit the target.
The look on the faces of the players on the final whistle said it all. Having put so much into the match it felt like a defeat rather than a share of the points. That was how they felt having put so much into the match.
𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛
Man of the Match was Steven Macdonald.
Steven was presented with his award from Darren Gould our Match Sponsor Westgate Stainless & Alloys Ltd.
A huge thank you to Westgate Stainless & Alloys Ltd for their incredible support!
Not only did they sponsor our match on Saturday, but they also provided our squad with warm-up tops and jackets at the start of the season. We really appreciate your commitment to the club!
Andy and Darren from Westgate are pictured with Scot Docherty, Lewis Mackie, Kieran Duffty, Jordan Laidlaw, and Club captain James McShane.
NOVEMBER DATES for your diary
INTRODUCING…..LAURA MACKIE
Laura is the Club’s new Commercial Director so, please contact her if you have any questions about match day hospitality, player sponsorship or any other enquiry regarding fund raising ideas.
Email : hospitality@strathspeythistlefc.uk
11 NOVEMBER 2024 – REMEMBRANCE DAY
On behalf of Strathspey Thistle FC, Club Secretary Clive Wolstenholme will lay a wreath during the Remembrance Day Service at the War Memorial in Grantown Square on Sunday 10 November. Spectators arriving for last Saturday’s match against Fraserburgh will have seen Club Historian Rob Clark collecting on behalf of the Royal British Legion Scotland Strathspey Branch Poppy Appeal.
£8400 TO BE WON – THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT PRIZE
As ever we conclude this week by offering you the chance of a jackpot win of a massive £8400 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.