FUN DAY FROLICS

ALL ROUND HAPPENINGS

Another very successful day at Seafield Park – thank you!

Firstly, multitudinous thanks must go to the terrific twosome – committee member Heather Horton and Commercial Director Laura Mackie for their massive efforts in putting on the STFC Fun Day 25 – not only the herculean amount on the day itself, but all the background work over many days before and after the event ……Ladies, we salute you and thank you both very much.

Preparations for the day.

Thanks must also go the other committee members and helpers – Josh, Donly, Allan, Tom, Charlie, Graeme, Marty, Mags, Rob, Alan, Fraser and JP with his Strathspey Rovers hat on.
As ever, many thanks must go to committee man Jon Wood for his time producing all the excellent food from his BBQ, and at night the band Cadence – Brooksie, Liam, Jack and Fraser for their musical magnificence and not forgetting Martin Grant for lending us the Trucks n 2 Grantown marquee tents and the volunteers who helped erect and dismantle them.

John Paterson “The kids loved playing at Seafield Park again they all had a brilliant time many staying on to watch the game ( and getting autographs from players at the end )”

MATCH REPORT

Match action with temporary goals as we were preserving new goalmouth turf – pic by Marty Wares

On a very hot afternoon most spectators were impressed at the calibre of the U-19s team that Inverness Caledonian Thistle sent from Inverness – in fact many were speculating that quite a few will be involved with the first eleven quite a lot throughout next season.
ICT got off to a fine start and after the first forty-five minutes they were three up with two goals from trialist Carlos Heredia and a penalty from Ben Gardiner. The Jags had a far better second half although conceding a free kick from Sam Thompson, Jags’ assistant manager and former ICT star Aaron Doran scored his first Jags goal with a superb shot. 
Manager Ryan Esson was generally quite pleased with the way the game went – the first pre-season outing and with Dylan Lawrence, Daniel Whitehorn, Caelan Mutch and Lewis Mackie amongst those not available for selection.
Ryan, interviewed after the game by the P&J’s Paul Chalk said, “I like the core of this team and I felt last season we were a better team that our league position suggested. We have identified a few positions for strengthening, but we haven’t quite done so yet, but we have a few targets in mind. We want players to come in and provide real competition in every position. I don’t think we’ve quite got that. We were missing five boys on Saturday who would have given us extra legs and definitely would have been looking to start. We had to ask boys to keep going and, fair play, they did so and in the second half we were much better”

PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Player of the Year 24/25, Filip Franczak with his haul of trophies.

After the game there was the presentations for the 2024/2025 Player of the Year Awards. Winning the Players, Directors and Committee’s, Coach’s and the Young Player of the Year was Filip Franczak and our congratulations go to him and we hope he has as good a season in 25/26. The Supporters choice was Josh Race and our congratulations go to him too – and our hopes of another season like the last Josh!

Club Captain James McShane presents Filip with his Player’s Player of the Year Award.
First Team Coach Ryan Esson with his choice of Player of the Year, Filip Franczak.
Josh Race accepting his trophy from Allan Carson.
James Fraser presents Filip with his Young Player of the Year Award.

Top goalscorer award went to Daniel Whitehorn who unfortunately was not able to attend – but hopefully Dan can emulate and surpass last season’s total over the next ten months.

Josh celebrating his Supporters POTY.

– and also extra thanks must go Laura for taking the Player of the Year pics too!!

PRE-SEASON FIXTURES AMENDED


AARON DORAN ICT TESTIMONIAL

The astute amongst you sports fans, will have noticed from our last posting that the game against Alness United has been postponed.
This is because players and Jags fans wanted to have a chance to support Jags’ assistant manager Aaron Doran’s long overdue Testimonial at the Caledonian Stadium, Inverness on the 5 July with a match against Ross County, the match being sponsored by Mackellar Engineering.
Speaking of Ross County, we will be hosting them for a pre-season friendly next Tuesday evening (July 1) kick off 7.45 as well as playing their U-19’s, two weeks later on Tuesday July 15, here at Seafield Park this time with a 7.30 KO.


GOLF DAY – TWO WEEKS ON SATURDAY

Please contact Donly – see details on poster, for any information about sponsorship, hole sponsorship, or entering a team.


LOTTERY

And finally, for this week, the Jags’ Fundraising Lottery jackpot continues to grow – this week reaching £11,700 – so if you want to have a chance of winning click here to play

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
After the current jackpot has been won therefore completing that game, there will be some 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).

  1. 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. 
  2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
  3. 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. 
  4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
  5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
  6. All winners will be notified

THAT’S IT FOR ANOTHER WEEK – THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE ’25 FUN DAY – STRATHSPEY THISTLE FOOTBALL CLUB VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.

SMILE……….SIX WEEKS UNTIL THE SEASON KICKS OFF

FUN DAY

Next Saturday (21June) sees the Club’s second annual funday with a visit from an Inverness Caledonian Thistle XI, various fun activties throughout the afternoon, the Player of the Year Awards for last season taking place after the game and local rock band Cadence playing in the marquee at night – something for everyone and a great day to be had by all – we look forward to seeing you at Seafield Park – see poster for details.

GOLF DAY 
Our annual fund-raising Golf Day takes place on the 12 July – four weeks away – at Grantown Golf Club and all details are on the poster – another cracking day out!!


SAF AUDIT
The SFA’s Stuart Brown visited us on Friday May 30 to conduct the audit that every senior club in Scotland participates in. Happily the audit was completed successfully so we are all set for Season 2025-2026.
Thanks go to Club Secretary Clive Wolstenholme for the tremendous effort and work he puts in enabling the Club to pass.

L to R – Clive Wolstenholme, Charlie Sinclair, Donly McLeod and the SFA’s Stuart Brown during the Club’s SFA Audit.

STRATHSPEY ROVERS
The third annual Strathspey Rovers Festival and fundraiser was another resounding success on Saturday May 31. They hosted 27 teams across U8, U10, and U12 categories, with over 300 players plus their coaches, families, friends, and supporters joining us from 9am to 4pm. The weather held up beautifully, and the day ran smoothly without a hitch. Rovers send their thanks to our incredible community for supporting this event, cheering teams and making this a special day for the kids taking part.

Attendees at the Strathspey Rovers Festival

PRESEASON FIXTURES

As ever any changes will be on our social media pages.

SEASON 2025-2026 ADMISSION PRICES 



LOTTERY NOW £11,500

It ’s still a ginormous amount for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…jackpot £11,500……

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
After the current jackpot has been won therefore completing that game, there will be some 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).

  1. 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. 
  2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
  3. 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. 
  4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
  5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
  6. All winners will be notified.

……..AND WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH THE VERY EXCELLENT TEAM AT THE GRANTOWN DINER A HAPPY FIFTH BITHDAY…….CONGRATULATIONS……

CLIVE’S NEWSLETTER – MAY 2025

COMPILED BY ALEX WOLSTENHOLME

Stop press: Late news from last month and a special delivery to Seafield Park as our new clubhouse was delivered. This will be used to welcome visiting committee members next season. 

The Eagle has landed……the new Clubhouse descends…..

Saturday 3rd: Brora Rangers will still be amongst those visiting after losing over two legs to Lowland League champions East Kilbride for the right to play Bonnyrigg Rose in the promotion/relegation play-off. Later in the month East Kilbride would go on to win promotion to the SPFL.

Tuesday 6th: The Jags announced the first signing of the summer, striker Shaun Morrison on a three-year contract. The 21-year-old, formerly of Forres Mechanics and Rothes, worked with manager Ryan Esson at Inverness Caley Thistle previously.

The Strathspey Herald quoted Ryan as saying: “Great to get Shaun over the line. He’s still young but has good experience at this level.”

Thursday 8th: Club historian Rob Clark shared his memories of David Ritchie, father of former manager Brian Ritchie and grandfather of former player Davie Ritchie, after his sad passing, describing him as a ‘pivotal figure’ in the history of Strathspey Thistle FC.

‘On the day of the Highland Council meeting to decide the future development of Seafield Park, it was Mr Ritchie who quietly stepped away during a recess and returned with the news that we had secured the crucial votes,’ said Rob.

‘Without his efforts, Strathspey Thistle may never have been able to accept the invitation to join the Highland League. Our thoughts are with the Ritchie family at this time.’

Wednesday 14th: The Press & Journal reported that agreement was close on a new structure for Tier 5 of the Scottish game. For the Highland League that means two, rather than three, feeder leagues in the shape of the North Region Juniors and the North Caledonian League.

The Midlands League, which Jags supporters and officials have often kept an eye for potential league winners who would qualify for a play-off against the HL’s bottom club, would feed into a new Lowland League East from 2026/27 while clubs from Angus and Tayside, such as Brechin City, would move into the new Lowland section.

Highland League president Sandy Sinclair told the P&J: “We feel the proposal that was put forward makes economic and geographical sense and we’re pleased it has been adopted by all the relevant bodies.”

Friday 23rd: Members of the STFC committee enjoyed the Highland League’s annual dinner at the Kingsmill Hotel in Inverness, where Angus Grant of Huntly was named as the league’s player of the year.

Friday 30th: A busy day of fixture news…The Jags were given the toughest possible draw in the opening round of the Highland League Cup, away to holders Brora Rangers on Saturday 13th September, and also learned of their league fixtures for 2025/26 as below…

With the fixtures now out, want to enjoy matchday in style? 

Register your interest in matchday hospitality and sponsorship now and get ahead of the game.

Email hospitality@strathspeythistlefc.uk to express your interest.

Strathspey Thistle Club Lottery – Jackpot Now £11,400!

We would love to see a jackpot winner scoop the big prize and with our jackpot currently sitting at an impressive £11,400, now is the perfect time to enter.

You can enter online through the link below and be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize. Don’t miss out – help us spread the word.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING THE JACKPOT

Dates for the Diary

We have two exciting events coming up this summer that we would love for you to be a part of! Mark your calendars and save these dates:

Saturday 21st June – Strathspey Thistle FC Family Fun Day and Caley Thistle friendly at Seafield Park

Bring the whole family along for a fun-filled day of activities, games, and entertainment at Seafield Park, including music from Cadence and a pre-season test against an Inverness Caledonian Thistle XI (kick-off 2pm).

 Saturday 12th July – Strathspey Thistle FC Golf Day at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club

Team Scramble event which starts at 9am, with participating teams leaving the first tee at twelve minute intervals with some fantastic prizes.

Details are available from Club Chairman Donly McLeod – tel. no 07709 990 286

Strathspey Thistle website – https://strathspeythistlefc.com

Strathspey Thistle on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/strathspeythistlefc