Wednesday 30th July: We left last month’s newsletter just before the away game at Rothes and what a game it turned out to be as the Jags recovered from losing an early goal to take a 3-1 lead, Shewan, with two, and Morrison on target, before the hosts scored twice in eight minutes to make it all square on 70 minutes.
Up stepped skipper James McShane with six minutes left to get the winner and make it two wins from two.
Saturday 2nd: A long trip to Brechin City to face one of the pre-season title favourites and a sign of the Jags’ mentality this year is that we were disappointed to come away from Glebe Park having lost 3-0.
The home side’s goals all came in the first half and their manager Ray McKinnon told the Press & Journal afterwards: “I was a bit frustrated with the way the match went in the second half.
“Strathspey are a much improved side from last season and they made things extremely difficult.”
Saturday 9th: Banks o’ Dee were the visitors to Seafield Park and for 78 minutes the game was goalless with chances for both sides. However, it was the men from Aberdeen who finished the stronger and netted three times to take away a similar number of points.
Jags manager Ryan Esson, although annoyed that a first-half penalty shout wasn’t given, was disappointed with his side’s defending which contributed to the final scoreline.
Wednesday 13th: A day that will long be remembered by Jags’ supporters after a scoreline that will have turned heads across the Highland League and deserves to be written in bold.
Buckie Thistle 1-4 Strathspey Thistle (Morrison 2, Brown 2)
Manager Ryan spoke to the Strathspey Herald after the game and said: “It was a whole different level last night and I can’t speak highly enough of the players.
“The effort and the way they approach things: everything that I’ve asked them to do they did.”
Possibly the club’s best ever result in our time as members of the Highland League, certainly away from home, and one that was rightly celebrated by the players and travelling fans at the full-time whistle.
Thursday 14th: Thanks to stalwart STFC committee member Mags Clark for attending Grantown’s Farmers Show on behalf of the club, publicising the weekly lottery draw and its ever increasing jackpot while also selling a range of merchandise.
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Saturday 16th: A fine afternoon weather-wise and yet another excellent result for the Jags as they despatched Deveronvale 3-0 thanks to goals from Shaun Morrison, Calum Brown and Daniel Whitehorn.
That made it four wins out of six in the opening weeks of the Highland League season.
Wednesday 20th: A short trip to Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s Sarens PSG Stadium for a North of Scotland Cup tie and, after a difficult couple of seasons, the ‘other’ Jags showed that they are firmly on the up under their new ownership.
The SPFL League One club scored six goals in the first-half but were held at bay after the break in what was a positive experience overall for STFC and we thank Caley for their hospitality and wish them well for the season.
Thursday 21st: It was confirmed that both Keiran Duffty and Lewis Mackie had left the Jags – Keiran on a permanent deal to Nairn St Ninian and Lewis on a loan deal until the end of the year with Inverness Thistle of the North Caledonian League.
Saturday 23rd: A heavy defeat at Clachnacuddin brought the Jags back to earth a little following recent good results in the league.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead only for an offside flag to rule out the strike but after that there was little to shout about as the home side scored six without reply.
Saturday 30th: A hard-fought home game against Formartine United went the way of the visitors who scored twice in the second-half in between a superb equaliser from Josh Race.
Sunday 31st: Head to our social media pages to find out who the Jags will play in the First Round of the Scottish Cup following this evening’s draw.
Seafield Park Community Trust
The newly-formed Seafield Park Community Trust (SPCT) is getting ready to give the old Scout Hut in Grantown-on-Spey a new lease of life. Set up in April 2025 as a registered Scottish charity, the Trust is run by a team of six local volunteers who want to create a warm, well-equipped space that adds to what’s already on offer in the town, and also helps groups who don’t currently have the right kind of venue. The plan is to transform the building into a hub for local uniformed groups such as the Scouts, Brownies and Guides, as well as sports teams in the town.
SPCT Chair, Charlie Sinclair, said: “We’re really keen to build something vibrant and inclusive that gives local young people the kind of facilities thet deserve.”
The Trust will soon be engaging with local groups and residents to gather ideas and make sure the final plans match what the community needs.