HOME MATCH v ROTHES FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
WEDNESDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2026 – KO 8pm
RYAN ESSON AND DON JOHNSTONE LEAVE THE CLUB
From Grant Mackellar
Strathspey Thistle Football Club wishes to address recent media coverage regarding the departure of Head Coach Ryan Esson.
Firstly, I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Ryan for his efforts, commitment and professionalism during his time with the Club. It is with genuine disappointment that we have had to take the decision to relieve him of his duties as Head Coach.
When Ryan was appointed, we were hopeful and optimistic that the Club was beginning to move forward under his leadership. There were encouraging signs and positive developments during his tenure. However, results and performances over the past few months have seen us regress to a position we have worked extremely hard to move away from.
This decision has been made with the very best intentions for Strathspey Thistle. Our priority is to restore confidence, belief and positivity throughout the squad, management team and our loyal supporters. We want to put smiles back on the faces of everyone connected with the Club and ensure we continue moving forward.
We can confirm that Mr Aaron Doran has been appointed as Head Coach and has our full support as we begin this next chapter. We believe this change gives us the best opportunity to stabilise performances and build on the foundations already in place. Further James Lee Fraser has been appointed assistant manager given Aaron the experience he brings after many successful seasons in the Highland League.
We understand that changes of this nature can be difficult and may generate strong opinions. However, every decision taken at this Club is made with its long-term future firmly in mind. I trust that our supporters and the wider community will rally behind Aaron, the players and the staff as we move forward together.
Strathspey Thistle remains committed to progress, unity and ambition, and we look ahead with determination and renewed focus.
AARON DORAN TAKES CHARGE
Aaron Doran and James Lee Fraser will be in charge of the team until the end of the season so we wish them all the best in continuing in trying to beat the thirty-three point total we amassed back in the 2018/2019 season.
WEDNESDAY’S MATCH v ROTHES
We welcome players, officials and supporters of Rothes FC to Seafield Park for our second meeting this season.
We last played at the end of July and in a seven goal thriller we left MacKessack Park with all three points thanks to a James McShane header in the final minutes of the match to make the score 4-3 for the Jags.
Many moons have passed since then with the Jags’ having possibly their best ever season, and unfortunately Rothes have had a pretty tough time of it results wise. Manager Ronnie Sharp has always showed faith in his young team and over the past few weeks results have been improving with them getting their first win a couple of weeks ago with an impressive 4-2 win at Deveronvale so we can expect a pretty tough encounter under the Seafield Park floodlights.
After the results at the weekend for both teams, both will want the three points.
As ever, we wish the new management team of Aaron and JLF and the boys all the best.
If any of the Rothes travelling support wants a resumé of what’s available in Grantown – click here – our Snack Bar situated in the ground has non-alcoholic beverages and foodstuffs and in addition is our Mackellar Suite, also situated within the ground, is available for pre and aprés match alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and foodstuffs.
SATURDAY’S MATCH AT FORRES
Not the result we had been expecting – although according to one of the Jags’ fans at the match we generally did not play that badly but we were unable to control the Forres forwards who overpowered us.
Forres’ Calum Frame scored two in the first nineteen minutes which was followed by a well-struck drive from Mark McLaughlan making it three after thirty minutes. After sixty minutes Jack Grant made it four and following a controversial penalty decision Frame completed his hat-trick and Lewis Mackenzie completed the scoring in stoppage time making it 6-0.
In what was to be his last after-match interview as Jags’ boss Ryan Esson told the P&J that Forres deserved their victory as we struggled to deal with Calum Frame, Ben Gardiner and Kyle MacLeod and we would need to compete a lot better …….
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Saturday Feb 28 v Fraserburgh (H) 2pm
Wednesday Mar 4 v Clachnacuddin (H) 8pm
Saturday Mar 7 v Inverurie Locos (A) 3pm
Wednesday Mar 11 v Buckie Thistle (H) 8pm
Saturday Mar 14 v Wick Academy (H) 2pm
Wednesday Mar 18 v Banks O’Dee (A) 8pm
Saturday Mar 21 v Nairn County (A) 3pm
Wednesday Mar 25 v Keith (A) 8pm
Saturday Mar 28 v Inverurie (H) 2pm
Saturday April 4 v Turriff United (H) 3pm
Saturday April 11 v Lossiemouth (A) 3pm
We are at home again on Saturday this time welcoming Fraserburgh – remember it’s a 2pm kick off.
The match is being sponsored by Lawson, Coull and Duncan.