AWAY MATCH v BANKS O’DEE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SPAIN PARK, ABERDEEN AB12 3AB
SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER 2025 – KICK OFF 3pm
GAME OFF
Unfortunately this week’s scheduled match against Banks O’Dee has had to be postponed because flu has rampaged through our playing squad – as soon as we know the date when the fixture will be rearranged we will post on all our social media platforms.
SATURDAY’S HOME MATCH v BRECHIN CITY
On a cold, dark and blustery day history was made with the league leaders visiting Seafield Park probably expecting to leave with all three points, but left with nothing – as the Jags, thanks to a Shaun Morrison goal, took all three.
As I have said many a time on this website – “It’s a funny old game“ which, the older readers will remember, was the late great Jimmy Greaves’ regular missive to his co-host Ian St. John in their 1980/90’s Saturday lunchtime football TV show “Saint and Greavsie” and that was proved yet again on Saturday.
I had texted on Sunday morning a couple of my friends who keep in regular contact about the the Jags’ results and said that Jags’ head coach Ryan Esson was quoted before the game in the local paper as saying that he and the team fear nobody – they had played all the teams in the league apart from Inverurie and had, apart from a couple of games, had more or less matched our opponents ….
And… that was the impression I got on Saturday – although Brechin fans in substantial number were very vocal in their frustration and probably did not thoroughly agree.
Something else I had texted to my friends was probably the managers summations of the game would be that Ryan would say that we played well and their manager will say that Brechin did not!
Sure enough in Monday’s P&J that is exactly what they said….Ryan saying that we stuck to a our game plan, scored a good striker’s goal after an excellent move and defended very well throughout, possibly the best he’s seen all season and Ray MacKinnon, Brechin’s boss, said Brechin did not play well at all…..are they both right??
I must admit at no point on Saturday were the Jags’ fans really worried and Jag’s keeper Danny Gillan added another clean sheet to his CV and although playing really well had no “big” saves throughout the match and I thought we deserved our win.
It was equally matched until the thirty-fourth minute when, after a very good piece of interplay, Shaun Morrison deftly nicked the ball past the Brechin keeper for us to go one up, and this was the score at half-time.
Twelve minutes into the second half Brechin brought on Republic of Ireland international Cillian Sheridan, which among Jag’s fans was the only time there was a slight concern, as he has an excellent CV throughout Europe as well as being an ex-Celtic player and in the past has scored a few times against us – but the boys at the back handled the situation very well and although Brechin piled on the pressure in the later stages we coped well.
The only downside for us was a couple of injuries – a shoulder one for Conor MacPhee, and for Filip Frankzak, who has broken a bone in his foot which will keep him out for at least eight weeks – both players will be a substantial loss over the coming weeks.
Saturday’s team was:
Danny Gillan, Zach MacPhee, Filip Frankzak, Jamie Calder, James McShane (C), Jamie Williamson, Conor MacPhee, Liam Shewan, Shaun Morrison, Josh Race, George Robesten
Subs : Ethan Rae (Gk), Ali Nixon, Ali Morrison, Bodhan Campbell, Cammy Lisle and James Fraser.
So …..arguably our best result since joining the Highland League in 2009 ….that was certainly the opinion of the vast majority of the Jags’ fans as they left Seafield Park……and in the opinion of one “ if you can beat the league leaders you can beat all the others!”
See Shaun’s goal here …https://www.facebook.com/reel/1998724870973496
HALF TIME RAFFLE
Winner of the half-time raffle at the Brechin game was Tim Rogers.
Tim, who has followed the Jag’s for a few years now, and has been a season ticket holder throughout that time too, was well chuffed with his prize and we hope the win will enable him to celebrate Saturday’s Jags’ even more with one or two nippie sweeties!
PRESENTATION
As it was Brechin City’s last visit to Seafield Park on Highland League business Strathspey Thistle chairman Donly Mcleod (left) presented Brechin’s Honorary President David Birse with a bottle of malt whisky and two engraved crystal tumblers in a token of friendship – both men wished each other all the best for their club’s futures and hoped to maybe meet again in perhaps a pre-season friendly sometime or a Scottish Cup tie. Brechin will be participating in the Scottish Midlands East league next season if they do not qualify for League Two.
THANK YOU, LYLA!
A big thank you to our mascot Lyla, who joined us at Seafield Park today. Lyla and her dad Liam are on a brilliant journey visiting football grounds and we were delighted to be number 8 on their adventure.
We can quite confidently say Lyla was our lucky charm today!
Make sure to check out and follow Dad and daughter footie adventure where they share their groundhopping experiences together.
Thanks again to Lyla and Liam, you’ll be very welcome back anytime and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Thanks to Liam for the photos.
FESTIVE RAFFLE
Committee stalwart Mags Clark (right) and her friend Susan McQuade spent Wednesday in our local Premier and Thursday in our local Co-op shops selling Festive Raffle tickets as well as Club merchandise – which will be making excellent stocking fillers for some lucky Jags’ fans.
The Club would like to thank Susan most profusely for all her help this year at the Golf Day, match days and this week’s endeavours – and hopefully we will see her again at Seafield Park sometimes again next year!
LAST MATCH OF 2025
Our final fixture of 2025 takes place on Saturday 27th December when we welcome Buckie Thistle Football Club to Seafield Park.
Spaces are still available — get your friends together between Christmas and New Year and enjoy a great day out in hospitality.
To book: hospitality@strathspeythistlefc.uk
LOTTERY HITS £14,200 JACKPOT
Could someone please win our fundraising Lottery – here’s your chance to play online before Sunday night’s draw ….just click here
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.
If you are not playing online and have physically purchased a paper ticket 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.
Again,at this time we appreciate that there seems to be a lot of fund raising going on and it’s true – but this is the time of year when it is our main chance to raise funds which over the year goes on ground improvements and outgoings, floodlights, refereeing fees and not to mention keeping and improving our playing squad – it’s nae cheap and we really appreciate all the support we get from from everyone who has an interest in keeping the Jags going and hope that everyone is enjoying what has been happening on the park this season.
THANK YOU and we hope to see you next week at Seafield Park for the visit of Buckie Thistle.
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
On behalf of everyone connected with Strathspey Thistle Football Club we would like to wish everyone, especially our supporters, a Happy Christmas and our thoughts are also with those who will be experiencing a very different one.
