STRATHSPEY THISTLE FOOTBALL CLUB WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED – PLAYERS, MANAGEMENT, COMMITTEE, MATCH DAY HELPERS AND OUR FANTASTIC SUPPORTERS FOR ALL THEIR HELP AND INPUT THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.
CONGRATULATIONS BRORA!
Firstly congratulations must go Brora Rangers FC on their winning of the Breedon Highland League Season 24/25 and we wish them all the best in their forthcoming tie against the winners of the Lowland League, East Kilbride FC for a place in Scotland’s Division Two.
Obviously with league reconstruction again we do not know the component teams of next years league as there are various scenarios.
But all will be revealed before what will probably the opening of the league season on Saturday 19 or 26 July.
SATURDAY’S MATCH v TURRIFF UNITED

Saturday’s Match report from Ian Davidson
Strathspey Thistle went into their final league match of the season against Turriff United with renewed confidence following an excellent second half performance from their league encounter with Keith, at Kynoch Park, only days earlier. Goals from Daniel Whitehorn with a brace, Cammy Lisle and a Paul Brindle penalty eventually gave the Badenoch side a comfortable win.
So, confidence was high going into their meeting with the Turra, even though the visitors had won the reverse fixture at the Haughs back in November convincingly. Boss Ryan Esson made two changes to his starting line-up from the side that had overcome the Maroons days earlier with Paul Brindle and Jordan Laidlaw coming in to replace Sam Morrison and Daniel Whitehorn respectively.
With former Scottish FA Chief Executive, Scotland International and Rangers striker Gordon Smith the VIP for the home side, the home side got off to the worst possible start to proceedings, conceding three quick fire goals inside the opening twenty-five minutes.
The visitors were ahead as early as the ninth minutes. The deadlock was broken from a corner to the far post where Owen Kinsella climbed above a static rearguard to power home a superb header for the opener.
Four minutes later they increased their advantage when a ball into the home penalty area caused all sorts of problems for the defence and Reece McKeown weaved his way through to plant a right foot effort into the corner of the net beyond the helpless Euan Storrier.
With the home side struggling to break down a stubborn Turriff rearguard the visitors duly netted a third effort after twenty-five minutes, when Mackenzie Taylor weaved his way into the penalty area before swivelling to beat the keeper with a low drive into the net.
The home side hit back and two minutes later they reduced the leeway when Lewis Mackie raced to the edge of the box to drive in a powerful cross for Paul Brindle to apply the finish from close range.
Storrier was again called into action with ten minutes of the first period remaining when he made an excellent full length save to deny Taylor his second of the afternoon as the visitors looked to restore their three goal advantage.
The home side had a let-off twelve minutes after the resumption when a long clearance from keeper Cameron Reid found John Allan on the edge of the box, however, his well struck effort drifted inches wide of the far post.
The home side countered and two minutes later a powerful run from Zach MacPhee following a Dylan Lawrence through ball ended with the full back forcing the keeper into a fine save at his near post as the home side looked to reduce the leeway.
Any hopes of the home side rescuing something from the match ended after sixty three minutes. Euan Storrier could only parry an effort from Mackenzie Taylor and Archie Gibson reacted the quickest to fire the loose ball high into the net.
With two minutes remaining striker Paul Brindle attempted an audacious lob from fully thirty yards that beat the keeper but failed to hit the target.
Boss Ryan Esson will be looking to add to his squad during the close season in an effort to clearly improve their league position next time round. Priority will be to stop conceding early goals something that occurred consistently throughout this season if they are to give themselves a chance of winning matches.
Jags’ boss Ryan Esson was quoted in the Press and Journal after the game saying “Strathspey finished 17th and I think playing on Wednesday night took its toll, the boys looked leggy as well as playing 15 games in two months”
“I’m not happy with this performance, but I can’t criticise the boys for the effort they’ve put in over the course of the season and I’m proud of them.
“We’ve got more points than last season, we’ve scored more goals and we’ve conceded fewer goals than last season, but we need to try to make further improvements going forward.”
MOTM
Our final Man of the Match award went to Scot Docherty.

He was presented with his award by our special guest on the day, Gordon Smith – former SFA Chief Executive, Rangers and Scotland international.
HALF TIME RAFFLE

It’s that man again……we said last week that lightning never strikes in the same place twice…..well, for the third time in two months Ken Crake was the lucky recipient of the money!!
THANKS
From everyone at Strathspey Thistle Football Club thank you to everyone who came to the games, played the lottery and made a noise when we scored!
On a personal level I would like to thank for their help and support throughout the season with the website and with the tasks I am involved with :
Rob Clark for furnishing me with a few historical details and articles when needed, Caci Horton for helping find the Half-Time raffle draw winning ticket holder, Laura Mackie for updating me with future match arrangements, her Dad, Ian Davidson for sending me some match reports for inclusion on the website, Marty Wares for team lines before our home games, Mike “The Fraz” Fraser on Bradenstoke Radio in the Cotswolds for adopting us, Jim Beveridge and Ken Croke for helping the pitch committee with repairs after every home game, Gavin, Tom and Frances at “the Strathy” for their continued support and also to the rest of the committee for their support and craic throughout the season.
OFF THE PITCH
And as the season closes we start, preparations for the new season begin with the annual pitch maintenance programme and are expecting the arrival very soon of a new, to us, boardroom and committee/hospitality unit for welcoming the committees of our Highland League colleagues.
So that should keep us busy until the middle of July when the hoopla returns………
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Keep up to date with the happenings by checking out our Facebook, X and Instagram pages and any other socials we may have for information regarding….
This year’s Golf Fundraising Day at Grantown Golf Club on Saturday 12 July and our now annual FunDay will be held on Saturday June 12 with various activities which will be confirmed nearer the time…..but if it is anything like last year a good day will be had by all!
LOTTERY NOW £10,700
It ’s still a ginormous amount – £10,700 for you to win by playing 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 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).
- 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.
SO THAT’S IT FOLKS FOR SEASON 2024/2025 – THANKS VERY MUCH IF YOU HAVE BEEN KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH THE GOINGS ON AT STFC THROUGH THE WEBSITE AND THERE WILL PROBABLY THE OCCASIONAL POST DURING THE SUMMER –
SEE YOU MID-JULY FOR THE 2025-2026 SEASON.