Unfortunately we will not be playing again this Saturday 4 December as our rearranged home match v Huntly FC – postponed from last Saturday November 27 – has been postponed again. These are the joys of living in this part of the world as weather plays a very important part in how the season progresses and we have to adapt to it. Hopefully the Jags will be back on the pitch next Saturday 11 December when we make the long journey north to Harmswoth Park and our game against Wick Academy FC.
This is the statement from the Highland Football League website posted this morning.
“Please note that, as a result of Brechin City’s involvement in a Scottish Cup replay, the GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup match between Brechin City and Brora Rangers, scheduled for Saturday 4th December 2021, has been postponed.
There is a consequent fixture rearrangement in the Breedon Highland League. It had been hoped to play the previously postponed match between Strathspey Thistle and Huntly on Saturday 4th December but pitch conditions and the weather forecast make that unlikely. Therefore, the previously postponed Breedon Highland League match between Brora Rangers and Huntly has been rescheduled for Saturday 4th December 2021 at Dudgeon Park, Brora, kick-off 3pm.”
Looks like we’re in for nasty weather……as you would have seen from our Twitter feed and and the Breedon Highland League and the Press & Journal – our game today against Huntly FC has been postponed to next Saturday 4 December. Lets hope for an improvement in the weather…mind you it is December!!
You could always play the Club lottery>>>>>>click on the Lottery logo. Thank you.
HOME GAME V HUNTLY FC AT SEAFIELD PARK 3PM SATURDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2021
Last Saturday we travelled to Inverurie and unfortunately suffered another substantial defeat – but, as manager Charlie Brown stated in the local paper last week six out of the last eight league games we have played have been against the top six teams in the league, who have again significantly pulled ahead of the rest of us. We now have a had a run of games in which the both teams should be more evenly matched.
This Saturday we welcome Huntly FC to Seafield Park for a Breedon Highland League match – usual kick off time of 3pm – the weather forecast mentions snow, sleet and high winds so please dress warmly if you’re coming to the game. Huntly are currently six points ahead of us in the league so a win for the Jags would be very welcome indeed!
A new face in the squad this week will be Shane Harkness, a striker, who has signed on loan from Rothes until the end of the season, and we hope he will be on the scoresheet many times before then!.
Jake Thompson
Jake Thompson, who has played ten games for us this season and scored one goal, has suffered an ankle injury and will be out for three to four months – Jake was on loan from Elgin City and has returned to his parent club. We thank him for his services, so far, and we wish him all the best for his future.
Part of parking area at Grantown-on- Spey Golf Club.
If you are coming to the game please note that there will be no car-parking on the grassy area to the right of Seafield Park for the foreseeable future. Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club have very kindly given us their permission for our spectators to use their car-parking area next to the Park over the winter period.
This will not apply to blue badge holders.
This weeks lottery jackpot of £1300 was won by local supporter Hamish Thom – and we look forward to seeing Hamish at Seafield Park again soon.
Remember the jackpot now stands at £1000 and again we thank all our supporters and friends who continuously support the club though the lottery.
Thank You.
If you want to play this week or to play weekly by prepayment please click on the Lottery Logo >>>>
This Saturday we visit the fine town of Inverurie and Harlaw Park (AB51 4SG) for our Breedon Highland League fixture against Inverurie Loco Works FC. We hope for an entertaining and enjoyable game of football….especially for us if we can come away with the three points, but I am sure Richard Hastings and his squad have other ideas!!
As ever with the Jags Lottery winning ticket worth £1300 it’s my duty to inform you that you can enter by clicking on the Lottery logo >>>>>>>>>> Thanks very much to all our loyal Lottery supporters.
Also a wee aside, everyone at Strathspey Thistle FC would like to congratulate Steve Clarke and the Scottish Men’s football team for one of the best Scotland performances in years and years last Monday against Denmark…it’s getting better and better but I think Quatar might be a wee bit too soon. I hope I’m wrong!
Away match v Inverness Clachnacuddin FC Grant Street Park, Inverness
GPH Builders Highland League Cup 1st round
We’re on our way back to the capital of the Highlands, the city of Inverness, to see our friends at Grant Street. (IV3 6DR)
This will be our third match this season against Clach – one cup game and one league game and so far it’s honours even – so it’s all to play for.
Charlie Brown – manager
Charlie and team have had a pretty tough few weeks in the Breedon Highland League recently, so maybe the distraction of a cup game will galvanise the boys back to winning ways. With Clach now eight places above us in the league, it will not be an easy task by any means but football’s football. Charlie says in this weeks local paper that the players treat the game a bit like a derby match as a lot of their friends play for Clach as well some some ex-Jags……so roll on Saturday.
Speaking of rolling on – this weeks jackpot in the Jags Lottery rolls over to £1200.
The photo shows Jimmy Munro collecting his cheque from Club Chairman Donly Mcleod last weekend, and this press cutting comes from this weeks Strathspey & Badenoch Herald. To have your chance of winning the jackpot and helping the club please play online by clicking on the Lottery graphic>>>>>>>>Your support is very much appreciated – thanks!
The Strathspey War Memorial in Grantown Square
On a more sombre note this weekend – Remembrance Weekend – marks 100 years of the Royal British Legion, the Poppy Appeal and closer to home 100 years of the Strathspey War Memorial. The Club want to commemorate the occasion with committee member Graeme Stuart laying a wreath at the Memorial.
Strathspey Thistle FC historian, and an ex-Royal Navy man, Rob Clark is VC of the Royal British Legion Strathspey Branch and he organised the said Strathspey Thistle FC wreath. This is the photo of it he sent.
MATCH V BUCKIE THISTLE FC at SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2021
Buckie Harbour
On Saturday we welcome Buckie Thistle FC for our Breedon Highland League match. Buckie are going along fine sitting in fifth place in the league so I would reckon it’s going to be a pretty tough match – but hopefully they’ll head back to the coast with with what could be said, a case of fisherman’s blues.
Action from our last home match this season against Nairn County where we were very unlucky losing to a last minute controversial goal……
One of Buckie’s players is well known to both sets of Jags fans – Grantown born Sam Morrison, a centre back who signed for Buckie from Ross County’s U20 team, so I’m sure he’ll get a warm welcome from the home fans – as he did when he was mascot at the Strathy Jags first ever home game in the Highland League against Inverurie Loco Works FC in August 2009 as the photo shows.
Sam as our mascot….
Also hoping to attend the match is Jimmy and Eunice Munro who recently scooped the £5300 jackpot in the Jags weekly lottery – hopefully they’ll bring that wee bit of luck that we’re missing at the moment. SPEAKING OF THE LOTTERY ….THIS WEEKS JACKPOT IS £1100.00 IF YOU WANT TO PLAY ONLINE PLEASE >>>>> CLICK ON THE LOTTERY LOGO >>>>>> AND THANKS VERY MUCH!
October 6 After a sunny and warm day the rain started to fall just as the teams kicked off which contributed to a thrilling ten goal game which gave the Jags their first win in all competitions in six games. Strathspey introduced to the team two loan signings from Rothes, Kane Davies and Ewan Neil, who are with us until the end of the end of the year. Fort William took a two goal lead before The Jags pulled back the lead with an own goal on the stroke of half time. The second half was end to end as the rain got harder but in the end Strathspey ran out 7-3 winners.
Kris, James, Craig, Cammy & Kane
Our scorers were Kris Duncan, James McShane, Craig MacKenzie, Cameron Lisle, Kane Davies and two own goals. With all their troubles on and off the field well played to Fort for putting a competitive team out that gave us all a game to remember.
October 9 After Wednesday’s morale boosting win it was with some confidence that we travelled up the A9 to Dudgeon Park to take on current Breedon Highland League Champions Brora Rangers. Little did we realise what was in store for us. A decent day with little or no wind greeted the teams. Two minutes in we are an own goal down but credit to the team we took the game to the Rangers and equalised with a well worked goal through Craig MacKenzie. For the next 28 minutes we more than held our own before their second goal which was a belter. Loss of concentration before half time saw us concede two sloppy goals in three minutes. So at the break we are 4-1 down. Another give away goal on 50 minutes really knocked our confidence but for 34 minutes we kept them at bay then 3 goals in two minutes was the final embarrassment. It was a long journey back but Scotland’s last minute win over Israel in the World Cup Qualifier at Hampden eased some of the disappointment.
October 13 A much improved team performance at home to Formartine United especially in the first half. The Jags created chances but lacking a goal had to go in at half time 0-0. Two early second half goals from Smith and Lawrence for Formartine set the Jags back but to their credit the team took the game to the visitors with a number of attacks but were rocked on 88 minutes when they conceded a third goal. Seeking consolation after the defeat the team gave 100%.
October 16 The team played well and were disappointed in the ninety third minute to concede a goal which handed three points to Nairn. Over the game the side played well and deservedly led through leading scorer Craig MacKenzie on 19 minutes. It was end to end with both sides creating but failing to take chances until Nairn equalised midway through the second half. The disputed winner came after the assistant referee had flagged to say that the ball had crossed line. That was tough. It was also a positive to have a nearly full a full squad available for selection. No game on October 23 as it is Scottish Cup second round day.
October 23 Preparations for the upcoming week focus attention on our first visit to Glebe Park, Brechin for our Breedon Highland League game. Brechin were relegated from Scottish League 2 last season after being beaten by Kelty Hearts in both play-off legs. Brechin are making their presence felt already in the current Highland League season and will surely be there or there about come the end of the season. It will be The Jags longest trip of the season.
October 30 D & E provided the coach that left Inverness at 9 and the trip had begun. Forres was the next call where some more players, team management, committee and supporters climbed aboard. One and a quarter hours later we arrived at Kellockbank for our forty minute break to enjoy a hearty breakfast, toast and tea/coffee.
The food was good and the service excellent and we thank everyone involved for looking after us. Back to the coach and the final leg to Brechin where we arrived early thanks in the main to the Aberdeen by-pass. We had been concerned on the journey about the state of the pitch after everywhere had suffered heavy rain and flooding and when we arrived heard the dreaded words ‘pitch inspection’. Match Referee Greg Soutar duly carried his task in what seemed a very long twenty minutes but to the relief of all he said it is okay to play but there might be problems if it started raining during the game.
In a roller coaster of a first half we took a two nil lead before being pegged back before again taking the lead and by half-time Brechin were leading 4-3. Breathless! There was to be no repeat in the second half of the excitement of the first 45 minutes and Brechin ran out comfortable winners 7-3. Another Jags performance of contrasting halves. Our goals came from Kieran Chalmers, Kane Davies and Kris Duncan. Everyone was well looked after by our hosts before it was time to set off on the journey home at around six o’clock. Another game of what might have been. When the game got underway the sun made an appearance.
BRECHIN CITY FC This Saturday (30th) for the first time in our history we visit Glebe Park in Brechin – for our first competitive game against Breedon Highland League newcomers Brechin City FC. Everyone at Strathspey Thistle is looking forward to new surroundings and meeting some new friends. The game will have a 3pm kick off as usual and we wish The Jags all the best for the game.
CONGRATULATIONS Hopefully, able to celebrate with a wee dram is Jimmy Munro who won the Jags Lottery Jackpot of £5300 – Jimmy, a Grantown loon, lives away with his wife Eunice, but they are still Jags fans and hoping to attend our next home match against Buckie Thistle on the sixth November.
That means that the Lottery jackpot returns to £1000 this week so good luck and press play >>>>>>> Thanks very much to everyone who plays the Jags Lottery – we very much appreciate it.
WALTER SMITH News has just broken today that one of the greatest football managers Scotland has ever produced has died.
Walter Smith, who was seventy three, managed Rangers, Everton and Scotland. Everyone at Strathspey Thistle FC sends their condolences to Walter’s family and friends.
This week our thoughts turn to the 2nd Round of the Scottish Cup and we wish all seven Highland League teams still involved all the very best.
Kris Duncan’s goal which was deemed offside….
Obviously we wish Nairn County just a wee bit more luck, as they beat us very convincingly at Station Park last month in the first round. We also had a very strongly contested Breedon Highland League match with Nairn here at Seafield Park last week, in which some contentious decisions were made. I would imagine the away fans went home the happier.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO PLAY THE CLUB LOTTERY >>>>>>>Thanks
We look forward to greeting our friends from Nairn on Saturday afternoon for our Breedon Highland League match against Nairn County FC. As it’s just down the road to the sea there’s a slight feel of a local derby so the games are always hard won – and as Nairn are one point ahead of us in the league it should be a fun afternoon. The kick off is 3pm as usual and catering facilities should be available from 2.15 onwards.
Pitchfixers L to R – Donly McLeod, Murray Adam, Graeme Stuart and Ian A Anderson
Following our home game on Wednesday night – a three- nil loss to Formartine – it meant that ground repairs – “pitch fix” – had to be carried out – normally there is a two week gap between home games but this week is was two days!! So the members of the committee available on Thursday morning were at the park repairing! The photo shows chairman, Donly McLeod with committee members Graeme Stuart and Ian A Anderson – and helping us out this week was Jags superfan and friend, Murray Adams – and if there is anyone else who would like to give us a hand, whenever you can spare two or three hours we would be very grateful for your help…we are usually there from about 9.30 am on a Monday morning….just ask any of the committee at a home game how you can help…every little helps…..
>>>>AAAnd of course the lottery jackpot has still not been won – £5,200 this week – so please sign up and help the Jags.>>>>>>>
