Our Scottish Cup game against Buckie FC at Seafield Park in December.
As we get ready for Saturdays Breedon Highland League match at Huntly against Huntly FC there is an entertaining story on the BBC website regarding last seasons achievements – Chairman Donly McLeod and Club Captain James McShane recall a season like no other. But, as ever, CoVid is not far away as illustrated by Golspie Sutherland FC having to withdraw from our North of Scotland Cup tie which was to have been played at Seafield Park next Wednesday. This means we play Inverness Clachnacuddin FC in the next round.
Following on from a couple of recent closed doors very closely contested friendlies against Elgin City FC and Rothes FC, Strathspey Thistle Committee and Management are delighted to announce that supporters will be able to attend this Saturdays friendly match.
We would appreciate everyone’s cooperation in following the current guidelines which allow spectators to be permitted – these include:
– current social distancing rules to be adhered to
– face masks must be worn at all times
– please use the available hand sanitiser at all times
There will be stewards undertaking temperature checks/track & trace at the gate – this is in accordance with SFA guidelines.
Gates will be closed at 13.45pm and anyone who wishes to leave the ground will not be re-admitted.
There will be no fee charged upon entry, however, there will be buckets for donations – any contributions would be greatly appreciated .
We will be taking orders for 2021/22 Season Tickets at the match.
£100 Adult and £50 Concession (60+ and u-16). ( Note: Supervised u-12s are admitted free)).
Please ask for details from Graeme Stuart or Clive Wolstenholme at the gate.
June 4 The fixtures for the new season were published today. Always a time to enjoy especially with where we are at the moment with Covid-19. Our first league fixture is at Huntly FC on Saturday July 24 and the first home league game at Seafield Park is against Wick Academy. We visit league newcomers Brechin City on October 30 and have a Christmas local derby at home to Clachnacuddin on December 27.
June 9 Club Chairman spoke to the Press and Journal to say that the club is looking for potential bosses who may also want to continue playing to consider themselves for the position of Team Manager. He hopes a fresh appeal could help the Jags capture the ideal candidate.
Charlie Brown
June 14 We are pleased to announce that Charlie Brown has agreed to become our new manager. Charlie knows the Highland league scene well having played for Buckie Thistle and helped Forres Mechanics win the league title in 2012. Forres awarded him a testimonial in 2006 for his services to the club. He will bring in his own support staff. Golspie Sutherland secured their 11th North Caledonian League title at the weekend thanks to a 1-0 win in Orkney. Next season’s North Caledonian League champions, if eligible as Golspie are, can contest the tier six play-off to try to gain entry to The Highland Football League.
June 17 Our website passed 10,000 views today. The new management team under Charlie has been announced. His assistant is Jamie McGowan whose background is as Ross County development squad coach and Forres under-20 coach. He also holds his SFA ‘C’ Licence. They are also joined by player-coach Kris Duncan and coach Robbie Flett.
June 20 Charlie and his assistant Jamie met the club Committee at Seafield Park this evening and it was also an opportunity for a ‘photo session’ for the cub website and our local weekly newspaper ‘The Strathy’.
June 21 Nairn County announced that four people connected with the club have tested positive for Covid-19 and a further asked to self-isolate. We wish everyone at Nairn County best wishes. As a precaution the club decided to cancel tonight’s training in Inverness.
June 25 Pre-season game at Rothes FC arranged for July 13 at 19:30 – as yet we do not know if spectators will be allowed into the pre-season games.
Robert Donaldson
June 28 Pre-season home games at Seafield Park see the visit of Elgin City on July 6 with 19:45 start and on July 17 we welcome Forres Mechanics when we kick off at 13:30. The club welcomes new signing, goalkeeper Robert Donaldson. The manager is pleased to have a new addition to the squad to provide competition for the number one jersey. Robert had six years at ICT youth and then spent time at Clachnacuddin and with the Strathy Jags before helping to win the league title in Junior Football with Spey Valley. His last three years have been spent with Rothes FC.
June 30 18-year-old midfielder Fraser Russell signed on a contract until 30 June 2023.
Fraser Russell ( photo from our Facebook page).
Fraser was part of the Inverness Caledonian Thistle set up from under 9s until 18 years old. He was in training full time for a year until he was released and the Jags are his first senior team away from ICTFC.
The Jags put up a very commendable performance in what was new manager Charlie Brown’s first home game. Elgin brought their full first team squad and went ahead early on in the first half, but James McShane levelled just before half time. City had the bulk of the pressure in the second half but we looked dangerous on the break. Elgin scored their second late on in the second half. Final Score Strathspey Thistle 1 – Elgin City 2
New manager Charlie Brown puts the squad through their pre-game routineAction during an early Elgin City attackJames McShane (on ground) heads in the Jags first home goal of the seasonCharlie Brown and Assistant Coach Robbie Flett keep an eye on proceedings from the dug outPlayer/Coach Kris Duncan commands the Elgin City players attention
The game was played behind closed doors with only management and committee in attendance – due to the current co-vid circumstances – hopefully all the fans will be back very soon. The Breedon Highland League is scheduled to start on Saturday 24 July – when we are away to Huntly FC, with our first home League fixture the following Saturday, 31 July, when we welcome Wick Academy FC to Seafield Park.
Local boy Robert started off with Inverness Caledonian Thistle Youths and was there for 6 years.
He was then with ICT full time with the Under 20s, and had stints at Clach and Strathspey Thistle. He then played Junior Football with Spey Valley FC, where he won the league title and has spent the last three years with Rothes FC.
Manager Charlie Brown said “We are delighted to get another quality keeper added to our squad who will bring experience and provide competition for the No1 jersey.”
The longest day of the year brought Charlie Brown and Jamie McGowan to Seafield Park Grantown, for their first visit in their new capacity as manager and assistant manager of Strathspey Thistle, on what was a glorious summer evening. During the evening they viewed a very lush looking playing surface, posed for their official photographs including the ubiquitous scarf aloft pic, and finished the evening being introduced to some of the committee.
Charlie Brown and Jamie McGowan, the Jags new management teamCharlie with committee members Garry Horton, Ian S. Anderson and Mags ClarkJamie enjoying a chat with Graeme Stuart, Ian Anderson snr. & Ally Smith
Thistle chairman Donly Mcleod said in an interview with the Press & Journal ( from our Twitter feed ) that he believes Charlie is a good fit as manager and his experience as a player and a coach in the Highland League will serve the Jags well and The Club is really looking forward to working with Charlie and Jamie.
The fixtures have been released from the Breedon Highland Football League for season 2021-2022.
Our first game is an away fixture with Huntly FC on the 24 July followed by our first home league match the following Saturday 31 July against Wick Academy FC. There will be a cup game on Wednesday 28 July – the draw has yet to be made.
Checkout our Twitter feed or Facebook page as well.
May 4 After all the stalling, visits to the lawyers and binding arbitration, the SPFL Pyramid Play Off first leg was played this evening at Dudgeon Park, Brora. Kelty Hearts ran out worthy winners and take a 2-0 lead back to New Central Park on Saturday May 8. Brora were not at their best and had Kelty not missed two penalties it could have been worse. I enjoyed the live streaming together with interesting commentary and summing up. Let’s hope Brora turn up and play as we know they can and give it their best shot.
May 5 Reports that the Scottish Lowland Football League (SLFL) have issued an invitation to Rangers B and Celtic Bteams to play in the league next season for one season to see how it works out.
May 9 Although Brora took a deserved lead on 26 minutes in the second leg of their play-off game at New Central Park, against Kelty Hearts, the home side ran out deserved winners over the two legs by 6 -1. Kelty will present a real challenge to team 42, Brechin City. For Brora the task now will be to retain their Highland League crown in the upcoming season and have another go at joining the SPFL.
May 10 The SLFL confirmed that they had voted to invite Rangers B and Celtic B teams to play for one season only in the league. Neither of the two teams can win promotion so it is going to make the experiment interesting.
At a club meeting this evening the Management Committee agreed that the club lottery would resume with the first draw on Sunday May 30 at 1900.
May 13 Work has been taking place on the maintenance of the grass surface at Seafield Park by RM Welch & Son of Monifieth.
May 14 The club confirms that it has reluctantly accepted the resignation of Team Manager Gordon Nicolson. Gordy has been with us for a total of five years – about a year as youth and first team coach, a season and a bit as assistant manager and the rest as first team manager. Everyone sends him our best wishes and a big thank you for all that he has done for STFC.
May 18 At an emergency meeting of the club committee Ian brought us up to date on the manager situation and it was agreed to begin the search for a new team manager. Tommy Wilson, assistant to Gordon Nicolson, informed the club that he also would be leaving the club with immediate effect. Tommy had been with us for two and a half years and we also wish him well in the future and thank him for all of his efforts.
May 23 Kelty Hearts won 1-0 at Brechin City to confirm their place in the SPFL league 2. Brechin City will play in the Highland League taking that league back to eighteen clubs. The defeat for Brechin ended a 98-year association with league football.
May 27 The Scottish Lowland Football League confirmed at their AGM tonight that the majority of member clubs have voted in favour of admitting Rangers and Celtic ‘B’ teams into the league next season – for one year only. The new SLFL will start on July 17. Under the agreement neither ‘B’ team can be promoted so this is an area that needs clarity for the other teams. It is thought that Bonnyrigg Rose, Civil Service Strollers, Bo’ness United, Dalbeattie Star and Edinburgh University voted against this plan. It has certainly split opinion.
May 31 What I thought would be a quiet month for news was quite the opposite. The departure of Gordy and Tommy was a blow but the club is in the process of interviewing candidates for the two positions. Kelty joining the SPFL will bring a new vigour to League 2 and also kept the integrity of the pyramid system. With confirmation that they will become the 18th member of the Highland League next season, we look forward to welcoming Brechin City to Seafield Park.
