Author: Stewart

From Club Secretary, Clive Wolstenholme :

Strathspey Thistle FC – January 2021 Newsletter

• After a difficult 2020 we hoped to finally start the 2020/2021 season with a home game with Lossiemouth on January 2 but after some heavy snow falls together with freezing temperatures the game was called off the night before.
  
• January 9 saw the club complete the signing of midfielder Struan McArthur on a non-contact basis. That date also saw our scheduled game at Deveronvale called off at 8.30am due to a frozen pitch.
  
• The Scottish Football Association announced on Monday January 11 that the Highland League was to be suspended until January 31 when the position would be reviewed. This suspension applied to all leagues below the Championship and Premiership. That evening the Highland League management committee met and discussed the playing suspension.
  
• The club also decided that because of the new lockdown criteria the lottery was to be suspended until further notice.
  
• It was decided on January 12 to put the players back onto furlough for the foreseeable future until a clearer indication was given as to when training, and then matches, could resume.
  
• An email received from Donate A Ticket reminding everyone that they were still processing donations for those clubs signed up.
  
• On January 21 it was announced that Michael MacCallum had agreed a contract extension until July 30, 2022.
  
• On January 23 the Scottish Government announced an extension of the current lockdown until  February 13/14.
  
• The club website had 621 views and 279 visitors during January which is a reflection of the improvements made. Twitter has 1170 followers and Facebook 1554 followers… and we received two enquiries during the month, from Liverpool and Dumfries, for club lapel badges. Thank you!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55616399

The Scottish Government along with the Football Authorities have decided due to the current CoVid 19 climate that lower league and Scottish Cup matches be suspended until 31 Jan.

After an inspection at Princess Royal Park in Banff at 9am today the game against Deveronvale FC has been postponed as the pitch was frozen.

The Club travel to the Princess Royal Park in Banff for Saturday’s Breedon Highland League encounter with Deveronvale.

Good luck to the boys and the management team in what will be our first competitive match since our Scottish Cup tie with Buckie Thistle on the 12 December, and our first competitive league game since 7 March 2020.

Again in adherence with the Scottish Government and Highland League CoVid 19 restrictions, no supporters from either club will be allowed to spectate.

Hopefully the weather will be kind……

When the passing of football legend Tommy Docherty was was announced last week, local club historian Rob A Clark got in touch with the following photograph and text featuring Mr Docherty’s visit to Grantown’s Waterford Hotel in 1995 as a guest of the then Strathspey Thistle Junior Football Club’s annual fundraising Sportsman’s Dinner. Rob’s two memories of that night are of Tommy Docherty being on top form and was very willing to speak with everyone and secondly, Bill McAllister’s high praise of how far STJFC had came in such a short time.

Pic shows l to r : M.C. for the night former Grade One Referee and current General Manager of Peterhead FC Martin Johnston, Strathspey Thistle Chairman at the time Graeme Mackie, the late Tommy Docherty, Strathspey Thistle Player / Manager at the time Donly McLeod, Highland football journalist Bill McAllister and then Secretary of Strathspey Thistle JFC and match day reporter for the local newspaper, local author Rob A Clark. 

Someone has commented that Mr Docherty must have been on top form when you see current chairman Donly’s reaction…..

The Breedon Highland League game scheduled for Saturday 2 January 2021 has been postponed due to the weather conditions.

This Saturday we welcome to Seafield Park, Lossiemouth FC – but unfortunately we cannot welcome any supporters from either clubs – as per the guidelines of the Highland League Management Committee.

Obviously, the players will miss the supporters as it is a bit surreal playing League or Cup games in an empty stadium – hopefully fans will be allowed back in before the end of the season but as a club we must stick to the guidelines.

As ever please check with the STFC Facebook page and Twitter feed for up-to-date information about the game on Saturday and any other bits of news.

Stay safe y’all.

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We hope you have had an enjoyable Christmas, or at least as enjoyable as circumstances demanded.

However as we now enter another lockdown we have decided that based on current Scottish Government advice, the Strathspey Thistle FC Lottery is suspended. The weekly draws will resume when it is safe to do so – the jackpot will be £3,200 on resumption. Please check with our Facebook and Twitter pages for up-to-date information on all aspects of the club.

Thank You.

So this is Christmas… the players, the management team and the management committee of Strathspey Thistle Football Club would like to wish all their supporters and their families a Merry Christmas and a healthy, peaceful and, hopefully, prosperous 2021.

Everyone at the Club would also like to thank everyone who has supported them throughout 2020 – a year I don’t think we will easily forget!

As you may have read in the press the Breedon Highland League has decided to continue with the current season with CoVid 19 protocols in place – unfortunately for the foreseeable future that means that there will be NO supporters allowed at any game – so we hope to see you all at Seafield Park as soon as these restrictions are lifted.

Stay Safe.