Author: Stewart

AWAY GAME v CLACHNACUDDIN FC
NORTH OF SCOTLAND CUP
GRANT STREET PARK, INVERNESS IV2 5GL
WEDNESDAY 21 AUGUST – KO 8pm

WELL…………you arrange to have your computer upgraded and head off for a few days away and everything goes ramalamadingdong.
A new management team and then, beaten by a last minute goal in Banff having led two-nil at half time…..

After shutting down my computer and handing it over to my computer guru for a few days, I was sitting enjoying a small libation celebrating a family member’s birthday last Wednesday, when I received the text telling me that the employment of the management team of Bobby Beckwith and Ronnie Sharp at the Club had been terminated.
So no way of informing the world using my set -up …..

So, next night, on a sunny Thursday evening at Seafield Park, I was photographing the new Head Coach Ryan Esson and Player-Coach Aaron Doran, before their first training session with the players. I also photographed Euan Storrier our new goalkeeper on loan from Buckie Thistle.

NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM 

We are thrilled to introduce Ryan Esson as our new head coach! Ryan has played in goal for Aberdeen and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, where he won the Scottish First Division and the Scottish Cup before becoming goalkeeping coach at Caley Thistle.
Ryan brings a wealth of experience and respect within the football community, having played at the highest level.
We’re also delighted to welcome Aaron Doran as our new player-coach. Aaron’s impressive career at Caley Thistle and familiarity with the Highlands make him an invaluable addition to our team.

These signings reflect the ambition at Strathspey Thistle as we move forward.
As Grant Mackellar, our CEO/Owner, said:
“When I took the reins at Strathspey Thistle, I promised that the recruitment drive had started. These two key additions demonstrate our intent to our loyal supporters. And this is just the beginning—we’re only getting started!”

EUAN STORRIER

We are delighted to welcome goalkeeper Euan Storrier to Strathspey Thistle on loan from Buckie Thistle!
Euan joins us on a deal initially until the end of the year and will be a key addition to our squad….and he is no real stranger to Seafield Park as he helped us out in our first pre-season game against Buckie as our signed ‘keepers were both injured…and we won….!!

GAME v DEVERONVALE ON SATURDAY

Talk about……then, The Jags visit Banff on Saturday and have a great first half with a goal from the penalty spot from Aaron Nicolson and a twenty-five yard cracker from Josh Race (photo above) giving us a two goal lead at half-time, only to be pegged back to two-all and lose a third in the ninetieth minute to go down three two!!!!

---

Anyway, in today’s Press & Journal ( click here ) a very upbeat interview by Club captain James McShane previewing the Cup Tie on Wednesday night is a good barometer on the current state of what’s happening at Strathspey Thistle. Everyone is very much looking forward to when the new management team have all our players fit and ready for action as a team together….as I do feel we will pick up a good few points this season.

LAURA DAVIDSON  (@Lauramackie1984)
When I was taking the photos of the new management team I also met Laura, who will be coordinating our social media feeds.
We would like to sincerely thank our secretary Clive’s sons Alex (in Sheffield) and Nick (in Barcelona), who for the past couple of years have helped us out with our Twitter (X) and Instagram feeds. It was decided recently that it would probably be more beneficial to have a more local co-ordinator and we welcome Laura on board…btw she is Lewis Mackie’s mam, who unfortunately was injured last Saturday against Deveronvale and could be out for a few weeks. Also her Dad will be doing reports and match updates.

---

BOBBY AND RONNIE
We at the Jags web would like to wish both Bobby and Ronnie all the best in their future endeavours and would like to thank them for their help and cooperation in arranging photography etc.

---

PRESS & JOURNAL AND STRATHSPEY AND BADENOCH HERALD NEWSPAPERS

For more information of fitba around the North and for local issues you can subscribe to the P&J Football Weekly service (re-James McShane interview as mentioned)- or keep up to date with local news with The Strathie

Click For P&J

Click for The Strathie

AWAY GAME v DEVERONVALE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
PRINCESS ROYAL PARK, BANFF AB45 1AZ
SATURDAY 17 AUGUST – KO 3pm

Hopes should be high for our match on Saturday as last year we took all six points from our encounters last season but as always we take each match as it comes, so we’ll see. The ‘Vale so far have accumulated five points from four games with a win, a loss and two draws – and currently sit in tenth place, not too bad a start to the season by any means – we on the other hand have yet to put a point on the board!

As I am writing this on Monday 12 Aug unfortunately I am not able to forsee if there are any further injury problems or team selections etc for the Jags – all I can do is to wish Bobby and the boys all the best and hopefully on Saturday night we’ll have some points on the table.  

AWAY GAME v CLACHNACUDDIN FC
NORTH OF SCOTLAND CUP
GRANT STREET PARK, INVERNESS IV2 5GL
WEDNESDAY 21 AUGUST – KO 8pm

Next Wednesday evening sees us in Inverness for an North of Scotland Cup tie against Clachnacuddin – the first of three meetings with Clach over the next month or so.

If there are any further injury problems or team selections etc for the Jags please check on our other social media pages – and wish Bobby and the boys all the best and hopefully we can advance to the next round.  

---

HOME MATCH v FORRES MECHANICS – 10 AUGUST 

What started off as a sunny afternoon soon clouded over after twelve minutes, when a well-taken free kick by Jack Grant from about twenty-five yards gave Forres the lead. We had started really well and were looking quite dangerous  – but, as we have frequently done in the past the goal scored against us seemed to knock the stuffing out of us and we proceeded to concede another five before half time including a penalty in the forty-fourth minute!.
Of major concern was the loss of centre half Jordan Laidlaw to injury midway through the first half, after a tackle sustained earlier on in the match – hopefully it’ll not be too long before he’s back. 

Although not an excuse we seemed to be unable to adapt to the very windy conditions, unlike Forres.

The second half was totally different for The Jags. After making some changes we took the game to Forres and preventing them scoring again and after some pressure we scored in the sixtieth minute through Dylan Lawrence, who had came on at half time after three games out recovering from a groin injury.
We did have one or two further chances throughout the match but were unable to convert them and the match finished match 1-6.

But….as ever let’s be positive ….although results may not show it yet, the Jags have nineteen new signings which will take time to mould a team together able for free flowing football and, also, very importantly – fingers crossed we can stay away from injuries.

---

BECCY JOINS US

The situation we have found ourselves in over the past couple of months regarding injuries and fitness has been addressed, with the arrival last week at the Club of Sports Therapist, Beccy Mussett.
Beccy was formerly with Inverness CaleyThistle, and we are delighted to have her expertise and skills on board concentrating on a regime of increasing the players fitness levels and reducing the amount of injuries, and if a player is injured dramatically reduce their recovery times.
We wish her all the best and look forward to working with her.

---

THE HAPPY FORKERS ARE BACK

Tuesday morning sees us at the pitch, repairing all the divots, slide tackle marks and any discrepancies to the grass surface….

At the moment it is reasonably easy – sunshine, warmth, grass growing –  but we will look back on days like today with great affection as we struggle with the elements and weather of a cold and wet December or January morning……….you’re very welcome to join us!

GRANTOWN AGRICULTURAL SHOW

For the second year The Jags had a stand at “The Show” – Thanks go to committee members Mags Clark and Charlie Sinclair for manning it and selling fundraising Jags’ Lottery Tickets.

LOTTERY
As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £7200 on 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 couple of 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. 

---

AS INTIMATED EARLIER I WILL NOT BE UPDATING THE WEBSITE UNTIL THE END OF NEXT WEEK AS  MY TECHNOLOGY SET-UP GETS A MAKE-OVER….so, hopefully then, I’ll be reporting on our first three points and our path to the second round of the NOSC

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AND REMEMBER TO KEEP IN TOUCH THROUGH OUR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS.

HOME GAME v FORRES MECHANICS FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 2024 – KO 3pm

This Saturday we welcome to Seafield Park, players, committee and supporters of Forres Mechanics FC, one of our nearest geographic rivals from twenty two miles over the  Dava Moor. 
The Can-Cans usually take a good support with them and if they want a resumé of how to get here and what’s available in the town just click here …….

Forres, like ourselves, have had a reasonably difficult start to the season and so far drew last Saturday in Turriff.

Both games last season were close and Saturday’s should be no different, so hopefully spectators will have an exciting ninety minutes of football. After three league games Forres have one point and we have still to register but we are buoyed up after a very creditable performance in Wick on Wednesday night. 
So hopefully this will be the game for us to start putting some points together and start our climb from the bottom of the league.

MATCH v WICK ACADEMY FC in WICK on WEDNESDAY 7 AUGUST

From what I gather from our spies and some of the Wick supporters we were very unlucky to leave Harmsworth Park with nothing. 
Wick took the lead in the twenty-third minute and doubled their advantage with another goal right on half-time. However in the second half, Jags’ captain James McShane scored from a superb long range shot in the fifty-fourth minute and thereafter we continually pressed hard for the equaliser, especially in last ten minutes when we were hardly out of the Wick penalty area culminating in hitting the crossbar in the ninetieth minute….

Everyone connected with the Jags are beginning to see a bit of progress as every game as the team begins to gel – in takes a wee while with over twenty new signings….but the focus now moves to our home game against Forres Mechanics on Saturday. 

WELCOME AARON

The Jags have taken in Aaron Nicholson on a short term loan deal. The club are delighted to have secured the deal for the former Nairn County player. Many thanks to Linlithgow Rose FC for their cooperation with this. 
Aaron went straight into the squad and started against Wick on Wednesday….and we look forward to seeing him at Seafield Park on Saturday.

SEAFIELD PARK CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

Again we must apologise to the committees of Brora Rangers and Forres Mechanics being unable to welcome them with our own hospitality unit and we are indebted to the local Scout group for lending us their facilities.

DIARY DATES

Next Saturday (17th) we are in Banff to play Deveronvale KO-3pm followed by a trip on Wednesday evening (21st) to Inverness and Grant Street Park for a North of Scotland cup tie against Clachnacuddin FC – KO 8pm.
Our next home is on the 24th August when we host Formartine Utd – KO 3pm

LOTTERY

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £7100 on 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 couple of 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).

1. 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. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. 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. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.

Saturday 6th: The Jags’ Family Fun Day at Seafield Park was a great success, both young and old alike enjoying the football, activities and music in the marquee later in the evening.

The Jags sported their new home kit, which along with the away number, is available to buy online here

Tuesday 9^th: A 2-1 defeat at New Elgin as the Jags’ continued their pre-season build-up. Captain James McShane scored the visitors’ goal. We also announced two further signings, Ali Nixon, a versatile young player, and the return of the experienced James Fraser.

Saturday 13^th: The weather held out for the annual STFC Golf Day, 34 teams taking part at Grantown Golf Club for one of our major fundraising events. Thanks to all those involved in making it a great success.

Thursday 18^th: A young Inverness Caledonian Thistle side were the visitors to Seafield Park for a friendly fixture and took a two-goal lead in the first-half before Dylan Lawrence pulled one back before the break. With 50% of the gate receipts going to Mikeysline to mark the recent passing of Adam Higgins, a friend of the club, we were delighted to be able to support this fantastic organisation.

Saturday 20^th: Caelen Mutch and Scott MacDonald scored the goals in a 2-0 friendly victory away to Lossiemouth United although Liam Shewan suffered an injury blow with a dislocated elbow set to rule him out of the first few weeks of the campaign.

Tuesday 23^rd: The final warm-up game before the big kick-off at Huntly on Saturday saw the Jags take on a Ross County XI at Seafield Park. Jamie Calder and Caelan Mutch scored the goals in a 2-2 draw.

Saturday 27^th: An early Huntly goal set the tone for a tough afternoon on the opening day of the Highland League season with the hosts running out 5-0 winners. Let’s hope the Jags recover ahead of a busy month ahead, including plenty of home action at Seafield Park. The starting XI is pictured below.

AWAY GAME v WICK ACADEMY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
HARMSWORTH PARK WICK KW1 5NH
WEDNESDAY 7 AUGUST – KO 8pm

Yes, Wednesday night finds us travelling more or less to the end of the A9, all of 135 miles to visit Harmsworth Park and a midweek league game which at some point will be played under floodlights as sunset is scheduled around 21.30.

The Scorries got off to a great start to the season with a fine home win over Fraserburgh although losing to Huntly on Saturday, but were a much improved team in the second half of last season finishing a creditable twelfth in the league so again, a very tough game in store for the Jags.

With a milestone thirtieth season in the Highland League, Wick will be hoping it’s a successful season to celebrate but hopefully The Jags can spoil the party and leave Wick with a point or three under our belts.

Manager Gary Manson has an experienced squad at his disposal but there are similarities between ourselves and Wick in the sense they had a totally new squad starting last season, with some playing Highland League for the first time, as is ourselves this season and we hope, we can emulate Wick’s great improvement throughout the season. 

---

GAME v BRORA RANGERS

Although the score looks bad there were positives to come out of the game too…at five-nil down at halftime some of the Jags’ fans were fearing the worst of the worst, but a couple of changes with our new signings and a couple of tactical changes we made it far more difficult for Brora in the second half, and didn’t really deserve losing a sickener of a goal with the last kick of the game !!

Most spectators were very impressed at the speed and passing accuracy of a very, very good Brora team, one that must be very much favourites for the title. A not very welcome return to Seafield Park was dished out by ex-Jag Craig MacKenzie, a recent Brora signing from Forres, scoring Brora’s first goal in two minutes…..and Brora finished their first half performance with a penalty in the forty-fifth minute scored by Jordan MacRae.

Again we must thank everybody for a great turnout although we must apologise to the Brora management and committee for our temporary hospitality premises but look forward to welcoming you all next season to our new facilities. 

---

WELCOME TYLER AND WELCOME BACK CAMMY

We have taken in both Tyler Eadie and Cameron Lisle on short term loans from Nairn County FC. 

Thanks  to Nairn for their cooperation with this, and welcome aboard lads!

---

LOTTERY LAST CHANCE THIS WEEK FOR £7000

Click here to play…..

NEXT GAME…. 

Saturday, Seafield Park, 3pm, v Forres Mechanics FC

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE….

HOME GAME v BRORA RANGERS FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 3 AUGUST 2024 – KO 3pm

This week we entertain Brora Rangers FC at Seafield Park in what will be a very tough ninety minutes for the boys – as is every game throughout the Highland League really.
Brora got off to a great start last week with a five nil win at home to Turriff whilst we suffered a similar defeat at the hands of a very competent Huntly FC who according to my spies at the game will continue very much with their form from last year when they finished seventh in the league. Who’s to say they might not even finish higher this time!

Brora boss Steven MacKay is anticipating good things from his team this year and we expect to welcome back to Seafield Park, their recent signing Craig Mackenzie from Forres, who had nearly a couple of seasons with the Jags before his move to Forres last summer.  

I hope we do better than we did in the corresponding fixture last season and as ever, we look forward to the game and wish Bobby and the boys all the best for Saturday.

LAST WEEK AT HUNTLY

According to more or less everyone who was at the game, Huntly very much deserved their win.
Again, we lost two goals in the first twenty minutes which did not augur well for the rest of the game. Huntly were very much on top – which you would expect from the team who finished seventh in the league, are very good in their all round play and have added a couple of new signings to a very established team so although we were well beaten there was still a very positive vibe from the Jags’ management team after the game.
There will obviously be a settling in period for all the new players, as we started the game with only two players on the park and one on the bench from last year’s squad, and with players not available because of injuries from pre-season – Liam Shewan, Alan Kerr, Dylan Lawrence and Zak MacPhee – we knew it would be a tough game and that was what it proved to be.

The consensus from Huntly confirmed our thinking, and were very positive in their first impressions of the “new’ Jags.

IN THE NEWS

It’s been a bumper month for media with a brilliant article by Alan Price in Football Weekends (available at WH Smith or online) and as ever, we want to thank our local newspaper The Strathspey & Badenoch Herald for their coverage throughout the season. 

£7000 TO BE WON – THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT PRIZE

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £7000, yes, £7000, on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
As we have intimated after the current jackpot has been won therefore completing that game,there will be couple of 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).

1. 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. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. 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. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.

NEXT GAME
On Wednesday evening we head to Wick for a Breedon Highland League match against Wick Academy FC.

HERE WE GO AGAIN INTO THE 24/25 SEASON

AWAY GAME v HUNTLY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
CHRISTIE PARK, HUNTLY AB54 8JE
SATURDAY 27 JULY 2024 – KO 3pm

So this Saturday, 27 July, we head to Huntly for our first Breedon Highland League match of the 2024-2025 season.

All our preparations have been made and we begin a new adventure…..an adventure I hope will bring us all at Strathspey Thistle more hope of many competitive games throughout the season, and a wish that we can establish ourselves as a team that plays good football, scores a good few goals and is difficult to beat.
As everyone knows last season was not our best, and we hope with the massive transformation at the Club we will see a lot more exciting games both at Seafield Park and on our visits around The North.
We have had a tough few seasons, with always the fear of relegation a constant, but hopefully we can put that behind us and can aspire to better days ahead – and so, for our first steps, we travel to Christie Park, Huntly.
With the new management team of Bobby Beckwith and Ronnie Sharp along with Jags’ stalwart Robbie Flett, and with only four of last years’ squad still at the Club, our pre-season build-up has generally gone very well. Speaking to Ronnie at one of the matches, he stressed that only five weeks before the boys had hardly met each other, far less played football together.

Off the park everything more or less has changed enormously – all of which has been documented in depth over the past few weeks on the website and through our social media – culminating this week in the demolition of the “The Shack” – our clubhouse –  with a replacement building hopefully in situ very shortly – so for the earlier part of the season we apologise in advance to visiting committees.

As everyone can appreciate with all the changes it is difficult so forecast the on-field fortunes – but everyone at the Club seems to be in a very positive mood.

Last season Huntly finished seventh in the league so it will not be a very easy opening fixture, so we wish Bobby, Ronnie and all the boys all the best.

---

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY v INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE X1 

Score:  STFC – 1 — ICT – 2

The match was preceded by a minute’s applause by the players and the large crowd in memory of former Grantown FC player Adam Higgins whose passing the previous weekend shocked everyone at the Club – and it was decided that the gate fee would would be shared equally with mikey’s line in Inverness.

The Jags couldn’t have got off to a worst start losing a goal within the first minute – many home fans were surprised the offside flag wasn’t raised  – and went a further goal behind twenty minutes later. 
After this we pulled a goal back by striker Dylan Lawrence just before half-time and proceeded in many spectators eyes to have by far the better of the second half but there were no more goals.
It was a very enjoyable and entertaining game with both teams putting some really good moves together and, regarding the Jags, there seemed to be a growing understanding beginning to evolve with some good performances by many of our new signings. 

Unfortunately there were a one or two injuries, which I imagine should be expected at this time of the season as the boys are not not quite match fit yet, so susceptible to a few niggles although Alan Kerr’s might take a wee while to recover from.

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY v LOSSIEMOUTH UNITED

Goals by Caelen Mutch and Scott MacDonald were sufficient to beat Lossiemouth United 2-0 in last Saturday afternoon’s pre-season friendly. Unfortunately for The Jags, Liam Shewan was injured and had to be taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin with a dislocated elbow, and will be out for an estimated 3-5 weeks. . 

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY v  A ROSS COUNTY X1 

Another highly entertaining pre-season friendly against a very good Ross County selection giving us another ninety minutes in preparation for Saturday’s opener. 

Again we got off to a bad start conceding in four minutes but this time, Jamie Calder equalised after nine minutes. Both teams proceeded to play good attacking football and in forty-two minutes Caelen Mutch finished a great Jags’ move scoring a low drive from about twenty yards and that is how it stayed until fifty-seven minutes when County equalised. Throughout the second half there were numerous changes which interrupted the flow of the game but I think both teams benefitted from the whole game.

It was also really good to see both Liam Shewan and Alan Kerr in attendance on the sidelines – team spirit is good – and we obviously wish them both the best and look forward to seeing them back on the park as soon as possible. 

Again there was a large crowd there to support The Jags which we thank very much for coming along to Seafield Park…could become a habit!!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Next Saturday (3 Aug 3pm) we host Brora Rangers at Seafield Park before heading north to face Wick Academy at Harmsworth Park for a midweek match (Weds 7 Aug 8pm).

North of Scotland Cup v Clachnacuddin ( Grant St Park, Inverness, Weds 21 Aug ko 8pm)

Click here for a full list of our fixtures and please feel free to download and print off so you can plan ahead…..

---

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP AND MERCHANDISE

For more information on this year’s player squad, player sponsorship or Club clothing please click on to your choice below to go to the following :

Players Squad Portraits     Player Sponsorship     Jags’ Clothing

---

LOTTERY

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £6900 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES

As intimated a couple of weeks ago after the current jackpot, has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of 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).

1. 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. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. 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. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.

---

So we wish Bobby, Ronnie, Robbie and all the squad all the very best for the visit to Huntly and we’ll be back next week with our progress and a preview of our first home game of the season against Brora Rangers.

Our next match is on Thursday evening against Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC at Seafield Park. 

If it is like the last time ICT visited I would imagine there will be a mixture of first team and squad players all vying for selection.

7.30pm kick off 
£10 ENTRY 
£5 CONCESSION

Due to the recent passing of Adam Higgins, who was a friend of the club, 50% of Thursday night’s gate money will be donated to Mikeysline – which was the wish of Adam’s family. 

We hope to see you all there on Thursday night supporting the Jags! 

 NEXT MATCHES

We follow Thursday’s match with an away friendly in Lossiemouth against Lossiemouth United FC at Phoenix Park on Saturday with a 2pm kick off, followed by a visit to Seafield Park by a Ross County X1 on Tuesday evening  kick off 7.30pm.

Three very attractive fixtures from which The Jags should get mightily prepared for the Highland League which starts a week on Saturday (27 July) with an away match against Huntly.

---

THE JAGS’ GOLF FUNDRAISING DAY

As ever it was a great success. 
Thirty four teams teed off on Saturday at Grantown Golf Club Team Scramble event which was won by Keith Callum’s team.

Our thanks must firstly go to the greenkeeping staff for their immaculate presentation of the golf course.
Fortunately the rain held off, although most participants were able to sample some liquid throughout the day – and for that our thanks must also go to Nacho and his team who looked after the catering and bar duties tremendously in both the club house and at the “Half-Way House”. 
We must also thank the following whose support and sponsorship made the day possible.

Firstly our thanks go to MTEC and Bill Torrance in sponsoring the event and the following individuals and companies for their generosity with hole sponsorships – again MTEC, The Mathieson Family, Horton Joinery Ltd, W A Dallas Painter and Decorator, WJ Sellars Builders, Scottie’s Home Improvements, AW Laing Ltd, Plant & Fixings Inverness, MKM Building Supplies-Aviemore, LG Simpson, Highway Contractors, John Ross Funeral Directors, MacKellar Sub-Sea Ltd and Forsyths Ltd.

As ever, thanks go to Donly McLeod and daughter Lisa for organising and running the competition with the help on the day of Willie Lawson and Iain ’Slavvie’ Ross.

 Thanks also go to committee stalwarts Mags Clark, Rob Clark and Clive Wolstenholme who ran a fantastic and successful raffle on the day – thanks also go to the other committee members who helped .

Last but not least we would like to thank everyone who participated in any way and hope you thoroughly enjoyed yourselves and are, hopefully, already looking forward to next years’ event. 

LOTTERY
As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £6800 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
As intimated a couple of weeks ago after the current jackpot, has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of 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).

1. 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. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. 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. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.

My apologies for the tardiness being shown in publishing our newsletter.

Thursday 6^th: Grant McKellar was announced as the new majority shareholder and CEO of Strathspey Thistle Football Club. He told the club website: “It is my intention to enhance the playing staff and, along with a new management and coaching team in place, we hope to greatly improve our performance and results. 
“Recruitment has already started and will continue, but that is only the beginning as I have also began the process of upgrading the facilities at Seafield Park which will give the town and the wider area of Badenoch and Strathspey a competitive team to support and to be proud of for many years to come.”

Saturday 8^th: Pre-season training began in earnest with a host of new faces getting to know each other and the incoming management team of Bobby Beckwith and Ronnie Sharp. May’s new signings were added to by incoming signings Gordon McNab and Doguie Doeimassei Muller.

Monday 22^nd: A new era and a new crest for STFC…

Wednesday 26^th: We were pleased to welcome Badenoch Shinty Memories, in liaison with www.able2adventure.co.uk to Seafield Park and the adjoining field to allow residents of Lynemore Care Home the opportunity to experience the joy of cycling through access to lightweight pedal cycles of bespoke specialist design.

Off the field, the club signed a strategic partnership with Balloan FC in regards to youth development.

Thursday 27^th: The signing of Dylan Lawrence from Elgin City was confirmed, the fifteenth new arrival of a busy summer at Seafield Park.
Co-manager Bobby Beckwith commented: “Dylan is still a young lad and his best days are very much ahead of him.”

Saturday 29^th: The first pre-season friendly saw STFC welcome their fellow Jags, last season’s Highland League winners Buckie Thistle, to Seafield Park and it was the home side who ran out winners, three goals to two with new signing Dylan Lawrence and a double from James McShane getting preparations off to a good start.

We are delighted to announce the double signing of Ali Nixon and James Lee Fraser. 

Ali Nixon was recently at Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC before joining STFC and is a versatile player who is comfortable in midfield and at full back, a young player with a bright future ahead. 

James Lee Fraser is an experienced player and former Highland League winner with Buckie Thistle who has joined us for a second time at Seafield Park. His last Club was Loch Ness FC where he also won a league title.
Both players have really impressed the management team and getting them to join will be very beneficial for the club. 

---

LAST SATURDAY’S DAY OF FUN

Strathspey Thistle’s first Fun day took place at Seafield Park last Saturday (6 July) and from what we hear and experienced it was fun, fun and more fun!!

We would like to thank the many people involved in making the day such a success, especially committee member Heather Horton who spent many hours both before and during the day making sure everything ran like clockwork….

THIS SATURDAY’S DAY OF FUN – STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE

Everyone is hoping that the weather behaves itself for this Saturday’s fund-raising golf day at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club, and that everyone taking part enjoys themselves – and as far as past years have gone, I cannot imagine them not enjoying the day!!

---

TUESDAY NIGHT’S GAME IN ELGIN

According to our spies at the game on Tuesday night, they reported that the team played well enough, passing the ball about but it was one of those nights that the ball wasn’t going to cross the New Elgin goal line…although James McShane did manage to score late on – but the positive was that was another ninety minutes under the belt in the build up to the season’s start in three weeks.

We look forward to hosting Inverness Caledonian Thistle next Thursday night – KO 7.30pm 

---

LOTTERY

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £6700 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
As intimated a couple of weeks ago after the current jackpot, has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of 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).

1. 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. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. 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. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.