A CORNUCOPIA OF DELIGHTS

This Saturday is the third in a row that we haven’t had a game, the last two were down to the weather and this one is because the quarter-finals of the Highland League Cup are being played.
As I have said before there is no easy game in the Highland League but before the end of January we are in for a tough few weeks as we are scheduled to play six of the top ten teams, which in past seasons we would probably have had more of a feeling of dread, but as we have competed well against most of these teams already this season it will be very interesting to see how we fare going into the second half of the season.

FUND RAISING QUIZ NIGHT – FRIDAY 28 NOVEMBER
Last Friday night, Strathspey Thistle held a Quiz Night fundraiser within the clubrooms of the Royal British Legion Scotland Strathspey in Grantown-on-Spey.
A large crowd attended with 11 teams of 6 taken part.

Quiz Master for the night was committee member Tom Clarke who had Questions on General Knowledge, Movies, Music, Scottish Football and also a round on local knowledge which caught out many teams!

Once all the answer sheets were all checked the results were…..
In third place, Still Working on it with 85 points….. in second place, Ground Control to Major Tom with 88 points and the winners were Scrambled Eggheads with 91 ½ points out of a possible 115.
Thanks to Rob Clark for the report and photos. 

Strathspey Thistle Football Club would like to thank everyone who participated and those who helped in making it such an enjoyable evening and already the teams are counting down the days to next year’s quiz.


OUR FESTIVE RAFFLE 2025/26


Our Festive Raffle is now in full swing and tickets are available from our committee members, players, management team, and various businesses throughout Grantown as well as our intrepid committee lady Mags Clark who will be selling tickets at the Premier Store in Grantown on 17 December and at the Co-op also in Grantown on 18 December…..
We’ll also be selling them at all home games in December.
Prefer to buy online? No problem, drop us a DM and we’ll send you a secure payment link.
£1 per ticket or £5 per book

A huge thank you to our sponsors The McBroads – Not Just Travel for donating our fantastic 1st Prize
Two tickets to Aberdeen v Hibernian on Saturday 11th April at Pittodrie Stadium,
plus an overnight stay at the Leonardo Hotel, Aberdeen!
And that’s not all we have lots of other great prizes to be won too!
Raffle Draw will take place on Saturday 10th January after our Highland League home fixture with Clachnacuddin FC.
Thank you for your incredible support every ticket sold helps the club! 


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Our next scheduled home games, all kicking off at 2pm, over the next couple of months or so are as follows – but remember please check with our social media pages for up-to-date information as we are now at the mercy of Mother Nature for ground conditions.
Saturday 13 December v Brechin City FC
Saturday 27 December v Buckie Thistle FC
2026
Saturday 10 January v Clachnacuddin FC
Saturday 28 February v Fraserburgh FC

To book email : hospitality@strathspeythistlefc.uk


LOTTERY HITS £14,000 JACKPOT

Could someone please win our fundraising Lottery – here’s your chance to play online before Sunday night’s draw ….just click here 
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.
If you are not playing online and have physically purchased a paper ticket 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.

We appreciate that there seems to be a lot of fund raising going on and it’s true –  but this is time of year that is our main chance to raise funds which over the year goes on ground improvements and outgoings, floodlights, refereeing fees and not to mention keeping and improving our playing squad – it’s nae cheap and we really appreciate all the support we get from everyone who has an interest in keeping the Jags going and hope that everyone is enjoying what has been happening on the park this season. 
THANK YOU and we hope to see you next week at Seafield Park ( 13 December ) for the last visit of Brechin City as a Highland League club, as next season they are moving to the Lowland League. 

CLIVE’S NEWSLETTER – NOVEMBER 2025

Saturday 1st: A solid start to the month as a Liam Shewan penalty earned a point away from home at Turriff United, traditionally a difficult place for the Jags to visit.

Manager Ryan Esson told the Press & Journal: “We tried to use the wings and get balls into the box and we got our reward with another point away from home which is never a bad thing.”

Saturday 8th: No game for the Jags as the Highland League Cup took precedence but there was no Saturday off for some of the players as they were put through their fitness paces.

Quoted in our local newspaper, the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald, Ryan Esson said: “It was 9:15 in the morning. They worked all week and then I was asking them to come and be blasted with running, so their attitude was good and I’m looking forward to Saturday now.”

Sunday 9th: Committee member Charlie Sinclair laid a wreath on behalf of the club at the Grantown War Memorial to mark Remembrance Day. 

Saturday 15th:  Prior to the home game with Lossiemouth, at Seafield Park, the signing of young striker Bodhan Campbell, on loan from Buckie Thistle, was announced.

Saturday 15th: Trailing by a goal to nil at half-time, the Jags equalised just after the break thanks to a James McShane header and went in front through Caelan Mutch around the hour mark. 

Calum Brown looked to have sealed the points with a third goal in stoppage time and, although another Lossiemouth strike made for a nervous finish, we held on for another important victory.

Tuesday 18th: A fairly quiet day on the football front…except for Scotland’s Men qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 after a dramatic evening at Hampden Park and three incredible goals that saw off Denmark. 
A great achievement from Steve Clarke and his players and a huge boost for the game at all levels. All eyes are now on the draw in early December for anyone planning to travel to North America next summer.

Saturday 22nd: The first real cold spell of the winter put paid to the scheduled game at Keith.

Friday 28th: The club held a fundraising quiz night at the Royal British Legion in Grantown, thanks to everyone who attended, to the Legion for hosting and to committee member Tom Clarke for organising.

Saturday 29th: November was scheduled to end with the visit of Rothes to Seafield Park but, with the pitch frozen in parts, unfortunately the game fell foul of the weather. 

That means we head into December in 10th place in the Highland League with 22 points from 17 matches.

In the Scottish Cup, all five Highland League clubs gave good accounts of themselves in defeat against higher level opposition, including Banks O’ Dee who lost only 2-0 at home to a Ross County side who were in the Premiership only last season.

STOP PRESS: LOTTERY JACKPOT NOW £14,000 – PLAY HERE

MATCH POSTPONED

Nature has again beaten us so today’s match v Rothes has been postponed due to frost.

Our next scheduled game is a home match against Brechin City on the 13 December KO 2pm – keep checking our social media pages for any more information.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL

HOME MATCH v ROTHES FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2025 – KO 2PM

This Saturday we welcome players, officials and supporters of Rothes FC. Rothes is one of the closest teams geographically to the Jags so there has always been a fair bit of rivalry between the two teams. 
Unfortunately, this has not been Rothes’ best season and currently sit bottom of the league on two points – however, when we played them at Mackessock Park back in July, we were fortunate to leave with all three points after a seven goal thriller – James McShane sealing the victory in the eighty-fifth minute with one of his bullet headers making the score 4-3 to the Jags – so we will expect the Speysiders to want revenge for that result. 
As the Jags’ head coach Ryan Esson said in this weeks local newspaper, “The Strathy”, that over the season Rothes have been very unlucky in quite a few games that perhaps they should have got more from, and that they will be a very difficult opponent, especially up front with youngster Ruairi Duncan and ex-Jags Ross Logan and Jake Thompson.
Jags’ fans will probably recognise a few more ex-Jags who are with Rothes now, which makes it seem to have more of a “local derby” vibe about it and we hope that it’s the Jags that add to their points tally on Saturday afternoon.

The Jags scoring during their match with Rothes in September 2019…..

Ryan hopes to have a couple boys back from injury including Ross County loanee George Robestan but Dan Whitehorn, Aaron Doran and Matty Wright are still a few weeks away.

If any of the visiting fans want to get a quick resumé of what’s available in Grantown please click here – AND ALL FANS REMEMBER IT IS A 2PM KICK-OFF.

LAST WEEK’S GAME v KEITH
As you will no doubt know the weather conditions got the best of us and we were one of four Highland League matches postponed last week…incidentally so was the Rothes game so everyone will be buzzin’ to get back to the fitba’.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Our next scheduled home games, all kicking off at 2pm, over the next couple of months or so are as follows – but remember please check with our social media pages for up-to-date information as we are now at the mercy of Mother Nature for ground conditions.

There is also the possibility of a game on 5 December – full details will be available here and on our social media pages as soon as possible if there is to be.

Saturday 13 December v Brechin City FC
Saturday 27 December v Buckie Thistle FC

2026

Saturday 10 January v Clachnacuddin FC
Saturday 28 February v Fraserburgh FC

For a full fixture list click here


QUIZ NIGHT AND XMAS RAFFLE

If all went well, and no doubt it did, on Friday night – 28 Nov – we will have completed our second annual quiz night successfully and our thanks go to everyone who helped and took part, we’ll try and get a wee report compiled for next week and by then we should also have all the details of our Xmas Raffle……


LOTTERY NOW £13,900 – SOMEONE MUST WIN IT……….


IT’S NOW AN ONGOING RECORD AMOUNT WAITING TO BE WON ON THE JAGS’ FUNDRAISING LOTTERY!!!

£13,900 for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery today- click here if you want to play this Sunday evening…or why not subscribe online to play for five weeks, ten weeks etc – all information available on the clubforce web page….

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).

  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

SCOTTISH CUP WISHES
We wish all five Highland League teams that are still left in the Scottish Cup all the very best in a very intriguing set of matches over the weekend – all against teams outwith the Highland League. Bon chance….


KEITH GAME OFF

As expected really, tomorrow’s match against Keith has been postponed – Kynoch Park is snow and ice bound – we now turn our attention to next week’s home game against Rothes FC.

A ROLLING STONE

AWAY MATCH v KEITH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
KYNOCH PARK, KEITH  AB55 5EB
SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2025 – KICK OFF 3pm

This Saturday, weather permitting, we’re off down the A95 to Kynoch Park, Keith for our Breedon Highland League match against Keith FC.

This begins our second round of fixtures and being on twenty-two points for the season it is, so far, our best season since we joined the league in 2009.
Keith visited us for our first match of the season way back in July and we started the league well with a 3-1 win so, I would imagine the Maroons will want to avenge that result. Keith, on seventeen points, sit in twelfth place in the league one place below ourselves and have been putting together one or two decent results over the past few weeks, and drew with Brechin City on Wednesday night at Glebe Park, the home side levelling with a stoppage time penalty – so Saturday’s game has the makings of a cracker…..providing Kynoch Park escapes what looks like a bleak weather forecast – please check out our social media if you are planning going.

SATURDAY’S GAME v LOSSIEMOUTH AT SEAFIELD PARK.


As football clichés go this was a game of two halves as Lossiemouth had the better of the first half and scored just before half-time going in 1-0 up.

However, a different Jags team started the second half, and we were level after three minutes when captain James McShane out jumped the Lossie defence and from six yards headed home from a corner. Goal number two followed fifteen minutes later when Caelan Mutch fired home a screamer from just outside the penalty box. The match was over in the ninety-second minute when Calum Brown dispossessed the Lossie keeper thirty yards out, and ran in to score the Jags’ third.

Ex-Jag Owen Lovelace pulled one back for the visitors two minutes later making the final score 3-2 for the Jags.
Again it was a hard fought match, and as everyone now says there are very few easy matches in the Highland League.
As stated earlier the win took our points tally to twenty-two, so hopefully we are on track for our best season yet.

If you want to see the goals click here on our Facebook page.

HALF-TIME RAFFLE WINNER

This week’s winner of the Half-Time Raffle was Andy MacEwan, whose dad is Nethy Bridge’s own Rev Jim MacEwan.
Andy was at the match with his daughter Lottie.

MAN OF THE MATCH

In the match against Lossiemouth Jamie Calder was named Man of the Match, as chosen by Barry Wilson, one of our hospitality guests.
A composed and committed performance at the back from Jamie, contributing significantly to the result at Seafield Park. 


WELCOME BODHAN
We’re delighted to announce that 18-year-old forward Bodhan Campbell has joined Strathspey Thistle on loan from Buckie Thistle Football Club until January, subject to SFA approval.

Bodhan, enjoyed a standout season with Balloan Thistle in the Highland League North last year, catching attention with his goals.
Welcome to the Jags, Strathy that is…Bodhan!


SCOTLAND’S MENS FOOTBALL TEAM

Although we had a wee setback on Saturday night with a loss against Greece  – the last twenty minutes of the game must have given us a bit of confidence coming back from three goals down and scoring two and especially with result in Denmark.
So it was a showdown at Hampden on Tuesday night – winner takes all.

Lawrence Shankland

WHAT A GAME……three brilliant goals – you would be lucky seeing one at a match during a season, maybe a lifetime, but not three in the one match…add to that Denmark equalising twice – they only needed to draw – and the jubilation after the final whistle meaning after twenty-eight years we were going to a World Cup.
Everybody at Strathspey Thistle would like to send their congratulations to the players and managerial team…..and as a post script according to our Club historian Rob Clark, Lawrence Shankland’s great uncle was Sir Thomas Shankland, provost of the town in the 1960’s, and Shankland Court in Grantown was named after him. – you never know if Lawrence has a great World Cup there maybe another set of houses named after him!!!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Our next scheduled home games, all kicking off at 2pm, over the next couple of months or so are as follows – but remember please check with our social media pages for up-to-date information as we are now at the mercy of Mother Nature for ground conditions.

Saturday 29 November v Rothes FC
Saturday 13 December v Brechin City FC
Saturday 27 December v Buckie Thistle FC
2026
Saturday 10 January v Clachnacuddin FC
Saturday 28 February v Fraserburgh FC

For a full fixture list click here

QUIZ NIGHT

Next Friday night ……

XMAS RAFFLE

More information will be available very shortly.

LOTTERY NOW £13,800


IT’S A RECORD AMOUNT WAITING TO BE WON ON THE JAGS’ FUNDRAISING LOTTERY!!!

£13,800 for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery today- click here if you want to play this Sunday evening…or why not subscribe online to play for five weeks, ten weeks etc – all information available when you click on the clubforce web page….

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).

  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.

REMEMBER TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE KEITH GAME IS ON – AND HOPEFULLY WEATHER PERMITTING – WE’LL SEE YOU AT SEAFIELD PARK NEXT SATURDAY 29TH FOR OUR MATCH AGAINST ROTHES FC.

FLY AWAY

HOME MATCH v LOSSIEMOUTH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2025 – KO 3PM

The town of Lossiemouth

This Saturday we welcome players, officials and fans of Lossiemouth FC to Seafield Park for our first meeting of the season in the Breedon Highland League. For travelling supporters please click here if any would like a resumé of what’s happening in Grantown.
Lossie have not started the season as they would have wished and currently sit in seventeenth position with eleven points, and suffered at the hands of Formartine in their cup tie last Saturday, but in this topsy turvy league who knows what will happen and it promises to be another cracker of a game.

Jags’ head coach Ryan Esson and the team missed out on last week’s cup ties so have had a couple of weeks of recovery and preparation since their last match – a creditable draw away to Turriff – and with most of the squad back fit hopefully we can get all three points.

As ever we wish the boys all the best.

MATCH v TURRIFF UNITED, SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER

We made the trip The Haughs in Turriff for our Breedon Highland League match a week past Saturday.  The Haughs have not been kind to us over the past few seasons and we knew it was going to be tough to get anything from the game.
Not for the first time this season we went a goal behind after thirteen minutes but two minutes after the half time restart Liam Shewan converted a penalty after Shaun Morrison was fouled in the box.


That was how it finished although the Turriff keeper pulled off a great save in the final minute after a great effort by Shaun Morrison so it could have been three points but one point was deserved – our first point from our Turriff visit since 2021 so we were more happy than sad!
Esson interviewed by the Press & Journal after the match and he said  although we struggled early on and lost a poor goal our reaction was very good and no one could deny us something from the game. We tried to use the wings and get balls into the box and we got our reward with another point away from home which is never a bad thing”

Watch Liam’s penalty : click here.

PETER GOW
That day’s football was marred by the tragic news that Peter Gow had taken unwell at the Nairn County v Brechin City match, and had very sadly died at the scene  – the match was obviously abandoned.
Peter was a huge supporter of the club, a previous Nairn County Fan of the Year winner, and long-time sponsor for not just the first team, but their youth teams as well. 
Strathspey Thistle FC sends our condolences to Peter’s family and friends, and also to our friends at Nairn County FC.


REMEMBRANCE DAY 

Committee member Charlie Sinclair attended the Remembrance Service at Inverallan Church on Sunday 9 November and laid the STFC wreath at the ceremony at the War Memorial in the Square immediately after the service.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Our next scheduled hame games, all kicking off at 2pm, over the next couple of months or so are as follows – but remember please check with our social media pages for up-to-date information as we are now at the mercy of Mother Nature for ground conditions.

Saturday 29 November v Rothes FC
Saturday 13 December v Brechin City FC
Saturday 27 December v Buckie Thistle FC
2026
Saturday 10 January v Clachnacuddin FC
Saturday 28 February v Fraserburgh FC
For a full fixture list click here

QUIZ NIGHT

Two weeks to go………


XMAS RAFFLE
More information will be available very shortly.

LOTTERY NOW £13,700
IT’S A RECORD AMOUNT WAITING TO BE WON ON THE JAGS’ FUNDRAISING LOTTERY!!!

£13,700 for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery today- click here if you want to play this Sunday evening…or why not subscribe online to play for five weeks, ten weeks etc – all information available on the Clubforce web page….

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).

  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.

That’s all this week sports fans – see you next week.

CLIVE’S NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 2025

Saturday 4th: Only one Highland League game managed to escape the wrath of Storm Amy, sadly not the Jags’ home clash with Inverurie Locos for which we had taken some healthy hospitality bookings. 

Fraserburgh’s 1-0 victory away to Brechin City took them to the top of the table with another exciting title race slowly building up.

Wednesday 8th: Prior to the visit of Forres Mechanics to Seafield Park, the loan signing of Ross County midfielder George Robesten was confirmed and he made an immediate debut in the Jags starting XI. 
A goal down inside the first couple of minutes, STFC equalised through Cameron Lisle ten minutes into the second half. Forres, however, scored almost from the restart to earn all three points.
Appearing as a substitute for the Jags was another new signing, forward Matthew Wright having signed from Brora Rangers.

Saturday 11th: A trip north to face Wick Academy with another new (old) signing confirmed, that of Steven Macdonald, back in the ranks after the end of the shinty season.
The Jags had recovered from conceding a late first-half goal thanks to Josh Race’s superb solo effort but there was injury-time heartbreak when Louis Hancock netted the hosts’ winner.
“Losing late goals is becoming a real issue for us,” manager Ryan Esson told the Press & Journal afterwards.
“It was a tough one to take as we should have won the game.”

Saturday 18th: Another week on the roller-coaster as the Jags took a 3-1 lead into half-time against Nairn County, goals from Josh Race, Filip Franczak and Shaun Morrison more than cancelling out the visitors early opener.
However, Nairn turned things around to level after the break and took home all three points thanks to ex-STFC man Paul Brindle’s hitting the winner before being sent off.

Action in the Nairn goalmouth.

Friday 24th: Good to see the Highland League in the national spotlight as Formartine United and Buckie Thistle battled it out (in true Highland conditions) in a second round Scottish Cup tie that was televised live on BBC Scotland. Buckie ran out 2-0 winners although their ‘reward’ in the draw was a long trip south to Annan Athletic in the next round.

Follow STFC on Facebook

Saturday 25th: After a difficult month of matches that could have all gone in the Jags’ favour but ended in defeat, a great end to October as goals from Calum Brown, Josh Race and a lovely finish from Shaun Morrison secured a 3-0 victory at home to Huntly to move us onto 18 points for the season and 11th place in the league table.

Upcoming Fundraiser


STOP PRESS: LOTTERY JACKPOT NOW £13,600 – PLAY HERE


A VERY BRITISH COO

AWAY MATCH v TURRIFF UNITED FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
THE HAUGHS, TURRIFF AB53 4EF
SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2025 – KICK OFF 3pm

This Saturday finds us on our travels again this time to Turriff and our Breedon Highland League match against Turriff United. The Haughs has not been one of our happier hunting grounds over the past couple of seasons, and we have suffered some heavy defeats against Turra both home and away – so no time like like the present to change that scenario.
Turriff, who joined the Highland League at the same time as the Jags, currently sit thirteenth in the league on fourteen points, two positions below ourselves, but with an excellent win against Nairn County in the Scottish Cup last Saturday, it looks as though it will be another cracker of a game. As ever in the Highland League no result is ever predictable so it will be all to play for on Saturday.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCH v HUNTLY 25.10.25

Unusually for us we had a great start to the game and on seven minutes Shaun Morrison on the right crossed the ball into the Huntly box and Calum Brown deftly controlled and passed the ball into the net for his fourth goal since joining us in August. 
We were playing some good stuff, as were Huntly, and they were unlucky with a couple of chances before the break but Jags’ keeper Danny Gillan and the central backs pairing of James McShane and Jamie Calder kept the Huntly forwards at bay – something they continued to do throughout the whole match – and we went in at half time one-nil up. Unfortunately the Huntly pairing of Angus Grant and Lewis Crosbie both suffered what looked like sore injuries, and in Angus Grant’s case probably does not want to step onto Seafield Park again as he was injured on his last outing here in March.

The second half started brightly for us again, this time it was Calum Brown the provider as a he met long ball down the left and made his way to goal firing a in decent shot which the Huntly keeper could only parry and Josh Race following up headed in our second goal for his fourth goal of the season. Huntly began to pile on the pressure and again Danny Gillan made a couple of really good stops before a long ball from James McShane was beautifully taken down by Shaun Morrison and in one movement lobbed the on-coming Huntly keeper Lenny Wilson for the Jags’ third goal.
According to both managers Huntly probably edged the possession but the Jags took their chances and goals win games.

To see all three goals go to our Facebook page  CLICK HERE
That took us to eighteen points in the league – one point more than we accumulated in total last season.

WE STILL HAVE PLAYER SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE….

The above photo was taken a couple of months ago and shows Jags’ head coach Ryan Esson with his players Ethan Rae and Caelan Mutch in a PR Pic for their home and away shirt sponsors Highland Copiers – Ethan and Caelan are both employed at Highland Copiers. 

To see who currently sponsor the squad please CLICK HERE

At the moment eight players are still available for sponsorship both home and away and one has sponsorship with his home top but his away top is still available.
Zach MacPhee, Jamie Calder, Jamie Williamson, Liam Shewan, Ali Nixon, Bailey Black, George Robeston and Matthew Wright have home and away tops awaiting sponsorship while Ali Morrison’s away top is available too.

Please contact Laura for all the information you require with regards player sponsorship.

CLICK HERE for more information on how to sponsor a player,

Strathspey Thistle thank all our sponsors as without you there would be no football team.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 

As we have done for the past couple of years, when the opposing clubs agree we move the kick off times of our matches at Seafield Park to 2pm.

These are the dates that have been confirmed by both the teams and the Highland League.

Please note that the next home game on the 15 November against Lossiemouth is a 3pm kick off.

ALL OF THE FOLLOWING GAMES WILL KICK OFF AT 2PM

v ROTHES SAT 29 NOV

v BRECHIN CITY SAT 13 DEC

v BUCKIE THISTLE SAT 27 DEC

v CLACHNACUDDIN SAT 10 JAN 2026

v FRASERBURGH SAT 28 FEB

v WICK ACADEMY SAT 14 MAR

And…..remember we are not in action next Saturday 8 November as it is the first round proper of the R Davidson Highland League Cup – we lost in the preliminary round to Brora Rangers.

MATCH DAY HOSPITALITY

For full details contact Laura – click here


QUIZ NIGHT

Our quiz night is getting ever closer so it’s time to start revising your sports, entertainment, history etc knowledge with your team members – up to six people can make up a team – and again a great night out to be had by all.


XMAS RAFFLE

Tickets will soon be available for our Annual Christmas Raffle and committee members are scurrying about putting together a superb range of prizes to be won.
Something to look out for soon!!

LADIES DAY

Contact Laura for more info – click here


LOTTERY NOW £13,500


IT’S A RECORD AMOUNT WAITING TO BE WON ON THE JAGS’ FUNDRAISING LOTTERY!!!
£13,500 for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery today- click here if you want to play this Sunday evening…or why not subscribe online to play for five weeks, ten weeks etc – your choice – all information available on the Clubforce web page….

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).

  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.

SEE YOU IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS……..

A SCOTTISH SOLDIER

HOME MATCH v HUNTLY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER 2025 – KO 3PM

It was a joint decision taken a few weeks ago when both teams were knocked out of the Scottish Cup, that it would be a good idea to play their match scheduled for the 31 January 2026 this Saturday, when hopefully the weather would be more conducive.
So, we welcome players, officials and supporters of Huntly FC to Seafield Park on Saturday and if any of the travelling support would like a resumé of what’s happening in Grantown click here.
Our game will be the only one played in the Breedon Highland League this weekend, because of the participation of eight clubs still in the Scottish Cup, so hopefully it will be as entertaining  as last’s week’s game against Nairn County was to the neutrals.

Huntly had a pretty decent start to the season and currently sit in ninth place in the league and with impressive early league wins over Clach, Fraserburgh and Nairn, their season has been a bit topsy turvy and a mid-week defeat in an Aberdeenshire cup tie against an Aberdeen FC Development team hasn’t helped, although their prolific striker Angus Grant seems to be getting back on the goal trail.
However, we last met in September at Christie Park and we managed a three – one win so I would imagine that the game on Saturday will be a cracker with both sides eyeing the three points.
Jags’ head coach Ryan Esson has one or two players back from injury who may feature. 
As ever we wish the Jags all the best and hope we can do a very creditable double over Huntly this season.

SATURDAY’S GAME v NAIRN COUNTY at SEAFIELD PARK.

Several good chances missed in both goalmouths, I think a total of nine yellow cards issued both on and off the pitch, a sending off and seven goals produced a great afternoon’s entertainment for the neutral supporter and, latterly, joy for the County fans – unfortunately, we only managed three of the goals so lost  4-3…… .
On a beautiful afternoon for football, sunshine, warm (ish) and none of the wind we have experienced over the past few games the game matched the conditions!

Action in the Nairn goalmouth.

Nairn took the lead on the ninth minute through Paul Brindle, who looked far sharper in Saturday’s game than he did all last season when he was with the Jags. However, after Nairn coming close, Josh Race scrambled an equaliser after twenty minutes, followed six minutes later after some good work on the right wing Calum Brown squared the ball and Filip Franczak was there to finish. The Jags were on top at this point and after another three minutes Shaun Morrison raced on to a through ball ansd a well placed shot beat Nairn keeper Munro to put us three – one up. Just before half-time, Nairn captain Fraser Dingwall escaped an early shower after a crunching tackle on George Robesten – it would have been an interesting second half had the ref shown the red card instead of a yellow.
The Jags very much deserved their half time lead but Nairn were a different team in the last half hour.
The aforementioned Fraser Dingwall headed home Nairn’s second on sixty-two minutes, followed soon after by County’s prolific scorer Ben Barron, on the park for only five minutes, scoring their third to equalise on sixty-six minutes and to rub salt in our wounds Brindle scored his second of the afternoon on seventy-eight minutes – before picking up his second yellow card by kicking the ball away one minute into add-on time at the end of the game.

Scorers against Nairn – Josh, Filip and Shaun.

All in all, a draw was probably a fairer result as we had a couple of very reasonable chances during the last ten minutes or so which would have levelled the match but goals win games – they scored four, we scored three – end of story!

HALF-TIME RAFFLE WINNER
This week’s winner was a very happy Ewan Calder, father of Jags’ defender Jamie, who very kindly donated his prize back to the Club…..very much appreciated Ewan and thanks very much!


QUIZ NIGHT 



LOTTERY NOW £13,400


IT’S A RECORD AMOUNT WAITING TO BE WON ON THE JAGS’ FUNDRAISING LOTTERY!!!

£13,400 for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery today- click here if you want to play this Sunday evening…or why not subscribe online to play for five weeks, ten weeks etc – all information available on the clubforce web page….

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).

  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 week we are away to Turriff and with a free Saturday following on from that, our next home game will be on saturday 15 November against Lossiemouth FC.

We wish all the Highland League clubs still left in the Scottish Cup this weekend all the best!