CAN’T BUY ME LOVE

HOME GAME v WICK ACADEMY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2024 – KO 8pm

A Valentine candlelight dinner for two or ninety minutes of floodlight football action at Seafield Park….the choice, as they say, is yours…..

This is the third time that we have been waiting to welcome the players, committee and fans of Wick Academy FC this season and we appreciate the efforts they have all made to be here – so we’re hoping it’s third time lucky and if any of the Wick fans need a reminder of what’s available here in Grantown click here for a resumé.
The first attempt was a Saturday way back in September when traffic problems prevented the Wick bus making the journey to Strathspey. That was then followed by a postponement at the start of December when snow and ice prohibited play on a very cold Wednesday night!

So fingers crossed for this Wednesday.

Having said that we are no strangers to Wick, as we visited them a week past Saturday, and unfortunately we were on the wrong side of a five goal fiesta. Weather seems to have played a major part in both our fortunes this year as unfortunately, exceptionally high winds governed the whole game.

Hopefully Rob and the boys will be able to reverse the score and we can add a very much needed three points to our league tally.

SATURDAY’S MATCH AT LOSSIEMOUTH

All square at half-time indicated that it was a tight match and it took sixty-six minutes for the deadlock to be broken. Unfortunately it was Lossie  who scored …but it took us only four minutes to equalise, our goal scored by Owen Loveland. Again we seem to fall foul to the ref’s whistle and we conceded another penalty, ( the fourth in two games!!!) through which Lossie gained the lead again and even though being reduced to ten men after seventy-seven minutes they held out for all three points. 

Jags goalscorer Owen Loveland

The Jags contingent at the match were suitably gutted at the final whistle as the boys had put in a good shift and thought a draw would have been a reasonable result, however there was no real complaints about the penalty award.

Onwards and upwards …..lets hope for a better outcome on Wednesday night.

NEXT HOME MATCH 

Three days later on Saturday 17 February we host Inverurie Locos at Seafield Park – KO 2pm as usual this season.
So with this in mind we would greatly appreciate any help in repairing (Thurs morning 10am) or preparing the pitch for Saturday – and if anyone would like to help us out on Saturday afternoon you would be very welcome. 

DOWN BY THE SEA

AWAY GAME v LOSSIEMOUTH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH IV31 6JG
SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2024 – KO 3pm

So, this Saturday, we’re off to one of my favourite places – Lossiemouth. 

Birthplace of Ramsay MacDonald, home of the Jets, two superb golf courses, a beautiful sandy beach and loads of ice cream….what more could you want…..that plethora of goodies deserves to be dented by The Jags taking all three points from Grant Park on Saturday.
Earlier this season Lossiemouth was a happy hunting ground for ourselves, as we won 1-0 last August in the League Cup which promoted a feeling of confidence of what was to come for the season ahead but things never really go to plan …….

Our last visit to Lossie in August 2023


In our last league meeting in October at Seafield Park, The Coasters won 3-0 – another of our games in which we made an exceptionally bad start and found ourselves three down within thirteen minutes……and although we battled for the rest of the game, disappointing was the general feeling throughout the Jags contingent.

Manager Rob was quoted in the local press this week that he will be taking a full squad to Lossiemouth so we wish he and the boys all the best as we now need points and many of them!

LAST WEDNESDAY’S GAME
The game versus Brora Rangers scheduled for last Wednesday had to be postponed because of inclement weather.

OUR NEXT GAME IS NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT (FEB 14 ) AT SEAFIELD PARK WHEN WE ENTERTAIN WICK ACADEMY FC : KICK OFF 8PM

LOTTERY
As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £4500 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
Now, we said that there will be a couple of changes after the jackpot for the current game has been won as we will go straight into a new game – with jackpot starting as usual at £1000 – so we would be delighted if you continue playing along…… 

  1. The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers chosen by the player from numbers 1 – 20 and the numbers chosen are then marked by a cross on the paper ticket entry form – or if playing online into the squares provided onscreen. Each five-number entry line costs £1.
  2. The Jackpot prize always restarts from £1000 and is increased by £100 monthly on the first Sunday of every month which usually combines with the first draw. When the Jackpot prize reaches £5000 it will be capped. The game will then continue weekly as normal until the £5000 jackpot is won.
  3. Should no entry forecast all five winning numbers, then any player matching four numbers will be entered into a random draw for a single weekly prize of £100. If no player picks four of the correct numbers there will be no consolation pay out that week. 
  4. A new paper ticket entry must be completed every week.
  5. All entries must be in by 7pm on the day of the draw.
  6. All winners will be notified.
  7. If more than one player wins the Jackpot prize then the  winning total will be equally divided between them.
  8. The draw is normally made every Sunday at 7pm. 

And as we always promote every week games can also be played online – all details of how to play can be accessed clicking on the lottery logo (right)….

MATCH OFF

TONIGHTS BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE MATCH v BRORA RANGERS HAS BEEN POSTPONED – SNOW COVERED PITCH AND BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES

Seafield Park 1pm Wednesday 7 Feb 2024

We will eventually get this game played – apologies to all who were planning the game tonight but weather is the one major thing we can’t control.

Hopefully it’ll be sunny and warm in Lossiemouth on Saturday!

NIGHT GAMES

HOME GAME v BRORA RANGERS FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
WEDNESDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2024 – KO 8pm

We welcome to Grantown, players, committee and supporters of Brora Rangers on what we hope will be a calm evening under the floodlights at Seafield Park. 
Brora who are sitting in 9th place in the league but have only played fifteen games which is five games in hand on the leaders Brechin City – which has been all due to weather postponements and cup duties. 
Brora would consider themselves very much title contenders and they will come to Seafield Park intent on getting the win, but as we always say …you never know in football even although their last outing was a good 3-0 win against Deveronvale in Banff.  
The last time we played Brora, back in August at Dudgeon Park, we played very well. Two down at half time, we pulled a goal back through Jack Davison but finally losing a very late goal making the score 3-1 to the home side…but for most parts of the game we matched or bettered The Cattachs.

Recent results have not been very kind to the Jags, although generally the performance level has been good, but, we will be anxious to get something out of the game.

We hope that the weather gods are with us too as there will be a pitch inspection at lunchtime Wednesday.

Top marksman Jack Davison, who has scored five goals in our last three games

MATCH ON SATURDAY v WICK ACADEMY
As Brora Rangers head down the A9 for their match here in Grantown on Wednesday night, last Saturday we travelled in the opposite direction through Brora and on to Wick for our match against Wick Academy.

Sunshine greeted us but it was cold and there was a very strong wind which Wick took advantage of and were three up by half time and thoughts of our most recent game against Rothes crossed our minds, but the proverbial fitba saying of a game of two halves came true yet again….compulsive scorer Jack Davison scored twice and we very nearly equalised in what was a far more competitive half from our point of view…the strong winds definitely played a major role in the outcome but a good game should be in the offing next Wednesday (14 Feb) when The Scorries arrive at Seafield Park in what might not be described as a Valentine mood….final score at Harmsworth Park was 3-2 to the home team. After their visit, the Jags officials were very complementary to Wick for their hospitality …as always!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU
As I have said before Wednesday night football is more difficult for supporters to attend and we thank all of them very much for making the effort to do so, especially those making the long journeys from Brora and Wick – if you require any information regarding your visit please click here for more information.

HAPPY FORKERS

If it’s a Tuesday morning this is the place to be…….committee members Graeme Stuart, Donly McLeod, Charlie Sinclair and Alan Mackenzie are joined by superfan Jim Beveridge, in the black and red anorak, for a few hours of pitch repairs. The general consensus was that the pitch was in pretty good shape considering the time of year and the weather we have had in Grantown over the past few weeks. There will be a pitch inspection on Wednesday at midday as there is a chance of some inclement weather as Brora have a bit of travelling to do.

JANUARY’S CLUB NEWSLETTER 
The Jags monthly newsletter edited by Rob Clark is now available to download – click on the following for more info –   wolstc@aol.com

LET’S WICK TOGETHER

AWAY GAME vWICK ACADEMY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
HARMSWORTH PARK, WICK, KW1 5NH
SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2024 – KO 3pm

After a devastating night in Rothes on Wednesday the boys, management and committee have to pick themselves up, jump on the bus and head all the way up the A9 to Harmsworth Park in Wick in our first meeting of the 23/24 season against Wick Academy.

The Scorries sit in fifteenth place in the league on thirteen points in what has been an up and down season for them with their last point won in their home encounter with Rothes at the start of the year, so both teams on Saturday will be on the hunt for points.

Manager Robert said this week in The Strathy that we were entering a crucial part of the season and we will have to take points from our games over the next month or so, when we will be playing teams who are positioned around us in the league so for our future prospects and aspirations we have to win games, plain and simple!

As ever we wish the team and Robert and his management amigos all the best in their quest for three points.

MATCH v ROTHES ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT

It’s funny how we all see the game differently…..a game of two halves x 100! 

Proposed team for Wednesday night

I was unable to visit Rothes on Wednesday so was reliant on our excellent WhatsApp communications team ….

Jack Davison, who is becoming most prolific in front of goal this season, scored the first of his two goals for the Jags after ten minutes, but we conceded our first penalty on twenty-five. Four minutes later we were 2-1 up, a nice wee glancing header by Jack for his second.All was well until right on half time when Rothes equalised. 

Then armageddon…….from a “superb through ball” as reported in one of the papers ex-Jags man Jake Thompson, who had a very good game, ran on to the pass and scored…however most of the spectators viewing from the stand were absolutely convinced the offside flag would be raised but no…the goal stood. That was then followed by Rothes being awarded two penalties in the space of two minutes. So suddenly we were 5-2 down and with a further three goals scored in the last five minutes, not a good night was had by the Jags contingent – we had also five players booked and manager Rob was sent to the stand.

Perhaps the ref wanted to send Rob a card in celebration of his first full year in charge.

So …….it’s off to Wick we go, hi-ho.

SPUD THE PIPER

The legendary Spud the Piper

We spent some time at Seafield Park today with the legendary internationally known local lad Spud the Piper. We were doing pics for some future promotional ideas.

LOTTERY

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £4400 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…and as I said a few weeks ago when this game is completed and the jackpot won, we are going to have a couple of changes but we will let everyone know asap.  

DOWN BY THE RIVER

AWAY GAME v ROTHES FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
MACKESSACK PARK, ROTHES
WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY 2024 – KO-8pm

It’s a midweek Speysiders clash under the floodlights at Mackessack Park as we mosey on down the river to our annual away match against Rothes FC. The match was scheduled for 20 January but the inclement weather that week meant that the match was postponed – which at that time was expected. There has been a bit of frost about this week so lets hope that it lifts and the match can go ahead.

Both Rothes and ourselves failed to win on Saturday so it promises to be a cracker – and there will be some well ‘kent faces on both sides so I would imagine there will be no love lost on the pitch.

We wish Rob and boys all the best as we enter a crucial month for the Jags.

SATURDAY’S MATCH AGAINST BRECHIN CITY

Firstly on behalf of the Jags we would thank the tremendous support who accompanied Brechin on Saturday and we hope they enjoyed their visit. As their team won six-one I would imagine they did, but as ever a result can sometimes colour the perception of how the game went. 
We went into the game having not played competitively for over a month and we were facing the team which sits on top of the league.
Having lost two goals within the first fifteen minutes we settled into our game very well and Jack Davison pulled a goal back  before half time so we went into the break at 2-1 down. 

Jack Davison

However soon after the break and with our players beginning to feel the pace, Brechin were able to bring on three subs one of which is possibly one of the league’s top players and with their pace and mobility we ran out of steam and conceded four goals over the last half hour.

New keeper Ethan Rae thwarts Brechin again

 Our new signings striker John MacLeod played for the last twenty minutes showing some deft touches, on what was his first time on a pitch for ages after returning from injury, and our new goalkeeper seventeen year-old Ethan Rae, who has signed on loan from Ross County until the end of the season, made a very impressive debut and was lauded by all Jags club officials and fans despite the six goals. It’ll be interesting to see how both will enhance the team once they are settled in.

WELCOME THE NEW BOYS

We welcome to the Club until the end of the season, at least, striker John MacLeod on loan from Buckie Thistle, and two goalkeepers Ethan Rae on loan from Ross County and Zef Ubych.

John MacLeod
Ethan Rae
Zef Ubych

NEXT SATURDAY

We’re off to Wick – post scheduled for Friday….till then sports fans….

BRECHIN’ THE ICE

HOME GAME v BRECHIN CITY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 27 JANUARY 2024 – KO 2pm

This Saturday the league leaders come to town. 

Yes, we welcome players, committee and supporters of Brechin City FC to Seafield Park. They are sitting on top of the Breedon Highland League so it’s not going to be an easy return to action for the Jags after having not played since the 16th December.
Manager Robert MacCormack said exactly that to the local paper “The Strathy” this week, but, he has a full squad to pick from and he and the rest of the boys are really looking forward to the challenge. The Jags this season have played reasonably well against the teams nearer the top of the division…and as we always say in football….you never know…..

Brechin, who have been going great guns, play their second away game of the week after their three nil victory in Lossiemouth on Wednesday night. They have only lost two games this season, the last one being a four-three defeat at third placed Formartine in the middle of December and currently lead the league by one point from Banks O’Dee, who have played two games more. Strangely enough our last game was a home game against Formartine and we lost narrowly by one goal to nil. 

So a very tough match is in prospect for the Jags and if we manage to take anything from the game it will be very much a bonus.

Since Brechin joined the Highland League they have always taken a good support with them and we thank them for making the journey and would hope that this Saturday will be no exception. If any of the Brechin fans want to find out a wee bit about Grantown  click here for more information.

NEW SIGNING

On Friday manager Robert MacCormack announced that he had signed forward John MacLeod on loan until the end of the season from very much in the news Buckie Thistle. 

Rob says “ I know John well and I am delighted to bring a player of his quality to the Club. He is a proven goal scorer at the very top end of the Highland League. He’s now fully fit after a long period out and I’m confident he will be a fantastic addition to the group”.

LAST WEDNESDAY BRORA POSTPONEMENT

As said before we have not kicked a ball in the league or cup since December 16 as our game scheduled for last Wednesday night again fell foul of the winter conditions which we have suffered over the past few weeks here in Grantown, and although it was a close decision the game against Brora Rangers had to be postponed – but on a brighter note there are very high hopes that the pitch will be playable on Saturday – fingers crossed for a couple of days of lenient weather.

The fixture has been rearranged for Wednesday 7 February with an 8pm kick off.

FUTURE GAMES

Assuming that the weather does not play havoc over the next few weeks the Jags will have a very busy February with a mostly Saturday /Wednesday schedule.  They are as follows:

HOME GAMES 
Wed 7 Feb v Brora Rangers – Wed 14 Feb v Wick Academy – Saturday 17 Feb v Inverurie Locos

AWAY GAMES
Sat 3 Feb v Wick Academy – Sat 10 Feb v Lossiemouth – Sat 24 Feb Huntly and Sat 2 March v Buckie Thistle

So, hopefully, we’ll see everyone a week on Wednesday for the aforementioned Brora Rangers visit.
As ever please check with our social media and the Highland League fixtures page as these dates were correct on 25 January. 

LOTTERY
As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £4300 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

BRORA GAME OFF

HOME GAME v BRORA RANGERS FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2024 – KO 8pm

Despite the sunny intervals here in Grantown this past hour, the pitch has been inspected and is deemed waterlogged which is not surprising considering the freezing temperatures of a week ago and the rainfall over the past few days….fingers crossed that there is a warming wind, and, perhaps a wee bit of sunshine which will help the pitch get ready for Saturday’s home game against Brechin.

JOCELYN SQUARE(D)

HOME GAME v BRORA RANGERS FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2024 – KO 8pm

PITCH INSPECTION WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY AT NOON

We again fell foul of the weather when our match against Rothes last Saturday was postponed making it more than a month since our last fixture, but no amount of love nor money can guarantee that a game in the Highland League in the winter months is safe….. and this has been one of these weeks….

Brora’s Scottish Cup tie with Cove Rangers was postponed last Friday and it was then re-arranged for Tuesday (23rd, today) as most replays or postponements are, but, there was always the possibility that the game would be postponed again. So the date of our league game against Brora was provisionally off, but it may be re-instated if the Brora/Cove cup was called off on Tuesday…..as long as Seafield Park was playable……. Now, move forward to yesterday (Monday) and the Brora cup-tie was postponed again due to pitch conditions….so, as I write this and before Storm Joceylyn comes to town we now go ahead with the Breedon Highland League match, which itself was postponed from December 30th, against Brora Rangers at Seafield Park Wednesday night 8pm.

We welcome to Grantown, players, committee and supporters of Brora Rangers on what we hope will be a calm evening under the floodlights at Seafield Park. Brora who are sitting in 9th place in the league but have at least four games in hand on the leaders – all due to weather postponements and cup duties. Very much title contenders they will come to Seafield Park intent on getting the win, but as we always say …you never know in football especially since their last outing cost them two points with a draw at Inverurie a couple of weeks ago. This was Brora’s first league outing in a month so perhaps we could hope that there could still be a rustiness about Brora’s performance. 
The last time we played Brora back in August at Dudgeon Park, we played very well. Two down at half time, we pulled a goal back through Jack Davison but finally losing a very late goal making the score 3-1 to the home side…but for large parts of the game we matched or bettered The Cattachs.

However, as we haven’t set foot on a football pitch in over a month lets hope rustiness does not bother us, and that we can come out all guns blazin’ and start to make an impact on the league position we find ourselves in.

Manager Robert will have more or less a full squad at his disposal and we hope that the weather gods are reasonably benign before and between the hours of 8 and 10 pm on Wednesday night.

THANK YOU
Wednesday night football is more difficult for supporters to attend and we thank them very much for making the effort to do so, especially those making the long journey from Brora and if you require any information regarding your visit please click here for more information. Thank you.

HELP, HELP PLEASE
Assuming the game goes ahead on Wednesday, I would surmise that the pitch will need some repairing ahead of our next home match on Saturday.A couple of committee members and one or two loyal helpers will be at the ground on Thursday morning around 10am armed with their wellies and their garden fork….if you can make it and help us that would be great.

NEXT GAMES 
As mentioned we host Brechin City on Saturday in a Breedon Highland League match KO 2pm followed by a trip to Rothes next Wednesday 31 January.

CONGRATULATIONS


All involved with the Jags send their congratulations to striker Michael McKenzie and Angela on the birth of their baby daughter….welcome to the Strathspey Thistle family, Isla.

GAME OFF

STOP PRESS – MONDAY 22 6PM
BRORA GAME TUESDAY OFF SO OUR GAME WITH BRORA COULD GO AHEAD – PITCH PERMITTING

AWAY GAME v ROTHES FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
MACKESSACK PARK, ROTHES
SATURDAY 20 JANUARY 23024 – KO 3pm

It is my sad duty to inform you that today’s match against Rothes FC has had to be postponed which is due to this week’s inclement weather and a frozen pitch.

MacKessack Park from the Rothes FC Facebook page

The match will be played at a later date in the season.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Dates received from the Highland League this week for rearranged fixtures are as follows:

24 January Seafield Park 8pm v Brora Rangers has been postponed again because Brora’s Scottish Cup tie against Cove Rangers was postponed on Sat 20th – so it now needs to take place on Tuesday night 23Jan.

14 February Seafield Park 8pm v WICK ACADEMY FC

24 February Christie Park, Huntly 3pm v HUNTLY FC

Our next scheduled game will be next Saturday at Seafield Park against Brechin City.