Highland League Football Club based at Seafield Park, Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT
Strathspey Thistle would like to confirm as from yesterday afternoon Charlie Brown has stood down from his role of Team Manager with immediate effect.
The club would like to put on record their great appreciation of Charlie’s professionalism and effort he gave to the club in this tough time.
Thank you Charlie Brown and we wish you all the best for the future.
STFC.
As we thought yesterday, tomorrow’s match against Buckie Thistle has been postponed due to inclement weather conditions.
Our next match will be away to Fraserburgh next Saturday more details next week.
HOME GAME v BUCKIE THISTLE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN, PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 2022
Featured photograph this week is Buckie harbour – so that must mean that this Saturday we welcome Buckie Thistle FC.
Buckie currently sitting on top of the Breedon Highland League have already beaten us convincingly at Victoria Park in August, and since then both teams couldn’t have had a more diverse season – we cannot but expect an exceptionally difficult game but as we always say you never know in football.
Buckie always have a good travelling support so we look forward to seeing them again – click here if you need any more information for your visit.
Hopefully our Jags outperform your Jags……
Having enthused about the game there is a distinct possibility of Mother Nature scuppering all plans as this is what Seafield Park looks like this afternoon (Thursday) and with the forecast for more snow and overnight frosts it may be advisable to check social media and local radio to see if the game will be played on Saturday.
LAST WEEK’S MOTM
The Cairngorm Gin MOTM was Jack Davison who put in a right good shift even though the result went very much against us.
UPDATE ON FUTURE GAMES
Next Home match v Buckie Thistle FC on Saturday 10 December – 2pm kick off.
Away match v Fraserburgh FC on Saturday 17 December – 3pm kick off
Away League match v Rothes FC on Tuesday 27 December – 3pm kick off
2023
Away League match v Forres Mechanics FC Saturday 7 January 2023 – 3pm kick off
Home League match v Lossiemouth FC Saturday 14 January 2023 – 3pm kick off
Away League match v Brechin City FC on Saturday 28 January 2023 will have a 2pm kick off.
Away League match v Inverurie Loco Works FC on Saturday 11 February 2023 will have a 2pm kick off.
CLUB LOTTERY
As is our usual custom we offer you the chance of winning a jackpot of £2300 by playing online – click here – and thank you and good luck.
Also for Lottery players a reminder of what’s happening over the festive period –
The dates and times are as follows:
Sunday 25 December’s draw is moved to Wednesday 28 December at 7pm – last online sale 6pm
Sunday 1 January’s draw is moved to Wednesday 4 January 2023 at 7pm – last online sale 6pm
Sunday 8 January 2023 draw remains the same at 7pm – last online sale 6pm
That’s all folks – see you next week ….
2nd A day all ‘Jags’ fans had waited for this season. OUR FIRST WIN. On a damp night in Inverness at Grant Street Park the side gave by far their best show of the season so far. An early goal by Aiden Cruickshank settled the team and they kept the pressure on Clach throughout the first half and were rewarded by Liam Grant netting his first of the season. The players showed what they can do over 90 minutes so let us hope this is the turning point as we go into the second half of the season.
5th A special day today as we welcomed to Seafield Park, for their first league visit, Banks o’ Dee from Aberdeen. To celebrate Rob Clark produced a programme to celebrate the day. Visiting chairman Brian Winton was presented with a copy. The cost of the programme was supported by local painter and decorator Dai Lovatt for which the club was very grateful. The game was the opposite of Wednesday night’s performance. A goal down on nine minutes was not the start we wanted and it became 2-0 on 29 minutes. Thomas McInnes brought a wonder save from Dee’s goalkeeper, Ross Salmon, just after and had that gone in who knows what would have happened. It was even for the opening twenty minutes of the second half until 2 goals were conceded on 64 and 66 minutes and game was gone. 7-0 was a very disappointing finish. A positive on the day was the visit from Dundee of Sean Anderson and his friends who took advantage of one of hospitality packages the club has to offer. Their support is appreciated.
12thThe players trained today in preparation for the visit of Formartine United on November 19. It will be a 2 pm kick off. Elsewhere, in the GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup there were wins for Banks o’ Dee, Brechin City, Buckie Thistle, Turriff, Forres Mechanics, Inverurie Locos and Formartine. The draw for the quarter finals is; Banks o’ Dee v Forres Mechanics, Formartine United v Buckie Thistle, Nairn County v Brechin City and Turriff United v Inverurie Locos. Ties to be played on Saturday December 3.
19thIt took Formartine until the 70th minute to break The Jags resistance when Julian Wade converted a disputed penalty and Graeme Rodgers made the the game safe on 80 for the team from Pitmedden Park. Late on, Strathspey’s Man of the Match, Goalkeeper Oliver Kelly, saved a second Julian Wade penalty. With the poor weather leading up to the weekend putting paid to games at Keith, Rothes and Nairn, it is a credit to everyone who worked so hard to get the game played. This was our 17th game of the league season, the halfway point of the campaign.
26th As the second half of the season is upon us it is now we all understand that these next five months are the most important for the club since it was formed 30 years ago. It was with this in mind as we set off to Banff for our game with Deveronvale-a real six pointer. When we played them at Seafield Park in early August the result was 2-2 and the general feeling was it was a game we could and should have won. Nothing was going to prepare you for what happened at Banff. We were blown away by seven goals and we really didn’t see that coming. There is nothing further to say on what was a poor afternoon. Dust ourselves down and prepare for two upcoming home games against Rothes and Buckie Thistle followed by a trip to Fraserburgh.
29thMark Holmes our assistant coach notified the club that due to family commitments he would be standing down from his role with immediate effect. We wish him all the best and thank him for his time and effort for the club.
Play the JAGS lottery by clicking here
NEXT HOME MATCH v ROTHES FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER 2022 – 2PM KO
Yes, it’s another two o’clock kick off on Saturday when Rothes FC visit Grantown for our first encounter of the season with our Speyside friends.
Rothes currently sit in a commendable seventh place in the league and manager Ross Jack will have his team already for the clash of the Speyside rivals – last season the spoils were shared with both teams winning their away games – so hopefully the result from Seafield Park will be reversed this season and we can put three points in the bag!
We usually welcome a large and vociferous support from Rothes – so if you wish more spectator information please click here.
LAST SATURDAY
It was possibly one of our worst ever performances since joining the Highland League, one of our supporters was heard to say after last weeks visit to Banff and our seven-nil mauling by Deveronvale – a result which returns us to the bottom of the league. Everyone at the club is hoping for a better showing on Saturday….and quoting Greavsie “It’s a funny ol’game!” – lets hope so.
MARK HOLMES
Mark informed chairman Donly McLeod on Monday that owing to family committments he would be unable to continue his role as assistant manager with immediate effect.
We thank Mark for his contribution to Strathspey Thistle and wish him well for the future.
DATES AND TIMES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Next Home match v Buckie Thistle FC on Saturday 10 December – 2pm kick off.
Away match v Fraserburgh FC on Saturday 17 December – 3pm kick off
Away League match v Rothes FC on Tuesday 27 December – 3pm kick off
Away League match v Forres Mechanics FC Saturday 7 January 2023 – 3pm kick off
Away League match v Brechin City FC on Saturday 28 January 2023 will have a 2pm kick off.
Away League match v Inverurie Loco Works FC on Saturday 11 February 2023 will have a 2pm kick off.
CLUB LOTTERY
As usual we end with a mention for the Club Lottery and by clicking here and spending £1, you will be in with a chance of winning the jackpot of £2200 – just in time for Christmas.
Speaking of which we are changing the draw dates over the festive period.
The dates and times are as follows:
Sunday 18 December draw as usual
Sunday 25 December’s draw is moved to Wednesday 28 December at 7pm – last online sale 6pm
Sunday 1 January’s draw is moved to Wednesday 4 January 2023 at 7pm – last online sale 6pm
Sunday 8 January 2023 draw remains the same at 7pm – last online sale 6pm
See you next week sports fans – we host Buckie Thistle….
AWAY MATCH V DEVERONVALE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
PRINCESS ROYAL PARK, BANFF, AB45 1AZ
SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2022
On Saturday we’ll be watching the River Deveron flow by, as the Jags roll into town for our encounter with Deveronvale FC. It’s our second league game of the season against The Vale and as ever we look forward to meeting everyone at Princess Royal Park..
It’s now over sixteen years since Deveronvale won the Highland League and a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then – for example The Jags were still a Junior Club then.
Most games between the clubs have usually been a pretty close affair – the game at Seafield Park in August finished in a draw 2-2, and it looks as though it could be very close game this Saturday. ‘Vale manager Craig Stewart stated in the press that it was a must win for Deveronvale – which is exactly the same that was said by Jags boss Charlie Brown.
The three wins and three draws this season put Deveronvale one place above us – but seven points ahead so we must get something out of the match
Incidentally “Watching The River Flow” was written by Nethy Bridge songster Bob Dylan….!!
The Jags were unlucky in our league game last Saturday afternoon against fifth placed Formartine United. After reaching half time level, a contentious penalty was awarded to Formartine after seventy minutes which they scored from. Our keeper Olly Kelly made some important saves following this but could do nothing when Formartine doubled their lead ten minutes later. Another penalty was awarded to the visitors but this time Kelly pulled off a great save. Probably, on their second half display Formartine deserved their win.
For more on the game, and the Highland League as well, check out the excellent coverage in the local newspaper The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald in print and online.
NEXT HOME GAME KICK OFF 2PM
Just a reminder that next weeks home match v Rothes FC will kick off at 2pm.
DATES AND TIMES FOR YOUR DIARY AGAIN:
Away match v Deveronvale FC on Saturday November 26 – 3 pm kick off.
Provisional Rearranged Home League match v Rothes FC on Saturday 3 December – 2pm kick off.
( This should be played on 3 January 2023 but both clubs have agreed on the change – subject to approval )
Home match v Buckie Thistle FC on Saturday 10 December – 2pm kick off.
Away match v Fraserburgh FC on Saturday 17 December – 3pm kick off
Away League match v Rothes FC on Tuesday 27 December – 3pm kick off
Away match v Brechin City FC on Saturday 28 January 2023 will have a 2pm kick off.
Away match v Inverurie Loco Works FC on Saturday 11 February 2023 will have a 2pm kick off.
All above information correct at time of writing this post –
but please check nearer the time – thanks.
CLUB LOTTERY
As we usually do we like to offer you the chance of winning the Club Lottery Jackpot of £2100 for only £1…play here…….thanks very much.
HOME MATCH v FORMARTINE UNITED FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN, PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2022 – KO 2PM
YES, it’s a 2pm kick off – this is the first of what is looking like quite a regular starting time over the next couple of months or so.
This week we welcome players, officials and fans of Formartine United FC to Grantown. United joined the Highland League at the same time as Strathspey Thistle but over the years their fortunes have been a wee bit better than ours. Manager Stuart Anderson and his team have only lost once in their last nine games so it will be a formidable task for the Jags again.
Jags boss Charlie Brown said in the local paper “The Strathy” that it will be another very tough league game for us, but he has noticed that Formartine can concede – so if the Jags can tighten up in defence hopefully there’s a chance of picking up something from the game.….
Formartine sit in fifth position in the league…
For Formartine supporters if you need any more information click here.
PHOTO GALLERY
Last home game v Banks O’Dee match photos….on a nice sunny Autumn afternoon the lighting was nice…..unfortunately the score wasn’t!!
DATES AND TIMES FOR YOUR DIARY AGAIN:
Home match v Formartine FC on Saturday November 19 – 2pm kick off.
Away match v Deveronvale FC on Saturday November 26 – 3 pm kick off.
Provisional Rearranged Home League match v Rothes FC on Saturday 3 December – 2pm kick off.
( This should be played on 3 January 2023 but both clubs have agreed on the change – subject to approval )
Home match v Buckie Thistle FC on Saturday 10 December – 2pm kick off.
Away match v Fraserburgh FC on Saturday 17 December – 3pm kick off
Away League match v Rothes FC on Tuesday 27 December – 3pm kick off
Away match v Brechin City FC on Saturday 28 January 2023 will have a 2pm kick off.
Away match v Inverurie Loco Works FC on Saturday 11 February 2023 will have a 2pm kick off.
All above information correct at time of writing this post – but please check nearer the time – thanks.
Club Secretary Clive is in contact with all the teams we are playing both home and away to ascertain if a 2pm kick off would be suitable for both teams.
CLUB LOTTERY JACKPOT £2000
As we normally finish with offering you easy access to playing online click here for a chance of winning a £2000 jackpot. Thanks very much and good luck.
NO GAME THIS WEEKEND
Unfortunately for us we’re not livin’ for the weekend as we lost out to Lossiemouth in our GPH Builders Merchants Highland League Cup preliminary round a couple of weeks ago so we face a fixtureless Saturday.
The euphoria of our visit to Clach last week was sharply ended by a weak second half performance against Banks O’Dee last Saturday at Seafield Park and with a couple of players picking up injuries perhaps a wee rest from football will perhaps do us some good before we head into our pre-Christmas schedule with some very difficult games ahead.
COMMERATIVE PROGRAMME
Our thanks go to loyal supporter Dai Lovett. local painter and decorator, for his sponsorship.
SEAN AND THE BOYS
The hospitality team welcomed Sean Anderson and his friends from Dundee to Seafield Park for last Saturday’s Banks O’Dee match. The boys were spending the weekend in Strathspey and decided to take in a football match and contacted our secretary Clive.
We all hope they enjoyed the day and are we’re sorry not to have made it a winning performance on the pitch.
Their choice of Man Of The Match was James McShane.
DIARY DATE
Our next home game is Saturday 19 November 2022 against Formartine United FC
Don’t forget the kick off will be 2pm!!
Buckie Thistle FC have confirmed a 2pm kick off at Seafield Park on Saturday 10 December 2022.
There will be full up to date listing of times next week.
LOTTERY
As usual we finish with the Club Lottery and this week’s jackpot is £1900 so to play online click here – Thank you.
See y’all next week.
HOME MATCH v BANKS O’DEE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2022 – KO 3PM
OK… it’s a cliché but there could be fireworks on Saturday afternoon when the Breedon Highland League debutants Banks O’Dee FC visit Grantown for the first time. They make the journey from Aberdeen on the back of a 2-0 defeat at Rothes on Wednesday night, so, hopefully, this could mean they don’t travel particularly well on the A95/A96.
It’ll be a pleasure welcoming the team, officials and fans of Banks O’Dee to Seafield Park and our Club historian Rob Clark, aided and abetted by Club secretary Clive Wolstenholme have put together a souvenir programme to commemorate their first visit.
The programme will be available to purchase for £1 at the ground or £2 online by Paypal
stfcprogramme@gmail.com
After having a very decent start to their first season, Banks O’Dee were hit by a severe blow after playing an unregistered player in their recent Scottish Cup match against Turriff United, and as well as being removed from the Cup, they were also deducted 24 points by the Highland League which placed them below us on -1 points.
So its a bottom of the table clash – the ubiquitous six-pointer.
For additional information for Banks O’Dee supporters click here
FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON
Aiden Cruickshank and Liam Grant both scored first half goals in our match against Clachnacuddin FC at Grant Street, Inverness on Wednesday night in a right dreich night for football – real Highland League weather – but it was sunshine all the way home to Grantown with all three points. There were goalmouth scrambles at both ends of the pitch, and in the second half our ‘keeper Olly Kelly pulled off a magnificent double save which kept the clean sheet intact. According to our match reporter all the boys played really well throughout – and deserved the win. Defensive mistakes have been very, very costly for us so far this season, but that’s now 135 minutes of football of not conceding a goal – so hopefully we can keep that statistic going for as long as we can.
Every Jags player played their part and and as you can imagine Charlie and the boys emerged from the dressing rooms with a big smile on their faces after our first victory of the season.
Unfortunately, Aiden, who has now scored five goals for the Jags, was sent off after being booked twice, so he will miss the Banks O’Dee game.
DATES AND TIMES FOR YOUR DIARY SO FAR:
There will be changes to match day kick off times over the next few months so please make sure to check before.
So far ours are as follows:
Home match v Formartine FC on Saturday November 19 will have a 2pm kick off.
Away match v Brechin City FC on Saturday January 28 – 2023 will have a 2pm kick off.
Away match v Inverurie Loco Works FC on Saturday February 11- 2023 will have a 2pm kick off.
Club Secretary Clive is in contact with all the teams we are playing both home and away in the near future to ascertain if a 2pm kick off would be suitable for both teams.
There has been a change of fixtures date with many clubs moving their fixtures from Tuesday 27 Dec afternoon to Friday 23 Dec evening and from 3 Jan 2023 afternoon to Friday 30 Dec evening – we play Rothes FC on both dates so discussions are ongoing – JagsWeb will keep you informed.
And as ever Jags Fans we finish with …………till next week.
CLUB LOTTERY
This week’s jackpot in the Club’s Lottery is £1800 so if you want to play click here and help the Club – thank you very much!
5thA visit from Brora Rangers is always a tough challenge but nothing could prepare you for the scale of defeat this evening. 11-0 was the score which represented the club’s worst home defeat in the Breedon Highland Football League. Just to compound the misery of defeat our worst away show was a loss by a similar score line at Dudgeon Park, Brora, back in 2014.
8thWhile still trying to get our heads around the scale of Wednesday’s defeat (although our ever-willing volunteers, shown above, were working on the Seafield Park pitch the morning after) it was a visit to Kynoch Park, Keith that was next on the agenda. A goal down in four minutes was not the best of starts and Keith ran out 6-1 winners. Kieran Mooney led the way for the Maroons with their first hat trick in three years. Aiden Cruickshank, making his first start for The Jags, scored our consolation goal.
15thAgain another disappointing start to this important game against Turriff United when we conceded an early goal, this time on seven minutes from the penalty spot, which left the team with a mountain to climb. It became 2-0 before Owen Loveland seized on a defensive mistake to put The Jags back into the game. Liam Taylor nearly put us back on level terms but his shot just went just wide. It was 3-1 at half time.
The second period was a struggle for the home side and Turriiff United ran out worthy winners 6-1 with a brace from their new signing, Max Foster who has recently returned from playing for Dubai City. Thoughts now turn to next Saturday’s visit to Station Park Nairn for yet another six-pointer.
21stTeam Manager Charlie Brown announced that striker Ben Cullen was in the squad for tomorrow’s trip to Nairn. Ben has recovered from the nasty facial injury sustained during the drawn game with Deveronvale on August 6.
22ndBen duly started the game and although it was an improved team performance, defensive lapses were again our undoing. 2-0 down at half-time and 4 down on 63 minutes this time heads didn’t go down. Two goals in a minute from Aiden Cruikshank, one a penalty, gave the Jags renewed hope. We hit the post and then had a decent hand ball shout turned down and finished the game very much on the front foot. If only we can cut out the mistakes!!
23rdThe draw was made for the third round of the Scottish Cup and congratulations to the three remaining SHFL teams who are through. Formartine play Stenhousemuir, Falkirk travel to Wick and Fraserburgh host Arbroath. The ties to be played over the weekend of November 26. We wish them well.
28thThe Scottish Highland Football League announced the Banks O’Dee had been deducted 24 points and fined £500.00. for fielding an unregistered player. This is their first season in the SHFL and they were going well in the top six . They are now bottom on minus one.
29thSeafield Park hosted Lossiemouth FC in the preliminary round of the Highland League Cup sponsored by GPH Builders Merchants. Again the Jags were two down in next to no time, so it was another mountain to climb. Aiden Cruickshank pulled a goal back direct from a corner and for a period we played well and were close to equalising but again poor defending gave Lossie a third goal before half-time. The second forty-five was one of the team’s better halves this season and with Ben Cullen making it 2-3 on seventy-five minutes hopes were raised that we could force the game into penalties although it was not to be and Lossie hung on for the win that takes them to the next round and a tie with Nairn County. For only the third time this season the Jags didn’t concede a goal in 45 minutes of football. The other two halves were against Huntly and Wick.
UPCOMING FIXTURES. November 2 @ Lossiemouth. November 6 home Banks o Dee. November 19 home to Formartine. November 26 @ Deveronvale.
Check out the Breedon Highland League website and also strathspeythistlefc@highlandleague.com for details of how to join our weekly online lottery. /