Strathspey Thistle FC

3^rdToday a visit from the current league leaders Brechin City with the Jags including their new signing from Elgin City, 17-year-old forward Aiden Cruickshank, on the bench. A goal down in five minutes didn’t help Strathspey and it was an uphill battle from there. Half time was 2-0 to Brechin and in the end they ran out worthy winners 5-0. Team boss Charlie Brown had no complaints after the game.

8^th  After a long wait for International clearance the club can announce that 20 year old midfielder Connor Austin has joined the club until the end of the season. He arrives from FC Linkoping City, Sweden.

9^thTomorrow’s visit to play Nairn County has been postponed by the SHFL due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Next Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie at Seafield Park is also in doubt as we await further instructions from the Scottish Government.

13^thThe Scottish Government announced that all games on September could go ahead for what is usually an exciting day of cup football.

17^thBefore the game we signed goalkeeping cover in the form of James Duncan from Tomatin United. We welcomed Camelon Juniors to Seafield Park, their first visit to Grantown for what turned out to an eventful afternoon. The Jags started well and created three good scoring chances in the opening fifteen minutes before conceding a soft penalty on 31 minutes for The Mariners to go in at half-time a goal to the good. Two goals in seven minutes knocked the wind out of Strathspey midway through the second half and in a disappointing end further goals were conceded on 90 and 92 minutes. A poor finish to a day that had dawned with such high hopes. Camelon were worthy winners and have been rewarded for their success with a trip to Borough Briggs, Elgin to take on the City in round 2. All the best to them.

24^thHistory was made today at Seafield Park when the Jags secured their first ever point from Inverurie Locos. In an end to end game we came from a goal down at half-time to equalise through Jack Davison, with a  superb left-foot drive, and then took the lead with a tap in from Liam Taylor 73 minutes. Hoping for our first win of the season wasn’t to be when the Locos equalised on 85 minutes. A much better performance all round and a credit to everyone. We have to build on today.

26^thOur game with Nairn County, postponed on September 9^th, has been re-arranged for Saturday October 22, kick off at 15:00.

27^thSome good news for the club was the return to training of striker Ben Cullen after his nasty facial injury. Welcome back.

30^th  As the club prepare for the visit to Christie Park, Huntly tomorrow I have decided to wait until that game is played and will then send out the newsletter. It is a busy week with Brora Rangers visiting on Wednesday and then we are on the road again for a Saturday visit to Keith.

October 1 An important game in the context of the season but a disappointing afternoon visit to Aberdeenshire was the 2-0 defeat by Huntly. The Jags didn’t create anything clearcut until the final minute when they hit the bar straight after a decent shout for a penalty, but were well in the game until a bizarre decision by referee Lee Robertson over a back pass gave the initiative to the home side. The free kick was cleared for a corner which resulted in their opening goal. It was a good headed goal. Not long after it was two when a shot from the edge of the penalty area through a crowd of players resulted in an own goal. It was a quiet journey home.

AWAY MATCH v HUNTLY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE 
CHRISTIE PARK, HUNTLY, AB54 8JE
SATURDAY 1 OCTOBER 2022 – KO 3PM

We’re on the road again and this time we’re off to Strathbogie to Christie Park, the home of Huntly FC.
Huntly, who sit on seven points and in fourteenth place in the league will be, I would imagine, feeling confident after last weeks convincing win against Lossiemouth but The Jags will be confident as well after their draw against Inverurie Loco Works last Saturday. 
In the corresponding fixture last year against Huntly it was honours even with a one-all draw so it should be a hard fought game – and as ever we hope that the boys head home with the three points.  

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Last week The Jags played well and it took an 88th minute goal from Inverurie’s Robert Ward to level the score. Loco’s took the lead in the 16th minute through Fergus Alberts and it stayed that way until half time – again we were guilty of missing at least one clear cut chance.  After the break, a glorious Jack Davison goal in the 59th minute put the Jags back on level terms and a second from Liam Taylor in the 76th put us in front – but again we conceded very late therefore missing out on two valuable points.

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With regards our Scottish Cup tie with Camelon Juniors a couple of weeks ago there are still a very limited number of commemorative programmes left and if you wish one the cost is £1 plus p+p – please contact Club Historian Rob Clark through the Club Secretary at wolstc@aol.com  

Thanks must also go to Club Secretary Clive for his help in the preparation of the programme and the duo are in the process of putting together another one for Banks O’ Dee’s first visit to Seafield Park on the 5th November – should be a banger!

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As ever there is the opportunity to play the Club Lottery here online – click here – this weeks jackpot is £1300 and, as ever, there is a weekly runners-up prize of £100 – it costs £1 a line….and…as they say you’ve got to be in it to win it!

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And finally, thanks goes to Matthew from Openreach who fixed the broadband and telephone problem we had since Wednesday enabling me to get this post out reasonably on time !!

HOME MATCH v INVERURIE LOCO WORKS FC 
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2022
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN – KO 3PM

This week we welcome Inverurie Locos to Seafield Park. If its the same as previous encounters they will be bringing a large and vociferous support which is great – the atmosphere is always tweaked up a notch especially if the Loco band are there.
Currently sitting in seventh position in the Breedon Highland League, it makes it another difficult game for us especially as we have never taken a point off them in in our history – one of only two teams in the league.
So lets hope that our fortunes change this week and Charlie and the boys get something from the game – three points would be nice!

For travelling Locos supporters information can be found here.

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The Scottish Cup 1st round tie against Camelon Juniors was preceeded by a minutes silence to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth.
The game was a wee bit disappointing as we started extremely well and could have been two up within the first fifteen minutes but a soft penalty in the thirtieth minute gave Camelon a half-time lead 1-0 which was unlucky as we were very much in the game. 
The second half was a different game altogether – and we struggled to every ball – and the East of Scotland league team took command and scored four goals – the last one on the ninetieth minute was a crafty shot from the half way line which looped over our keeper.
So again we go out of the national cup competition in round one – ach, there’s always next year!

The excellent photographs from the game are courtesy of Donald Cameron who was here covering the game for an Edinburgh based sports agency – this was his second visit to Seafield Park and we look forward to welcoming him again and thank him for giving us permission to use his work.

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The postponement of the previous week’s game meant we were unable to bring you news of some local footballing success.

During half time at the Brechin game Keith Ross, who runs the Speyside Boys Summer League, presented Strathspey U12’s captain Thomas Crowson with the winners Shield and the squad with medals – it was the first time in ten years they have competed in the league and most of the boys have never played organised games before. Games were played twice a week throughout the summer and the boys won on the last day beating their nearest rivals in a thrilling game 2-1 – all in all they played fourteen games winning twelve and losing two. Lets hope in ten years time Thomas is lifting the Highland League Trophy!!!
…and you may probably recognise some of the guys as they help us with ball-boy duties at our games – which is very much appreciated.

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As ever we can’t finish without giving you the chance to win our Club Lottery online – this week’s jackpot is £1200 so for your chance of playing, click here.

As there was no JAGpost last week the jackpot of £5000 was won two Sundays ago by a local loyal Lottery supporter, Dougie Stewart…. congratulations Dougie and enjoy your winnings!!

See you next week Jags fans…..

SCOTTISH CUP FIRST ROUND MATCH
V CAMELON JUNIORS AT SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN
SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2022 – KO 3pm

We welcome to Seafield Park the team, management, and supporters of Camelon Juniors FC – The Mighty Mariners! They retained the Juniors part of their name as it was a large part of their heritage when in 2018 they joined the East of Scotland League as part of the reorganisation of leagues

Formed in 1920 on the junction where the Union Canal meets the Forth and Clyde Canal – hence the nickname – Camelon Juniors have mainly been a Junior Club but in 2018 joined the East of Scotland League. They have a very good history and one of their players Jerry Dawson moved to Rangers in the fifties, and more recently Kevin McAllister and Jack Ross are names known throughout football.
Although success has been limited with one appearance in the Scottish Cup Final in 1952, the mid nineties saw their most successful spell winning the OVD Scottish Cup in 1995 when they beat Whitburn in the final 2-0. The following year they again reached the final only to be beaten in extra time by Tayport. During this period they also won the then East of Scotland League, The Skol League Cup and the East of Scotland Cup in the Junior Football realm. They are now playing the the East of Scotland League Division One.
For Camelon Juniors supporters information – click here.

It is a cup tie so if it remains a draw after 120 minutes there will be penalties.
There will be a souvenir programme available to purchase on the day.
As is ever in the Scottish Cup it will be a match both sets of supporters should enjoy and really not know what to expect….hopefully The Jags fans will enjoy it more so.
We remind fans that season tickets are not valid for this match.

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CLUB LOTTERY
The jackpot was won a couple of weeks ago by local supporter Mr D Stewart – our congratulations go to him.
This week the jackpot is now £1100 so if you wish to play online and help The Jags you can do so by clicking here.

In accordance with sport everywhere tomorrow’s Breedon Highland League match between Nairn County and Strathspey Thistle scheduled for Station Park, Nairn has been postponed.

On behalf of Strathspey Thistle Football Club – the management committee, players and fans I would like to send our condolences to the Royal Family on the death of HM Queen Elizabeth.

On a personal note in my thirty years as photographer in Aviemore, we photographed most members of the Royal Family but the greatest excitement was when the Queen and Prince Philip visited and I was tasked with two inside photos – you had to be in position well before the Royal Party arrived – the signing of their display portraits in the foyer of the Osprey Suite and then rapidly racing to the Ice Rink for the photo above, while my boss Pavel was photographing all the action outside and following them around Aviemore.

HOME GAME v BRECHIN CITY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE – SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN 
SATURDAY 3 SEPTEMBER – KO 3PM

This week we welcome for the second time Brechin City FC to Grantown. After the hooplah of the Harleys, we hope that getting to Seafield Park will be a lot easier this week especially for the fans who travel by car as there should be enough parking around the town!
As current leaders Brechin will be keen to continue their 100% league record but The Jags, again, looked more promising against Wick Academy last week so as we always say….you never know in football…

For Brechin City fans some information – click here

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Last week we were very, very unlucky to not come away with at least a draw from an entertaining encounter at Seafield Park against Wick Academy FC in a Breedon Highland League match. Speaking to one of the Wick committee after the game he agreed that we were deserving of the draw.

It was a beautiful warm and sunny day – in fact there were water breaks..and that doesn’t happen a lot in the Highland League!!
Both teams had chances in the first half with the Wick keeper Graeme Williamson making two phenomenal saves early on. It remained 0-0 at half time, but in the 50th minute Liam Taylor headed home a delightful Darren Brew cross to give the Jags a 1 -0 deserved lead. 
After the hour mark Wick gained more control of the game and equalised in the 79th minute but The Jags again had at least two golden chances to take the lead but both shots failed to find the target. Heart break occurred in the 90+1st minute when Wick took the lead and by doing so won all three points…a very disappointing outcome for Jags fans.

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We also welcomed to Seafield Park the Essex branch of the Strathspey Thistle Supporters Club, John McManus and Jack Hannah – we hope they enjoyed their weekend.

And congratulations go to our left back local Grantown lad Liam Grant for his MOTM Award.

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DIARY DATE

Saturday 17 September – Scottish Cup 1st Round. 
We welcome to Seafield Park the management, team and supporters of Camelon Juniors FC  from East of Scotland League Division One.

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£5000 Jackpot

As i normally do I mention winning the Club Lottery jackpot by playing online here – this week you may win £5000…….

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JAGS PLAYER’S PROFILE

JagsWeb would like to thank Joe Cuthbert for being first, in what I hope to be a regular “get to know the players” type of thing : I hope all the Jags fans enjoy them!

Joe Cuthbert

PLACE OF BIRTH
Inverness Scotland

SCHOOL(S) AND WHERE YOU GREW UP
Grew up in the Hilton area of Inverness, attended Hilton Primary School before progressing onto the Inverness Royal Academy

FIRST FOOTBALL MEMORIES
Playing for local team Milton Athletic at age around five and watching games on TV with my Dad.

THE TEAM(S) I SUPPORT
Rangers and Man Utd – also like to see Caley doing well

MY FOOTBALL HISTORY – TEAM(S) HONOURS ETC
Caley Youth then moving to Clach Youth and Nairn Youth – Progressing to Nairn County first team before signing for Strathspey.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN FOOTBALL CAREER
My Dad taught me and coached me a lot.

FAVOURITE PLAYER EVER
Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Barry Ferguson, Ronaldo

BEST FOOTBALLING MOMENT EVER
There’s a few……Scotland qualifying for the Euros probably tops it.

BEST FOOTBALLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER.
Had a fair few good memories through youth football – winning a few things. Yet to have a real standout moment although Highland League debut was a good moment.

FAVOURITE FILM
Wolf of Wall Street, Home Alone

FAVOURITE MUSIC/BAND:
Liam McDade on the bus home from away games

A SURPRISING FACT ABOUT YOU
They’re aren’t many things that people don’t know about me – I wear football boots a half size too small!

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Thanks Joe – See you next week Jagsfans.

HOME MATCH v WICK ACADEMY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE : SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN 
SATURDAY 27 AUGUST – KO 3pm

We look forward to hosting  the Wick Academy team, committee and supporters to Seafield Park on Saturday. In the corresponding fixture last year spectators were treated to an exciting 3-3 draw. Hopefully it’ll be just as exciting but with the three points staying at home.
Wick currently sit in ninth position in the league with nine points.

It was a disappointing evening in Lossiemouth on Wednesday as we, as usual it seems, lost an early goal in thirteen minutes but Owen Loveland levelled for the Jags after twenty-nine minutes and that’s how it stayed until half time. There was another early goal for Lossie in the forty-ninth minute, followed by another eleven minutes later. Liam Taylor gave the Jags a chance of a come-back scoring in the seventy-eighth minute but Lossie completed the scoring in the ninetieth minute making the final score 4-2 to the Coasters.

Next week we have no midweek game but we have a home league game next Saturday with Brechin City FC, their second visit to Grantown.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON THUNDER IN THE GLENS – STRATHSPEY THISTLE v WICK ACADEMY SPECTATOR INFORMATION

This Saturday for the first time in three years an estimated 3000-4000 Harley-Davidson motor-cycles attending “Thunder in the Glens” visit Grantown between approx 1pm and 3.30pm from their base in Aviemore in their customary “ BIG RIDE OUT”.
For more information click here
So the roads in and out of Grantown will be busy, some closed, so please leave a lot more time and leave earlier if you are intending coming to the game – this will only impede arriving at the ground as after the game things should be back to normal.
There will also be very limited parking available throughout Grantown so STFC would appreciate if you do live locally and can walk to the ground please do or if you live further away car share if possible – thanks! 

WIN £4,900
There was no jackpot winner of our Club Lottery last Sunday so this week £4,900 could be won – to play online click here.

AWAY GAME v LOSSIEMOUTH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE MATCH
GRANT PARK, LOSSIEMOUTH, IV31 6JG – KO 8pm

So we’re off to the coast again for the Breedon Highland League match against Lossiemouth FC and a visit to our friends at Grant Park.

Lossie have had a great week with a couple of wins in their past two games – a cup game last Wednesday and last Saturday’s home win against Wick Academy  – strangely we play both teams this week – we host Wick Academy FC in Grantown on Saturday. We are all very close in our current league position so hopefully both games will be closely contested and exciting to watch.

Player wise we have lost two of our summer signings to injury. Ben Cullen sustained a horrific head knock a couple of weeks ago and last Saturday it looked bad for defender James “Fellaini” Fraser with a recurrence of what seemed an Achilles injury so both may not feature for a while.
However, Club captain James McShane should be back in the blue shirt in the next week or so, but having not played for a few weeks he will probably need some time to get up to speed.

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GENERALLY SPEAKING
The journey to Lossiemouth has been brutal.  So far in the league we have played five league games – drew one and lost four – and four of the clubs we have played currently sit in the top six – as they were last season – we’ve scored three goals and conceded twenty-nine, and sit bottom of the league on goal difference.
Not pleasant reading Jags fans but considering our pre-season we are now probably at the stage we should have been at four weeks ago but unfortunately the Highland League fixture-fixer gave us a really, really tough start…..so we are where we are.

I, and many other fitba’ fans understand the league consists of three leagues – six top clubs, a middle six and a bottom six. 

So, we are all fighting our in own little leagues and, with all due respect to the other clubs, we all know what league we are in, although we are all striving to get better – that’s why this post is titled about believing  – it is hard as a player, spectator or committee member being on the wrong side of some heavy defeats, but in my opinion I believe we have a real good bunch of players and that hopefully things will get better and that we can put a few hard fought points on the board so that we can go home on a Wednesday or Saturday night a wee bit happier!

HOME MATCH V FRASERBURGH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN – 20 AUGUST 2022  – KO 3pm

We play three league matches over the next seven days and we start this Saturday by welcoming the current Breedon Highland League Champions to Seafield Park.  They last visited in March and an entertaining afternoon was had by all and although we went down 4-2, it was probably one of our best performances of the season. Congratulations went out to The Broch on what was a tremendous season for them a couple of weeks later. 
We welcome the team and their fans back again for what we hope will be another entertaining match. Fraserburgh currently sit fourth in the league with three wins out of four so any points we can earn from the ninety minutes will be hard won but brilliant.

Notes for the travelling fans can be found here.

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DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
AWAY MATCH V LOSSIEMOUTH FC – WEDNESDAY 24 AUGUST 2022 – KO : 8pm
We were on the road last Wednesday visiting Dudgeon Park in Brora for a North of Scotland Cup tie and although the result was 4-0 it was generally felt that with more games we getting to play, the more the boys are beginning take shape as a team and if hopefully we can omit the errors the next few games can bring us a few points.
After Saturday we head to Lossiemouth next Wednesday night for a Breedon Highland League game at Grant Park with an 8pm kick off – in the corresponding fixture last April we drew 1-1 so there should be all to play for – and follow that with another home game against Wick Academy FC next Saturday.

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For information about The Jags in the Community goings on click here

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The customary finish is with a nod the the £4800.00 you could win playing the Club Lottery – tickets are available at the usual outlets throughout the Strath but you can also play online here……..….good luck and thanks for your support.  

AWAY v BRORA RANGERS FC 
NORTH OF SCOTLAND CUP 
DUDGEON PARK, BRORA KW9 6QN
WEDNESDAY 17 AUGUST 2022 – KO 8pm

With stones from the Clynelish Quarry near Brora being used to build such eminent landmarks as London Bridge we hope that Wednesday nights North of Scotland Cup tie at Dudgeon Park is a stepping stone to some better results for The Jags after a weighty defeat in Buckie in the league on Saturday. 
Reports suggest that it was pretty much one way traffic but according to one observer all the Jags players committed well to the cause, but the inclusion* of two or three more experienced and stronger players would really help settle our young team when adversity strikes…..or in this case ex Strathspey Thistle and Elgin City striker Josh Peters with his four goals!!! 

* this would cost a fair bit of money……..

However, before the game Buckie Thistle’s Vice-President Raymond Cardno presented our chairman Donly McLeod with a gift to honour Strathspey Thistle’s thirtieth birthday next March…….it was a very nice gesture and much appreciated. 

Anyway, on Wednesday we make the lengthy trek to Brora, who are currently sitting on top of the Breedon Highland League, anticipating that fortune favours the brave and hope that our first half performance will carry forward to the second half – as most of the goals we have conceded have been after the hour mark. 

We wish Charlie and the boys all the best.

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Echoing what has been said on our Twitter feed, everyone connected with the Club wish Ben Cullen all the best after his surgery and hope to see him at Seafield Park soon.

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On Sunday an online player won the consolation £100 prize matching four of the five numbers correctly so the Club Lottery jackpot carries forward and is now £4,800.00 so to emulate and perhaps go one better play online here.