Strathspey Thistle FC

AWAY MATCH v FRASERBURGH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
BELLSLEA PARK, FRASERBURGH, AB43 9BB
SATURDAY 29 MARCH 2025 – KICK OFF 3pm

Back to the coast and coupled with a long journey to a major fishing town so that means we will be visiting Fraserburgh on Saturday and Bellslea Park for our Breedon Highland League match against Fraserburgh FC.
We have not fared very well at Bellslea over recent years, especially last season’s visit as it was a particularly sore one.
In hindsight, that was the last game of our season and I think most of our team were probably thinking of their holidays, and, as most of them were leaving the Jags after that game anyway perhaps these were major indicators on the result.

However, that’s not the case this year and as our performances against some of the top teams have been pretty close so we hope that this will be the case again on Saturday.
Jags’ gaffer Ryan Esson and his backroom staff will be rotating the squad again I am sure following Wednesday night’s game, and although we will be missing a couple of boys to injury, I am sure whoever is on the pitch will be giving their all as they have been doing all season, and, as we always quote Greavsie, “It’s a funny old game Saint”, so you never know what this Saturday’s outcome will be.

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS GAME v BRECHIN CITY 

The Seafield Park floodlights shone bright for the Jags after two minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Lewis Mackie was felled in the box and Liam Shewan converted the said penalty to make us go one up on the joint leaders of the Highland League. This was followed by a couple of decent chances for us before Brechin began to threaten Euan Storrier’s goal.

A decisive moment came in the twenty-seventh minute when the visitors lost Dayle Robertson and was replaced by former Celtic, CSKA Sofia, Kilmarnock and Inverness Caley Thistle striker Cillian Sheridan. 
Jags’ keeper Storrier made a wonder save from a close range shot but just after that on forty minutes Sheridan was on hand to score from close range and that is how it remained at half time.
The second half was dominated by Brechin and they took the lead in fifty-three minutes when a well placed thirty yard free kick from Mitch Taylor clipped the post and deflected into the net, and with both Sheridan and Taylor scoring again in the final quarter of the match making the final score 4-1 to Brechin City keeping them well in the title race.

There was a substantial crowd especially for a Wednesday night and we thank the Brechin fans for making the long trip to Grantown – and I don’t think anyone present could not have admired the effort put in by the Jags, most of them were more or less on their knees at the final whistle and who could blame them having played eight games over the past twenty-five days – the Premier League’s full time players would struggle with that  and they don’t have day jobs to contend with either!!  A great effort boys and with no Wednesday game next week there will be a slight respite before a three game final week of the season.

WEDNESDAY’S HALF-TIME RAFFLE WINNER

Winner of the Half-Time raffle was Ross Nixon, Not only is Ross a supporter of Strathspey Thistle, but he also sponsors his son Ali through his business, Ross Nixon Massage Therapy

Well done to Ross, and thank you for your continued support!,
Ross is pictured with the Jags’ Raffle Winner’s Search Assistant the always smiling Caci Horton. 

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FIXTURES UPDATE – THREE GAMES TO GO…….. 

As ever please check with our Facebook and other social media pages for up-to-date information ….

Saturday 5 April – Wick Academy FC – home – KO 3pm
Wednesday 9 April – Keith FC – away – KO 8pm
Saturday 12 April – Turriff United FC – home – KO 3pm

MY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

MY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL is a free app from the SFA, downloadable from your normal app store and with the Highland League participating in the app’s first season it is a brilliant way of keeping in touch with your own team – for teamlines, goals scored, substitutions etc from the game you are attending and all the other games currently taking place in the Highland League….or if you aren’t attending you are able to keep up with all the happenings – it’s GREAT!!

Printed team lines available at the gate may in the future be a thing of the past……not quite yet as not everyone uses their mobile.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
It has been confirmed that this year’s Golf Fundraising Day at Grantown Golf Club will be on Saturday 12 July and our now annual FunDay will be held on Saturday June 21 with various activities which will be confirmed nearer the time…..but if it is anything like last year a good day will be had by all! 
More details soon…..

LOTTERY NOW £10,400

It ’s still there…… a ginormous £10,400 for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
After the current jackpot has been won therefore completing that game, there will be 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.

HOME MATCH v BRECHIN CITY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH 2025 KO 8 pm

We say welcome to the players, management and supporters of joint leaders of the Breedon Highland League, Brechin City FC on Wednesday night at Seafield Park in what will be another very tough game for the Jags. 
As we can all see with all team selections and substitutions the final third of the Highland League season is jam packed with games, with some teams featuring more than others, whether it’s due to adverse weather earlier on in the season or enjoying a good cup run it all takes it toll at this time with some players playing an ongoing three games in seven days……
Jags’s boss Ryan Esson was quoted in a Recent Press and Journal article by suggesting it would be in the players interests to play mid-week games on a Tuesday night, giving players a better recovery time between games, which may be something the Highland League may consider for the future 

As ever we wish Ryan and the boys all the best in what will be another difficult game before we head to Fraserburgh on Saturday.

If any of the Brechin City supporters want a resumé of what is available in Grantown please click here for more information, and we thank them for making the long trip to Grantown on a Wednesday evening.
Please note that for the last time this season, the snack bar shifts to the Mackellar Suite.
It will be back as normal for our remaining Saturday games.

SATURDAY’S MATCH v ROTHES FC

The biggest crowd we have seen at Seafield Park for a long time welcomed both teams onto the pitch for our meeting with Rothes FC in what was one of the most crucial games of the day in the Breedon Highland League. The losing team would be anchored at the bottom of the table as both teams started the game level on eleven points.

Rothes captained by ex-Jag Ross Logan were quickly behind after a defensive error let in Conor MacPhee in the sixth minute much to the delight of the home fans and was exactly the start the we wanted.
However, that completed the scoring for the afternoon even though both teams had spells of domination – but again the Jags defence did exactly as they needed to do in restricting Rothes to very few chances.
Overall we probably had the best chances to score, especially in the first half.
The game, although exciting was disappointing as a football spectacle and the final whistle was met by relief by the home fans, and although we remain second bottom we are now three points ahead with a far better goal difference – but as we say in football you never know what’s ahead especially when you take in to account some of the results in the league this season so far.
With the four points we have taken from the last two games we have to congratulate the boys who are having to put a hell of an amount of work, game after game.

However, there have been indications that the Highland League and the SFA are working towards a new set up with regards the pyramid system and there maybe some sort of further reconstruction and the possiblity of relegation and play-offs may not happen this season especially with what is happening in the other leagues.
As far as we know there is going to be a more geographic related set up which all clubs throughout the affected leagues would very much welcome as escalating travelling costs are very prominent in most club’s limited budgets.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Congratulations to Sam Morrison, named Man of the Match in our crucial 1-0 win on Saturday.

 Selected by our Match Sponsor, The Mackellar Group, Sam’s solid defensive display helped lead us to victory, ensuring a clean sheet and vital three points!

HALF-TIME RAFFLE WINNER

Jags supporter Michael Clark had a double reason to celebrate by winning the Half Time raffle draw on Saturday during the Rothes game.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

It has been confirmed that this year’s Golf Fundraising Day at Grantown Golf Club will be on Saturday 12 July and our now, annual FunDay will now be held on Saturday June 21
( changed from June 14 ) with various activities which will be confirmed nearer the time…..but if it is anything like last year a good day will be had by all!  More details soon…..

Back on Friday with preview of our visit to the ‘Broch.

HOME MATCH v ROTHES FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2025 KO 3pm

THIS MATCH IS SPONSORED BY THE MACKELLAR GROUP

This Saturday we welcome to Seafield Park players, management and supporters of Rothes FC.
As well as close geographic neighbours we also find ourselves neighbouring each other at the foot of the Breedon Highland League – a position both of us would rather not be in – but that is the reality, so the enormity of the game cannot be understated.
With six games to go for us, each one having it’s own difficulty, the eyes of the North will be fixed on this particular one – the clash of the bottom clubs – a real six pointer  – etc etc – We can only envisage a torrid ninety minutes plus on Saturday, with hopefully, The Jags marking up their second win of the season over Rothes.  

We welcome back to Seafield Park, if they are playing, some well ‘kent faces – ex-Jags Andrew Skinner, Ross Logan, Jake Thompson, Liam McDade, Gordy McNab and boss, Ronnie Sharp who will all I am sure, want to put one over on us, especially as our last league meeting at Mackessack Park in Rothes in November resulted in a six-nil win for the Jags.
So, I would imagine it will be all to play for on Saturday with some good old Highland League action and, probably, not for the faint hearted…
If any of the Rothes support want a resumé of what’s available in Grantown please click here.   

As ever we want to wish Ryan and the boys all the best in what probably could be one of the most important games of the season and it would be great to have a large support behind the Jags so it would be great to see you there.

And on the player front Keiran Duffty will be joining New Elgin FC on loan until the end of the season and Dean Stewart who has featured as a triallist recently will be joining us from New Elgin until the end of the season – best of luck Duffty and we welcome Dean on board. The Jags would like to thank New Elgin for their support with these moves. 

….and don’t forget we host league championship contenders BRECHIN CITY on Wednesday night (26 March), again with an 8pm kick off.

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS GAME v HUNTLY

According to Club Historian Rob Clark, those who witnessed our goal on Wednesday night witnessed history – as this was the fastest goal we have scored in the Highland League clocking in, according to the P&J, at thirty-one seconds…goal scorer James Fraser’s first of the season.

We couldn’t have started better and James could have made it two after fifteen but the Huntly keeper saved it. 

After twenty-five minutes Huntly’s top scorer was injured and had to be replaced. Although we had a couple of more chances throughout the game, Huntly were in command but the Jags back three of Sam Morrison, Jordan Laidlaw and Jamie Calder were up to the task and led the rest of the team adamantly in their defensive duties until the eighty-first minute  when Huntly’s Allen evaded his marker and headed home.

That is how it remained until the final whistle and the home crowd were delighted with both the point won and the spirit of the team in earning a draw with a very good team who could possibly finish in the top six after they complete all their games.

I must admit I was also keeping my eyes on what was happening in the Rothes v Lossiemouth game in Rothes being played at the same time and the resultant no scoring draw makes Saturday’s game very important for both ourselves and Rothes…..  

To see James’s goal check out https://www.facebook.com/strathspeythistlefc

FORKERS DELIGHT

It’s not every day when we forkers arrive at Seafield Park with a bit of a smile on our faces but that’s what happened on the morning after the Huntly game – a decent result and a sunny warm day in March.
It’s been quite busy over the past few weeks with sometimes having to fix the pitch twice a week with our mid-week home fixtures but as you can see from the photograph you cannot hide the enjoyment on our faces …….  

FIXTURES UPDATE 

STILL BUSY, BUSY, BUSY…..after Saturday the five fixtures between now and the end of the season are as follows – as ever please check with our Facebook and other social media pages for up-to-date information ….

Wednesday 26 March – Brechin City FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 29 March – Fraserburgh FC – away – KO 3pm
Saturday 5 April – Wick Academy FC – home – KO 3pm
Wednesday 9 April – Keith FC – away – KO 8pm
Saturday 12 April – Turriff United FC – home – KO 3pm

MY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

MY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL is a free app from the SFA, downloadable from your normal app store and with the Highland League participating in the app’s first season it is a brilliant way of keeping in touch with your own team – for teamlines, goals scored, substitutions etc from the game you are attending and all the other games currently taking place in the Highland League….or if you aren’t attending you are able to keep up with all the happenings – it’s GREAT!!

Printed team lines available at the gate may in the future be a thing of the past……not quite yet, as not everyone uses their mobile.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

It has been confirmed that this year’s Golf Fundraising Day at Grantown Golf Club will be on Saturday 12 July and our now annual FunDay will be held on Saturday June 12 with various activities which will be confirmed nearer the time…..but if it is anything like last year a good day will be had by all! 
More details soon…..

LOTTERY NOW £10,300

It ’s a ginormous £10,300 for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES

After the current jackpot has been won therefore completing that game, there will be 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.

HOME MATCH v HUNTLY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH 2025 KO 8 pm

On Wednesday night we welcome Huntly FC players management and supporters to Seafield Park for a floodlit Breedon Highland League encounter on the back of their match against Keith on Saturday.
Down to ten men and with an injured goalkeeper Keith could not prevent Huntly putting seven past them to no reply so, again, we will have an exceptionally difficult task on our hands.
The Black and Golds are currently sitting in ninth position in the league and in the seven games they have played since the turn of the year they have had some excellent results negated by some not so good.
Hopefully we will have some more luck in front of goal and get a more positive result than last Saturday.
If any of the Huntly fans want a resumé of what is available in Grantown please click here and can everyone be reminded that the Snack Bar will be available in the Mackellar Suite again this Wednesday, although it will be back to normal on Saturday.

As ever, we wish Ryan and the boys all the best and that we put in a good performance which will set us up for our showdown at Seafield Park against Rothes at the weekend.

SATURDAY’S MATCH v INVERURIE LOCO WORKS.

We got off to a bad start losing a goal very early on in the game and struggled to match Locos who added another three before half time.
Our second half performance was better only losing one goal before full time but the general feeling was one of disappointment. With the gaffer having to rotate his squad through injury and a log jam of games, it’s difficult being able to put out a settled team game after game. There should be some returns this week which will help.

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We’ll be back on Friday with a review of the Huntly game and the Rothes game preview.

AWAY MATCH v INVERURIE LOCO WORKS FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
HARLAW PARK, INVERURIE, AB51 4SG
SATURDAY 15 MARCH 2025 – KICK OFF 3pm

So we’re down the road to Aberdeen again this weekend, but this time we stop in Inverurie for our Breedon Highland League match at Harlaw Park against Inverurie Loco Works FC. 

Locos currently sit in fourth position, and have been in impressive form lately and on a seven game winning run since their last defeat in January. No doubt they will be another formidable opponent for the Jags but however, after last Saturday’s impressive display against third placed Banks O’Dee we will go into this game with more confidence than we did in the opposite fixture at Seafield Park last October. 

Jags boss Ryan Esson will no doubt be rotating the squad as we are in the middle of a heavy deluge of games and as ever we wish him and the boys all the best in their quest for points.

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS GAME v CLACHNACUDDIN

On a cold but pleasant evening under the Seafield Park floodlights the first chance of the game fell to Clach after about five minutes, when a cross was fizzed over from their right and was narrowly missed by everyone. Soon after there was a meleé in the Clach goalmouth and many spectators were celebrating a Jags goal but the effort was chalked off for a foul on the goalkeeper….that was the outcome anyway.
We went one goal down after thirty seven minutes (possible sour grapes alert) to some observers an offside goal, but the goal stood and that is how it stood at half-time.

Clach seemed to rejuvenate themselves after the break, and proved why they sit in fifth spot in the league and although we ably defended they scored another two goals and Clach were well worth their victory.

We did threaten once or twice in the second half but to no avail.

So it’s onwards to Inverurie on Saturday, and then another Wednesday night home game, this time our opponents are Huntly who also have been going along nicely…

WEDNESDAY’S HALF-TIME RAFFLE WINNER 

As part of our occasional series, the picture shows it couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke – former Jags’ keeper Mike ‘Monk’ MacCallum who, according to our sources, has had to hang the gloves up as work commitments have taken priority – but it was great to seeing him at Seafield Park, a place he will always be very welcome.

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FIXTURES UPDATE 

STILL BUSY, BUSY, BUSY…..after Saturday the seven fixtures between now and the end of the season are as follows – as ever please check with our Facebook and other social media pages for up-to-date information ….

Wednesday 19 March – Huntly FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 22 March – Rothes FC – home – KO 3pm
Wednesday 26 March – Brechin City FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 29 March – Fraserburgh FC – away – KO 3pm
Saturday 5 April – Wick Academy FC – home – KO 3pm
Wednesday 9 April – Keith FC – away – KO 8pm
Saturday 12 April – Turriff United FC – home – KO 3pm

MATCHDAY HOSPITALITY

in the Mackellar Suite on Saturdays. 

Join us for £50 per person.

Saturday 5 April – Wick Academy FC
Saturday 12 April – Turriff United FC
Package includes:
Complimentary pre-match bar / 2-course lunch / Match entry / HT refreshments
There is also a FT pay bar

Email hospitality@strathspeythistlefc.uk to book for the remaining Saturdays and for information about Wednesday night hospitality.

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MY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

MY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL is a free app from the SFA, downloadable from your normal app store and with the Highland League participating in the app’s first season it is a brilliant way of keeping in touch with your own team – for teamlines, goals scored, substitutions etc from the game you are attending and all the other games currently taking place in the Highland League….or if you aren’t attending you are able to keep up with all the happenings – it’s GREAT!!

Printed team lines available at the gate may be confined to history……not quite yet as not everyone has a mobile……but there will probably not be as many available….

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

It has been confirmed that this year’s Golf Fundraising Day at Grantown Golf Club will be on Saturday 12 July and our now annual FunDay will be held on Saturday June 12 with various activities which will be confirmed nearer the time…..but if it is anything like last year a good day will be had by all!  More details soon…..

LOTTERY NOW £10,200

It ’s a ginormous £10,200 for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES

After the current jackpot has been won therefore completing that game, there will be 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.

HOME MATCH v CLACHNUDDIN FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH 2025 KO 8 pm

Arriving in Grantown on Wednesday night for their Breedon Highland League match is Clachnacuddin FC, and we welcome the team, their management and supporters to Seafield Park.
Clach are having an excellent season so far. Their dramatic improvement has meant that they currently sit in fifth place in the league as opposed to last season when they finished just above us in second bottom position.
That obviously means that this will be yet another tough match and we will be hoping that The Jags continue the form shown in the last half hour at Banks O’Dee on Saturday. 
We look forward to a close encounter under the Seafield Park lights, and as ever we wish Ryan and the boys all the best.

It’ll be our fourth game against Clach this season and although we have yet to beat them the last game resulted in a two-nil loss with Clach scoring their second in the last minute. You never know it might be fourth time lucky…..

If any of the travelling support need a resumé of what’s happening in Grantown click here
This will be the second of four home mid-week games in March – next week we welcome Huntly after visiting Inverurie Locos on Saturday.

SATURDAY’S MATCH v BANKS O’DEE

As I have said before, if football matches lasted eighty minutes we would be half way up the table this season……and not where we sit at the moment!
We got off to a bad start at Spain Park, Aberdeen when Banks O’Dee took the lead after seven minutes and thoroughly deserved their half time lead, as they were unlucky not to add to their tally, thanks to some well organised defending and a couple of bits of luck maybe.
But 1-0 it stayed at half-time, and on fifty-eight minutes BO’D were awarded a penalty but Jags’ keeper Euan Storrier saved the spot kick.

This seemed to energise the Jags and after a couple of substitutions and positional changes, we upped our game considerably and were rewarded after eighty-two minutes when Conor McPhee equalised, after which, we hit the bar and the post…..however it was to no avail as BO’D sub Anderson scored what was the winning goal following a goalmouth scramble on the ninetieth minute!!!

Liam Shewan just about doubled our tally with a great shot that rocketed off the bar in the fourth minute of added time, but according to the Jags’ posse that were present, BO’D were glad to hear the final whistle as we competed exceptionally well for at least the last thirty minutes against a top three positioned side in the SHFL.

Obviously boss Ryan Esson was gutted at the end, but was very proud of the team’s performance and again it shows we are improving.

Saturday’s team was
Euan Storrier, Ali Nixon, Zach Macphee, Dean Stewart(T), Jamie Calder, Cameron Lisle, Lewis Mackie, Daniel Whitehorn, Scot Docherty, Keiran Duffty and James Fraser(C) – Subs were Ethan Rae(G) Conor McPhee, Liam Shewan, Josh Race, Jordan Laidlaw, Caelan Mutch, James McShane, Aaron Doran.

It’s good to see Jordan back on the bench after a long injury.

STRATHSPEY ROVERS

On Saturday morning at Seafield Park, Strathspey Rovers held their mini-tournament with over seventy children from Strathspey, Elgin, Keith and Nairn attending and Rover’s spokesperson wanted to pass on a massive thank you to the Jags for allowing them access to the pitch and facilities and said that the children loved it. 

We want to thank Strathspey Rovers for all work they do over the year especially in putting on such a successful tournament and we look forward to continually working with them in the future.

AWAY MATCH v BANKS O’DEE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SPAIN PARK, ABERDEEN, AB12 3AB
SATURDAY 8 MARCH 2025 – KICK OFF 3pm

It’s not little feat we’ll need but mighty big feet as we travel to Aberdeen for this Saturday’s Breedon Highland League match against third placed Banks O’Dee at Spain Park, appropriately situated on the banks of the River Dee.
The Dee have had an interesting few weeks with some excellent results coupled with one or two surprise results including being beaten by Forres at Spain Park less than a month ago, and a draw against Huntly on Wednesday night, so there maybe a chink in the armour…..for as we always say you never know in football….

As is our usual custom we wish Ryan and the boys all the best and he hopefully will have a couple of players back from injury.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT v BUCKIE THISTLE AT SEAFIELD PARK

Although the scoreline read 4-1 to Buckie that doesn’t tell the whole story……

The game started brightly for the Strathy Jags by carving out a couple of really good chances….again…. but it would be to no avail as local Aviemore man Josh Peters scored the first of his four goals in the twenty-third minute for Buckie.
Very soon after this we had a very good shout for a penalty denied, and unfortunately we then went further behind after thirty-six minutes. Buckie were playing some really good football and on forty minutes they were awarded what the local fans thought a soft penalty, followed five minutes later with a real stonewaller – no complaints…. in fact it was a tough few minutes for our on-loan keeper for the evening from Forres Mechanics, Corey Patterson. After this, and just on half-time we were denied a goal – more on this later. If decisions had gone our way it could have been a 2-3 scoreline at the break.

So four-nil down at half time, the boys then put in a very commendable forty-five minutes starting with Liam Shewan scoring five minutes in, and with both teams missing a couple of chances late on, the home fans felt we competed well and with no more Buckie goals we now move on to another very tough game on Saturday in Aberdeen.

A concern to the management team was Filip Franczak picking up what looked like a nasty injury late in the second half….

To see Liam’s goal click here

THE GOAL THAT NEVER WAS RANT…..

Strangely enough earlier on in the game I took the above photo on my phone of some goalmouth action when we were attacking – the photo shows the corner of the net where the ball landed about thirty-five minutes later, yet was judged to not cross the line by the officials, yet, myself and the Buckie and Strathspey fans placed on both sides of the goalposts and the goal line, saw the whole ball definitely cross the line by a fair distance…..
I know it’s an extremely difficult job being an official, one that we respect very much as a Club, but it is also exceptionally frustrating being a supporter of a team when wrong decisions are made.
I can’t remember which English League manager said, or when he said it, but I think he wasn’t far wrong saying that when clubs are fighting at the bottom of the league they seem to have no luck with decisions etc.
I did very politely comment to the official that it was definitely a goal to which he replied that “that was your opinion”… 
I know it’s ifs and buts etc but had decisions gone our way it could have been a completely different score altogether……sour grapes …of course it is….but it just adds to the joys and tribulations of football which keeps bringing us back week after week.

OOOPS! 

After last Saturday’s league match against Keith our match sponsors Westgate Stainless & Alloys Ltd chose captain James McShane as their Man of the Match – the photo taken by Laura, our commercial director, shows Darren Gould from the sponsors presenting James with his award. This should have been in the last post!

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FIXTURES UPDATE 

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY…..Fixtures between now and the end of the season are as follows – as ever please check with our Facebook and other social media pages for up-to-date information ….
Saturday 8 March – Banks O’Dee FC – away – KO 3pm
Wednesday 12 March – Clachnacuddin FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 15 March – Inverurie Locos FC – away – KO 3pm
Wednesday 19 March – Huntly FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 22 March – Rothes FC – home – KO 3pm
Wednesday 26 March – Brechin City FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 29 March – Fraserburgh FC – away – KO 3pm
Saturday 5 April – Wick Academy FC – home – KO 3pm
Wednesday 9 April – Keith FC – away – KO 8pm
Saturday 12 April – Turriff United FC – home – KO 3pm

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MY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

MY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL is a free app from the SFA, downloadable from your normal app store and with the Highland League participating in the app’s first season it is a brilliant way of keeping in touch with your own team – for teamlines, goals scored, substitutions etc from the game you are attending and all the other games currently taking place in the Highland League….or if you aren’t attending you are able to keep up with all the happenings – it’s GREAT!!

Printed team lines available at the gate may be confined to history……not quite yet as not everyone has a mobile……but there will probably not be as many available….

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

It has been confirmed that this year’s Golf Fundraising Day at Grantown Golf Club will be on Saturday 12 July and our now annual FunDay will be held on Saturday June 12 with various activities which will be confirmed nearer the time…..but if it is anything like last year a good day will be had by all!  More details soon…..

LOTTERY NOW £10,100

It ’s a gigantic £10,100 for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…and good luck!
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.

HOME MATCH v BUCKIE THISTLE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2025 KO 8 pm

On Wednesday we welcome players, management and supporters of Buckie Thistle FC …..hopefully, it being a Wednesday night, it will not infringe on the Buckie fans making the trip to Grantown as they usually bring a healthy support with them.
Buckie arrive on the back of a two-nil win at Nairn on Saturday and although they currently sit in eighth spot in the league, lowly in their terms, they still bring a mean-looking threat with them.
Our away performance in Buckie back in August was nothing to write home about, but over the season there have been a few chinks in their armour, so with some of the impressive performances the Strathy Jags have put in over the past few games it will hopefully be an eventful game under the Seafield Park floodlights.
Jags keeper Euan Storrier and defender Sam Morrison are not available for this game as Buckie are their parent club.

As ever we wish Ryan and the boys all the best as another win is not too far away……

If any supporter wants a resumé of what is available in Grantown – please click here

We are off to Aberdeen on Saturday with our away match against current third placed Banks O’Dee and we then welcome fifth placed Clachnacuddin to Seafield Park next Wednesday night…..who said it would be easy!  

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCH v KEITH FC

Again from a Jags’ point of view it was a case of missed chances, something we seem to be saying mighty often these days.

The team lining up to face Keith was –
Euan Storrier, Ali Nixon, Filip Franczak, captain James McShane, triallist Dean Stewart, (who, according to Jags’ fans had an excellent debut), Conor MacPhee, Josh Race, Liam Shewan, Caelan Mutch, James Fraser and Sam Morrison.

We started very well and could have been two up before half time but, after seventy minutes, Keith scored and then doubled their lead in stoppage time when Jags keeper Euan Storrier was left in the opposing half after coming up for a corner, when unfortunately the ball was cleared into the path of Keith’s Joey Wilson who lobbed the ball into an empty net….
Keith’s keeper Craig Reid earned the plaudits of the crowd with three tremendous saves – which, from a Jags’ point of view, could turned the game.

All in all it was a hard fought match, with possibly the Jags edging it, but again goals win games and, with our main strikers Paul Brindle and Dylan Lawrence out with injury, their presence may have changed the result. – and also a concern was the injury to Sam Morrison who left the field after eighty minutes.

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FIXTURES UPDATE 

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY…..Fixtures between now and the end of the season are as follows – as ever please check with our Facebook and other social media pages for up-to-date information ….
Saturday 8 March – Banks O’Dee FC – away – KO 3pm
Wednesday 12 March – Clachnacuddin FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 15 March – Inverurie Locos FC – away – KO 3pm
Wednesday 19 March – Huntly FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 22 March – Rothes FC – home – KO 3pm
Wednesday 26 March – Brechin City FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 29 March – Fraserburgh FC – away – KO 3pm
Saturday 5 April – Wick Academy FC – home – KO 3pm
Wednesday 9 April – Keith FC – away – KO 8pm
Saturday 12 April – Turriff United FC – home – KO 3pm

MY SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

 – is a free app from the SFA downloadable from your normal app store and with the Highland League participating in the app’s first season it is a brilliant way of keeping in touch with your own team – with teamlines, goals scored, substitutions etc from the game you are attending and all the other games currently taking place in the Highland League….or if you aren’t attending you are able to keep up with all the happenings – it’s GREAT!!

We can’t recommend it enough!!!!
Printed team lines available at the gate may be very soon confined to history……not quite yet as not everyone has a mobile…….

We’ll be back with a rundown of Wednesday night and a wee preview of Saturday’s game and any other Jags stuff….

Saturday 1^st: The scheduled trip to Keith at the beginning of the month was called off.

Saturday 8^th: Another frustrating afternoon of lost football (and revenue) as our home game against Clachnacuddin was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Thursday 13^th: We were delighted to secure the signing of local boy Sam Morrison, on loan from Buckie Thistle, until the end of the season, providing a link to the past as Sam’s dad Eddie is a former STFC player and committee member. 

Saturday 15^th: A first game of February and lots of positives to take from a 3-2 defeat away to Formartine, although it didn’t feel like that when the home side scored an injury-time winner. 
The Jags, who were reduced to ten men when Ali Nixon was sent off around the hour mark, twice battled back to equalise in the game, through Daniel Whitehorn and a Paul Brindle penalty.

Wednesday 19^th: A tough midweek away trip as Brora Rangers showed why they are looking good to top the Highland League table this season, the home side securing a 7-0 victory over a battling Jags outfit.

Friday 21^st: Lewis Mackie joined Golspie Sutherland on a one-month loan deal.

Saturday 22^nd: At long last, football on a Saturday afternoon at Seafield Park after a sudden rise in temperatures meant no need for a pitch inspection ahead of the visit of Nairn County and gave us a chance to pay tribute pre-match to Ali Smith with a minute’s applause following his sad passing.
The Jags took an early lead through Caelan Mutch and although Nairn did eventually level through Lisle, some important saves from Euan Storrier secured a point that lifted us off the bottom of the Highland League table.

Thanks to our match sponsors – Cafferys Mens Designerwear

Stop Press – Saturday March 1^st: Another battling home performance but a 2-0 defeat to Keith, the visitors second coming in injury time after some strong Jags pressure, kicks off a busy and crucial month of fixtures with Buckie Thistle our next opponents on Wednesday 5^th at Seafield Park.

Strathspey Thistle Club Lottery – Jackpot Now £10,000!

We’d love to see a jackpot winner scoop the big prize and with our jackpot currently sitting at an impressive £10,000, now is the perfect time to get your entry in!

You can enter online through the link below and be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize. Don’t miss out – help us spread the word.

Play here …

Good luck and thank you for your ongoing support!

Hospitality in the Mackellar Suite – Book Your Spot Now!

 We are now taking bookings for matchday hospitality in the Mackellar Suite on the following dates:

• Sat 22nd Mar vs Rothes
• Sat 12th Apr vs Turriff (last home game of the season)

Contact our Commercial Director, Laura Mackie via email at hospitality@strathspeythistlefc.uk for more information and to enquire about our remaining home games.

£50 per person, includes: Complimentary Pre-match Drinks; 2 course lunch; Match entry; Half Time Refreshments; Post-match pay bar

Midweek Matches

For all our upcoming midweek matches, we’re delighted to announce that our Tea Bar will be operating from the Mackellar Suite! We’ll be serving a range of hot and cold snacks to keep you fueled throughout the game.

Additionally, our bar will be open from 6:30pm until kick-off, and again at half-time and full-time. It’s the perfect spot to catch up with fellow supporters before and after the match while enjoying a drink.  

Dates for the Diary
We have two exciting events coming up this summer that we’d love for you to be a part of! Mark your calendars and save these dates:

📅 Saturday 14th June – Strathspey Thistle FC Family Fun Day at Seafield Park

Bring the whole family along for a fun-filled day of activities, games, and entertainment at Seafield Park!

📅 Saturday 12th July – Strathspey Thistle FC Golf Day at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club

More details to follow, so stay tuned!

HOME MATCH v KEITH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 1 MARCH 2025 KO 3pm

THIS MATCH IS SPONSORED BY WESTGATE STAINLESS AND ALLOYS LTD.

This Saturday we welcome the players, management and supporters from Keith FC to Seafield Park for the second of three home games in a row.

Keith currently sit in fourteenth position in the league with twenty-two points from twenty-three games. They have played one more game than ourselves as they have suffered the same fate with match postponements since the turn of the year.
Strangely this will be our first game against Keith this season at this, the third attempt, as we have succumbed to inclement weather and a cancellation due to cup commitments so hopefully it’ll be all ok for this one!
We hope this will be as exciting a game as last Saturday’s and as ever we wish Ryan and the boys all the best.

If any of the our visitors wish a resumé of what’s happening in Grantown – please click here.

After Saturday, we welcome Buckie Thistle for our league game under the floodlights on Wednesday night – Kick Off 8pm

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCH v NAIRN COUNTY

The game was preceeded by a minutes applause in memory of Jags’ committee man Ali Smith.

Both the Jags and Nairn had periods of dominance and the general feeling was that we had the better of the first half hour with a couple of decent chances going a begging but Nairn came very much back into it after that with some excellent chances of their own but were thwarted by Jags’ keeper Euan Storrier and his defence.

The Jags took the lead on eleven minutes when Caelan Mutch ran on to an excellent through ball from Daniel Whitehorn and placed the ball in the bottom left corner much to the delight of the home crowd.

There were one or two very close shaves from both teams after that but Nairn’s perseverance was rewarded with their equalising goal in eighty-three minutes from ex-Jag Scott Lisle, twin brother of our own Cammy Lisle..

So, a hard fought draw took us off the bottom of the league for the first time for ages so there were a few smiles about Seafield Park at around five o’clock when the Rothes result was confirmed – the results in the league this season have been so topsy-turvy with no rhyme nor reason to the outcome of so many games, and with there being some very interesting score lines over the past few months and I would imagine it is going to continue that way until season’s end.

The result gives us confidence for this weeks visit by Keith.

If you want to see Caelen’s goal click on this … https://www.facebook.com/strathspeythistlefc/videos/1567098110660952

By the way, a huge thank you to Cameron and the amazing team at Highland Industrial Supplies for their generosity in providing our squad and management team with hats and snoods for training!

MAN OF THE MATCH
The match sponsor on Saturday was Cafferys Mens Designerwear from Inverness and the photo shows Keith McCaffery the Managing Director presenting their choice of Man of the Match to Jags’ Keeper Euan Storrier, who in turn presented Keith with a crystal memento of the game on behalf of the Club.

HALF TIME RAFFLE 
In the first of an occasional series of photos this one shows season ticket holder and long time Jags fan Ken Crake who had the winning ticket in Saturday’s half time draw – Ken won the fifty pounds – his first time after many years “of investment”!!

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FIXTURES UPDATE 

Fixtures between now and the end of March are as follows – as ever please check with our Facebook and other social media pages for up-to-date information …..more dates will be added when the games are arranged and we are notified….but hopefully there will be no more weather interruptions….. with thirteen games still to play dates we have still be informed of the dates have to be arranged against Brechin (A), Clach (H), Wick (H) and Keith (A). 
Wednesday 5 March – Buckie Thistle FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 8 March – Banks O’Dee FC – away – KO 3pm
Saturday 15 March – Inverurie Locos FC – away – KO 3pm
Wednesday 19 March – Huntly FC – home – KO 8pm
Saturday 22 March – Rothes FC – home – KO 3pm
Saturday 29 March – Fraserburgh FC – away – KO 3pm

 Matchday Hospitality in the Mackellar Suite on Saturdays. 

Join us for £50 per person.

Sat 22 Mar – vs Rothes Football Club
Sat 12 Apr – vs Turriff United Football Club

Package includes:

Complimentary pre-match bar / 2-course lunch / Match entry / HT refreshments

FT pay bar

Email hospitality@strathspeythistlefc.uk to book for the remaining Saturdays and for information about Wednesday night hospitality.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

It has been confirmed that this year’s Golf Fundraising Day at Grantown Golf Club will be on Saturday 12 July and our now annual FunDay will be held on Saturday June 12 with various activities which will be confirmed nearer the time…..but if it is anything like last year a good day will be had by all!

LOTTERY NOW £10000

10,000 Maniacs, 10,000 hours and now….10,000 Scottish Pounds ….this week we reach the milestone of a massive £10,000 for you to win by playing our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES

After the current jackpot has been won therefore completing that game, there will be 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 WE PLAY BUCKIE THISTLE AT SEAFIELD PARK ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT 8pm KO.