Strathspey Thistle FC

AWAY MATCH v FRASERBURGH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
BELLSLEA PARK, FRASERBURGH AB43 9BB
SATURDAY 22 APRIL 2023 – KO 3pm

Well, well well, here we are at the end of an another Highland League, and another trip in quick succession to the east coast. This time it’s our return fixture against Fraserburgh FC at Bellslea Park…..Fraserburgh, last year’s league champions and currently sitting in fifth place this year, will again, be a exceptionally difficult game and perhaps not one that you want to finish the season with, especially cpnsidering the result when we last met in August…….hopefully we can leave The Broch with smiling faces.

Last Saturday before the game at Spain Park, Chairman Donly McLeod presented Banks O’ Dee President Brian Winton, with a framed copy of the commemorative programme issued when Banks O’ Dee visited Seafield Park in November. There was nothing else to smile about after that apart from Mike McKenzie’s thirty-first minute goal for The Jags which reduced the deficit to two goals – at that moment – unfortunately the flood gates opened again in the second half. 

For everyone associated it was a great disappointment. The previous few games had hinted that we were a lot more competitive and were moving in the right direction – however it was not to be.

On behalf of  The Club, we would like to thank all our supporters, in which let’s face it has not been a good league season for the Jags at all. I would think everyone at the Club is looking forward to a far better campaign next season – and, to putting this season well behind us! 

BFN
As this is the last game of 2022/2023 JagsWeb will be taking a break over the summer and will not be producing a regular weekly update as to what’s going on – for all Club information over the summer please keep fully up to date with our Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Obviously if there’s any major news at the Club we’ll keep you informed.

JagsWeb will return for regular posts just before the start of next season.

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A VIEW FROM THE TERRACE
Please look out for our segment in the BBC Scotlands football show soon. When we are informed by the BBC, the Jags Facebook and Twitter will have the info on what night it will be broadcast.

EASY-PLAY WEEKLY ONLINE LOTTO FUNDRAISER (age 16+):
THE JACKPOT NOW STANDS AT £4200
Help Strathspey Thistle in raising vital funds for the club through an Online Weekly Lotto by Clubforce.  
Choose five numbers for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 52 weeks (2 weeks free) and extra lines can be added and you can tick auto-renewal to avoid the hassle of reminders. 

This summer we again start a concerted effort in escalating the finances of the club we would really appreciate if you could perhaps get four of your friends to participate in the online fundraising lottery.

Thank you for helping the club – it is very much appreciated. To play click here.

AWAY MATCH v BANKS O’ DEE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SPAIN PARK, ABERDEEN AB12 3AB
SATURDAY 15 APRIL 2023 – KO 3pm

On Saturday we pay our first visit to Spain Park, Aberdeen on Highland League business to meet Banks O’ Dee FC.

In their first season in the Breedon Highland League it’s been a bit of a roller coaster – with the very unfortunate administrative mistake in playing unregistered players and being deducted twenty four points – however since then they are now in twelfth place with thirty three points – and if you add the deducted points they would be in a very creditable sixth place.

It wasn’t a very happy Seafield Park for the home supporters after our last meeting which produced football fireworks from the away team, but hopefully encouraged by recent results we hope that this game will be a far more competitive affair – we wish Robert and the boys all the best on their travels…

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MATCH v KEITH FC

As the floodlights faded on another season a reasonably sized midweek crowd were treated to an entertaining hard fought game with Keith emerging as the winners 1-0.  A well constructed seventieth minute goal following a midfield mistake by The Jags was the difference between the teams – both sides missed reasonable chances but the general feeling was that Keith marginally deserved the win. However on a very positive note, The Jags again massively improved their performance from our last meeting with Keith. Maybe after the performances of the last couple of weeks we were a wee bit disappointed…..fans are never happy!!

MAN OF THE MATCH

James McShane was voted Man of the Match by the Jags Committee after the match and was presented with his bottle of gin by committee member Alan McKenzie. 
Again we would like to thank Jack Smith and his company Cairngorm Gin for his sponsorship of our Man Of The Match award at all our home games this season.

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LOWLAND LEAGUE VISITOR

We also welcomed Thomas Brown, his wife and son Jacob to Seafield Park last night. Thomas is the Chairperson of the Scottish Lowland Football League and he and his family are enjoying another of their frequent trips to Aviemore. This time they managed to fit in a visit to The Jags.  He tweeted that the family enjoyed the welcome, hospitality and the game…we look forward to welcoming the Brown family back next year.

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EASY-PLAY WEEKLY ONLINE LOTTO FUNDRAISER (age 16+):
THE JACKPOT NOW STANDS AT £4100
Help Strathspey Thistle in raising vital funds for the club through an Online Weekly Lotto by Clubforce.  
Choose five numbers for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 52 weeks (2 weeks free) and extra lines can be added and you can tick auto-renewal to avoid the hassle of reminders. 

Thank you for helping the club – it is much appreciated. To play click here.

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Next week sees our last fixture of the 2022/2023 season – an away trip to Fraserburgh.

HOME MATCH v KEITH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN PH26 3HY
WEDNESDAY 12 APRIL 2023 – KO 8pm

On Wednesday evening we welcome Keith FC to what is our last home match of the season – after this we have two more away fixtures to finish this years Breedon Highland League.

Keith’s season of six wins and six draws have resulted in them achieving fifteenth place, at the moment. So we have another very tough game for the Jags, but, after our display against on Saturday against league leaders Buckie Thistle we go in to this game with more confidence than the last time we met Keith at Kynoch Park in October. 

Following a horrific midweek defeat courtesy of Brora Rangers, we were soundly beaten the following Saturday by the Maroons – a result we hope to overturn under the floodlights at Seafield Park…..

BUCKIE THISTLE’S VISIT

Saturday was a really nice day for football although there was a bit of a breeze blowing in from the golf course.

There was the usual large contingent from Buckie in attendance which helped make up a good crowd and atmosphere for the match.

Although we did have one or two chances, Buckie with the wind behind them dominated most of the first half – they were awarded a hotly disputed penalty which Jags keeper James Kendall saved much to the delight of his teamates and the home supporters.

In the second half, we had one or two more clear cut chances on the break, but the Jags defence were doing a stalwart job in keeping scoring chances for Buckie to a minimum. The home supporters could gauge the Buckie fans and players becoming more and more edgy as full time approached, as losing two points could have had a major influence in the outcome of the league title. So for the second week in a row we passed ninety minutes and in time added on the away team scored !!  In the 92nd and 94th minutes. 

Strathspey Thistle, players, management, officials and supporters were gutted….. but there was also a phenomenal sense of pride in what the team have achieved over the past few weeks which we hope we can continue over the next couple of weeks….before we find out what’s in store for next season on the park – beginning with Robert and Mike planning a very tough pre-season.

MAN OF THE MATCH

After a great performance, which included a first-half penalty save, keeper James Kendall was voted Man of the Match after Saturday’s match against Buckie Thistle. The photograph shows James with his MOTM Award sponsored by Cairngorm Gin – the award….a bottle of superb gin! 
He was presented with his bottle by Alan Carson of one of our other major sponsors, MKM, who attended our last home Saturday match of the season enjoying match hospitality with their guests. 

As we have stated in our posts before we are very grateful to our local companies who without their financial help we would not be able to exist. 

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Next is a trip to Aberdeen and a match against Banks O’ Dee FC on Saturday.

HOME MATCH v BUCKIE THISTLE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 8 APRIL 2023 – KO 3pm

This Saturday we welcome the green and white hooped shirts of Buckie Thistle, Breedon Highland League title contenders for the second year in a row and current league leaders and the surrounding hoopla that all that entails. 
The Buckie Jags always bring a sizeable support with them and I am sure this will be no exception and we welcome them to Grantown in what promises to be an interesting afternoon.
Having lost only two games all season, Buckie to all concerned go into the match very much favourites and following a narrow win against Forres Mechanics last Saturday continue their winning ways, but, the Strathy Jags are beginning to put together some good performances and must go in to the game with more confidence than they had for their last meeting. 
Buckie are four points ahead of Brechin City, who have one game in hand, but the pair meet each other on the last day of the season – which promises to be a great occasion for, mainly, one set of supporters….

 For those Buckie Thistle supporters visiting us for the first time, or those wanting a resumé click here for more information.

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LAST WEEK v INVERNESS CLACHNACUDDIN FC

Recorded for posterity by the P&J cameras filming for their Highland Football Weekly webcast, and, the BBC’s A View From The Terrace filming a segment for their Friday night programme, there were goals, controversy, a red card, nine minutes of added time and an exciting watch if you were not affiliated to either team…..there was also an excellent report in Monday’s Press & Journal.

There now follows our report which may contain a slight bias….

It was a great day weatherwise for football and Clach were well into their stride early on and deservedly took the lead in eight minutes but a defensive mistake soon after allowed Jack Davison in to equalise for the Jags with seventeen minutes played.

After that Clach’s domination began to fade and Strathspey came more and more into the game, although there was a bit of panic in the home defence when an excellent shot was tipped onto the bar by Jags keeper James Kendall.
After the break it was Strathspey who again took the initiative and scored through ex-Clach man Ross Logan, who continued to be a threat to the Clach goal and on another day would have added to his tally. 

Then the most bizarre incident of the afternoon occurred – when Conor Austin was deemed to have fouled stopping a goal scoring opportunity as last man defender…….a decision that dumbfounded all the spectators including even the Clach management team……

We then had a goal ruled correctly offside but the ten men of Strathspey held out until the fourth minute of time added on when Clach equalised. 
All in all it was another very positive performance and one that we were very unlucky to not have the full three points in the bag. 

The excellent action photographs of the game were again supplied by Donald Cameron of NOREmacPIX and we thank him very much again for allowing us to include them in this post and we look forward to his next visit.

Goalscorer Ross Logan was named Man Of The Match and was presented with his bottle of MOTM sponsor Cairngorm Gin by committee member Garry Horton after the match.

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EASY-PLAY WEEKLY ONLINE LOTTO FUNDRAISER (age 16+):
THE JACKPOT NOW STANDS AT £4000

Help Strathspey Thistle in raising vital funds for the club through an Online Weekly Lotto by Clubforce.  
Choose five numbers for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 52 weeks (2 weeks free) and extra lines can be added and you can tick auto-renewal to avoid the hassle of reminders. 

Thank you for helping the club – it is much appreciated. To play click here.

Michael McKenzie has agreed to sign until 2024.

Manager Robert MacCormack said
“I am delighted Michael has agreed to join the club until 2024. Having worked with him for a number of years I was keen to take him to the club with me and in the few games he has played so far he has been excellent for us. Looking forward to working with him going forward into next season and I’m sure he will be a massive part of what we are looking to achieve.”

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A VIEW FROM THE TERRACE

We were joined for last Saturday’s game against Clach by the filming team from BBC Scotland’s great Friday night football programme. Although the Premier League is duly discussed the programme concentrates more on the other leagues and non-leagues throughout Scotland as well as very interesting features on a variety of clubs and people.

The team arrived and set up for interviews in the home dressing room with Chairman Donly McLeod and Club Captain James McShane. Next up was former player and now a supporter, Deane Lawson, who remembered the early days and life growing up in Grantown.

Then the film team spent some time filming around the ground and the arrival of the Clach supporters before filming parts of the game and the goings on at a typical Seafield Park Saturday afternoon…

It was great having the guys here and we hope they enjoyed their time here too – now we are looking forward to viewing the fruits of their labour in a couple of weeks.

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Clach game report and Buckie preview later in the week….

Thursday 2^nd The club has signed 27-year-old Michael MacKenzie from Alness United. The players trained at Inverness.

Monday 6^thSnow and sub-zero temperatures returned to Speyside putting Wednesday night’s home game with Huntly in doubt.

Wednesday 7^th With tonight forecast to be around minus ten degrees and day-time temperatures of a maximum three degrees, the Huntly game was called off and the visit of Keith FC on Saturday was already in doubt.

Thursday 9^thNearly a full squad were able to attend training in Inverness.

Friday 10^th With no change in the weather likely over the next forty eight hours Saturday’s home game was called off. Robert was hoping to arrange a friendly game somewhere on Saturday. Preparations now begin for our next game on March 18 at Turriff United.

Wednesday 15^th Last night at the Charlestown Centre in Inverness. The Jags played a friendly match with Nairn County reserves. Manager Robert MacCormack was pleased with the 5-1 win and the general performance. Jack Davison scored three goals and the others from Jake Lockett and Jordan Shaw. It was good to see Jordan back playing after what has been a difficult time for him. For Saturday’s trip to Turriff United James McShane returns to the squad and Mike MacKenzie is set for his debut. Liam McDade and Mike Grimes are unavailable due to work commitments.

Saturday 18^th  Another trip on D & E Coaches to the middle of Aberdeenshire, this time to Turriff. The game had been in doubt last night due to the amount of rain that fallen but an 09.30 inspection passed the pitch as playable. For the opening forty five minutes the team played well, creating a couple of good chances, hitting the post and playing with a good shape and went in at half time having shaded the half. The second period continued in the same vein until the 58^th minute when we went one down. In a 23 minute period we just fell apart and four further goals were conceded. It was baffling to those who were there how the game was completely turned around. Lots of work for Robert and his staff to deal with over the upcoming days as minds turn to the forthcoming Wednesday trip to Wick.

Tuesday 21^st20 year old forward Jordan Shaw has joined Alness United of the North Caledonian League for a month to get some game time under his belt after suffering quite badly from the effects of Covid.

Wednesday 22^ndA long and winding road to Wick on the Jags bus but it turns out to be a well worth it trip. Kicking down the slope to start with ‘The Jags’ soon settled into a  good shape watched by new Assistant Manager Mike Rae. 

After 33 minutes Daniel Whitehorn scored from close range and it was no more than the team deserved. We wondered which team would turn up for the second forty five minutes but we need not have worried because although Wick equalised midway through the half, heads didn’t drop and it was not long before new signing Mike MacKenzie restored our lead. We could have added a couple more goals but all players were tiring as the muddy pitch took it’s toil.

Mike Rae is an ex-Rangers goalkeeper whose past clubs also include Ross County, Buckie Thistle and Lossiemouth. Jags boss Robert MacCormack is delighted that he has joined the club.

Our last home game was on February 4 when we played Nairn County and since then we have visited Inverurie Locos, Brora, Turriff United and Wick so we are looking forward to returning to Seafield Park on Wednesday March 29 for the visit of Huntly.

Wednesday 29^thRobert, Mike and Robbie’s first home game as the new management team at a damp Seafield Park. Another game of two contrasting halves which is again a puzzle to those who were at the game. The Jags started well, carrying on from their Wick performance and enjoyed taking the lead on 22 minutes through newcomer Jake Lockett. A poor defensive tackle on 33 minutes gave Huntly the chance to equalise from the spot which they duly did. We then contrived to miss two golden chances and went in at half-time 1-1. The second half was the complete opposite and on 52 and 54 minutes poor defending saw us concede two sloppy goals. We threatened little going forward and Huntly made it 4-1 on 74 minutes with their second penalty.

We now enter the most important month in our history when it will be decided whether we remain in the Highland League or have to take part in a relegation play-off. The club also celebrates in April our 30^th anniversary. Interesting times as they say. Clachnacuddin visit Seafield Park on April 1.

HOME MATCH v CLACHNACUDDIN FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 1 APRIL 2023 – KO 3pm

This Saturday, we welcome Inverness Clachnacuddin FC and BBC Scotland’s View From The Terrace to Seafield Park.

The fixture has evolved into a sort of derby match – there has been a lot of rivalry over the years and as the both sets of players know each other really well, they always want to win the bragging rights!

We go into this game hoping to repeat the outcome of our last meeting when we earned our first win of the season back in November, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, so as we always say in football you never know what’s going to happen. 
Clach come to Grantown after a great result midweek beating Banks o’Dee and we play our second home match in a row after Wednesday’s disappointing result against Huntly.

For Clach fans who are coming to Grantown for the first time, or for those who want a resumé, click here for more information.

Unfortunately this Saturday coincides with the opening of the golf season at Grantown Golf Club and parking which was generously offered to the Jags by the Golf Club will not now be available again until the end of the golf season. With the recent wet weather the Community field adjacent to the Park is available to blue badge holders only.
The public car park at Burnfield is always available as is some street parking around the ground but please be aware of not obstructing peoples driveways – thank you.

VIEW FROM THE TERRACE 

View From The Terrace, the very watchable BBC Scotland football fan programme are recording a segment for their show on Saturday too. So you never know if you come to the match you may be on the telly!

MATCH v HUNTLY LAST WEDNESDAY

Another game of two halves for the Jags!

Most spectators at the match would confirm that we were the better team in the first half and we took the lead on twenty two minutes by home debutant Jake Lockett only for Huntly to equalise eleven minutes later thanks to a penalty awarded after what looked like a free kick should have been awarded to ourselves – but that’s fitba! We also missed a couple of decent chances during the first period.
Unfortunately in the second half Huntly capitalised on a couple of defensive mistakes and were awarded another penalty in the second half. 
The home fans were disappointed with the final result as most reckoned the game was closer than the score suggests.

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STRATHSPEY THISTLE’S 30th BIRTHDAY

How time flies – yes, on the 18 April 2023 we celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Club – please go to the Club’s history page – click here – for more information about how the Club was formed and how we arrived in April 2023.

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EASY-PLAY ONLINE LOTTO FUNDRAISER (age 16+):

Help Strathspey Thistle in raising vital funds for the club through Online Lotto by Clubforce.  

Choose five numbers for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 52 weeks (2 weeks free) and extra lines can be added and you can tick auto-renewal to avoid the hassle of reminders. 

Thank you for your help for the club – it is much appreciated. To play click here.

HOME MATCH v HUNTLY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN PH26 3HY
WEDNESDAY 29 MARCH 2023 – KO 8pm

The floodlights will be on in anticipation of welcoming Huntly FC and their supporters to Seafield Park. 
Currently sitting in tenth spot in the league on thirty five points Huntly are having a good season and have amassed a very respectable seventeen points since the turn of the year so The Jags know that this will be another tough game. 

However, after last Wednesday’s three points in Wick and a game-by-game visible improvement in performance Robert and the boys will be hoping of more of the same, in the first of four home games in a row.
In our first game at Seafield Park since the 4th of February there are many home debutants not least our new management duo of Robert MacCormack and Mike Rae who will occupy the home dug-out for the first time. It will also be the first chance for home fans to see our new signings Michael Grimes, Jake Lockett and Michael Mackenzie, who opened his Jags goal scoring account last week in Wick.

Hopefully we will continue the good performances to make the home fans head home smiling… 

For any Huntly supporters visiting Seafield Park for the first time or returning ones wanting a refresher please click here for information.

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EASY-PLAY THE JAGS ONLINE LOTTO FUNDRAISER

Join the Strathy Jags family in raising vital funds for the club through Online Lotto hosted by Clubforce.  
Choose 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 52 weeks (2 weeks free) and add extra lines. 
Tick auto-renewal to avoid the hassle of reminders. 
Thank you for helping the club – it is much appreciated. 

To play click here.  (age 16+)

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SEE YOU AT THE MATCH…….

Normally at this time on a Saturday we are preparing for our afternoon’s Breedon Highland League match but the way the league keeps certain Saturdays for re-arranged games we are not involved this time.

So it gives us a chance to assess our fortunes this week which since five o’clock last Saturday have been very good indeed.

Three o’clock on Saturday saw us at The Haughs in Turriff and what was the proverbial game of two halves. 
After a very good first half according to manager Robert MacCormack we were the better team by being hard to beat and hitting Turriff on the counter and, also, missed a good chance to take the lead.
After the break we went one down and again missed a big opportunity to level …..and after that the heads dropped and there followed a shocking twenty minutes or so when we lost a further four goals – the scoreline looks as though we were on the end of a hammering but it wasn’t like that at all – we conceded so many poor goals.
A positive from the game was former Alness United forward Michael Mackenzie’s debut performance.

Now, the good stuff…..

NEW ASSISTANT MANAGER

Tuesday saw the announcement of Michael Rae’s appointment as Assistant Manager. 

The former Rangers goalkeeper whose past clubs include Ross County, Buckie Thistle and Lossiemouth was assistant at Nairn County until last September and joins the Jags until the summer of 2024.

Boss Robert MacCormack said in the local paper The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald that he was absolutely delighted to get Mike as his assistant. 
“As well as a massive coup for the Club, he will undoubtedly help the Club get where we want to go and from a personal point of view it will be a massive help to me with his experience and knowledge of the game”.

AWAY GAME v WICK ACADEMY FC

So, it was Wednesday and we made the long trip up the A9 and a midweek Breedon Highland League match against Wick Academy to notch up our first victory since the start of November. 

After he enjoyed a well deserved pie and a cuppa after the journey north, our eyes at the match reported that we started the game really well and deservedly scored first on thirty two minutes through Daniel Whitehorn and it remained 1-0 until the break. 

Although Wick went down to ten on fifty minutes they equalised on sixty minutes, but, two minutes later new boy Michael Mackenzie scored his first for the Jags’ and their second goal of the evening to make it 2-1.
The Jags could have scored again very late on but the chance was missed.
Asked his thoughts after the match the Boss said “Absolutely delighted!”

JACK DAVISON CONTRACT EXTENSION
Then Thursday brought more good news with the announcement that Jack Davison has extended his contract until the summer of 2024.

The Gaffer said  “I am delighted that Jack has agreed to stay at the Club until June 2024. As we continue to rebuild the squad keeping Jack is a massive part of what we are trying to achieve. I have worked with Jack previously and know how good a player he is, and when I came here I was very much looking forward to working with him again.”

We now look forward to the first of four home fixtures in a row starting on Wednesday night against Huntly – weather permitting again ! – so it would be great to see you at Seafield Park supporting the Jags.

FUNDRAISING LOTTERY NEWS

This week the jackpot is now £3800 – to play online just click here . Thank you.

AWAY MATCH v WICK ACADEMY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
HARMSWORTH PARK, WICK, KW1 5NH
WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH – KO 8pm

It’s off up the A9 again on Wednesday, for our meeting under the Harmsworth Park lights, in a Breedon Highland League game against a Wick Academy team whose path this year can be compared on a slightly similar vein to our own.  We have both suffered comprehensive beatings from the top six league clubs and have put in some decent performances in other games – mind you,  Wick’s defensive record is far superior to ours as is their points total – twenty one points as against our six.

Mikey Grimes and Liam McDade are back in the squad but James McShane through work committments is unavailable as is Seamus MCConoghy who has a hamstring injury.

Even although we had a mad twenty minute spell last week at Turriff, the boys are beginning to show signs of recovery from which has, after all, been not too good a season so far….but hopefully on Wednesday there will be more signs of positivity and improvement for the new management team of Robert MacCormack and Mike Rae to enjoy – heading home to Grantown with a point or two would be nice….and then be ready for the next run of games.

Yes, it’s going to feel like eight days a week after next Saturday’s rest day as we prepare for four home games in a row…Huntly, Clach, Buckie Thistle & Keith – fortunately there’s a bit of respite for the pitch between the Clach and Buckie games. The Keith game is our last home game of the season so it would be great if you can come along to at least one or two of the games – the two games under the floodlights are always atmospheric and there’s also the visit of title contenders Buckie Thistle on the April 8 ………

See you soon Jags Fans…..