Strathspey Thistle FC

Following on from our winning start, in our pre-season friendlies, with a 2-0 win against Nairn County under20s – a goal each from Joe Cuthbert and new signing Ben Cullen

– it is with great pleasure we introduce this Thursday’s game at Seafield Park KO 7.30pm – perhaps it could be an annual fixture.

From Ritchie Sons Facebook page

Strathspey Thistle In The Community…… wee exciting announcement (well, I think it is)
Pre-season friendly match, Strathspey Thistle v Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare Association Select, Thursday 7th July, Seafield Park, Grantown, 7:30pm kick off….. please try and come along and support both teams as we bring the local football clubs together to celebrate football in the community.

Young players from Strathspey Rovers and Aviemore Active Schools football teams will join in the fun by taking part in a half time penalty competition….

Hope to see you there on the night…

Should be good fun….Admission fee will be a donation at the gate.

June 3^rd    Assistant Manager Steve Rattray has left the club to take the Manager’s position at Dufftown FC who play in the first division of the North region McBookies.com league. We wish him well in his new post. Vice Chairman Ian S Anderson and Team Manager Charlie Brown had a successful meeting tonight and we will have a Sports Therapist in place to start the season. This will cover first-aid and physio requirements on matchdays.

June 6^th   Brian Ritchie has returned to the club as Head of Football Development and will work with Team Manager Charlie Brown and Vice Chairman Ian S Anderson.

June 8^th   Mark Holmes has joined the club as assistant manager. Mark, aged 46, is from Inverness and played in the Highland League for Clachnacuddin, Nairn, Forres Mechanics and Buckie Thistle. He has also played in the Scottish league for Inverness Caley Thistle, Ross County and Falkirk and for two seasons in Brisbane, Australia. He currently runs the Mark Holmes International Football Academy coaching kids aged 3 to 19. Welcome Mark.

June 9^th   Our goalkeeper Michael MacCallum has signed a contract extension with The Jags until June 30, 2023.

June 11^th We welcome striker Ben Cullen who has joined us from Dufftown FC. Ben is 31 and last season in the North Region of the McBookie.com First Division he scored 35 goals from 29 appearances.

June 15^thThe article 99 Arbitration Tribunal involving Fort William FC and The Highland Football League will take place on Monday June 20, 2022. After the hearing we should have a clearer idea when the 2022/2023 fixtures will be published.

June 20^th The 99 Arbitration Tribunal announced that they would meet again on Wednesday June 22 at 18.00.

June 23^rdFort William’s appeal against Highland League relegation thrown out. Fixtures for the new season have now been published and The Jags open the season at home to Forres Mechanics on Saturday July 23 and are on the road to Formartine on Saturday July 30.

June 26^thA boost for the new season was the news that our Captain, James McShane, had signed a contract extension until June 30, 2024. James who is 27 signed his first professional contract with The Jags on February 8, 2013. This upcoming season will be his Testimonial year. May it be a good one.

June 28^thThe draw for the first round of the North of Scotland Cup has been made and the Jags have been drawn at home to Golspie Sutherland from the North Caledonian League. The tie is to be played on Wednesday July 27 with the kick off at 20:00. The winners will travel to Brora Rangers on Wednesday August 17.

Brian Ritchie returns to The Jags as Head of Football Development….

Well, I did say that there was going to be more very interesting news of great significance to the development of Strathspey Thistle – and the appointment of Brian Ritchie as the Club’s first Head of Football Development is great news for the club.

Brian said on his new role :
“I am delighted and very grateful to be given the opportunity to assist Strathspey Thistle in their quest to bring the club into the local community and beyond… I hope to bring the experiences I gained from my previous spell with the club and from a very enjoyable and rewarding 3 years looking after Clachnacuddin U20’s squad to the fore and, in turn, see the benefit of this bringing Strathspey Thistle forward”
“The work has already started in linking with local welfare football clubs and discussions are underway on how we can all bring as much positivity and integration to Seafield Park as possible.
Here’s to a happy future.”.  

Obviously we at JagsWeb wish Brian all the very best and all at the club are very much looking forward to the future and to see what it holds….

We are also delighted to announce the permanent signing of Ben Cullen.

“ Ben is a former Elgin City and Dufftown striker” said manager Charlie Brown” who is a major threat to opponents in and around the 18 yard box, and who knows where the back of the net is! We are excited to see Ben at Seafield Park and hopefully Ben will kick on and get himself a nice return of goals.”

We would like to thank Dufftown FC for allowing this deal to happen.

Michael “Monk” MacCallum commits for another year

Manager Charlie had this to say on retaining Monk.
“Delighted to get Michael to extend his stay with us for another year, Michael’s experience and quality as a keeper with be vital to us throughout the season” 

Michael’s last season was a stop-start affair due an unfortunate injury but now injury free, he is hoping to kick off where he left off last season – and that was in great form.

And there is more to come……..should be back next week with more exciting news.

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What most clubs in Scotland will be doing at this time of year is maintenance around the ground – lots of painting and generally making sure everything is reasonably up to scratch for the start of the new season…so, if anybody has a couple of hours or a spare morning, especially if the sun shines, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – there can’t be a better way to spend some time…helping your favourite football club and topping up your tan…see you at Seafield Park…

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The Club Lottery jackpot this week stands at £3,900.00 – if you want to play – play here and again THANKS for your support.

Well, seemingly once a year as the photo shows Ken, from RW Welch & Son of Monifieth, is back on his tractor at Seafield Park in the middle of May for ground maintanance. 

Helping him this year and sowing the grass seed was Welch’s main man in Inverness, Neil Rennie.

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9 June 2022 TEAM NEWS
We’re back for the first of a mid-summer catch up on the goings on at Strathspey Thistle and there are a lot of exciting things in the pipeline so please keep checking back – but now – time to introduce and welcome some new faces :

Joining the Jags are :
Now on a permanent deal, Jack Wardop.
Our Gaffer Charlie had this to say about Jack.“ Jack joins us determined to take his development on to the next level and aim to put pressure on the current squad for a starting spot in the team for the new season ahead.

On a seasons loan from Elgin City goalkeeper, Oliver Kelly
Charlie, and the rest of us at Strathspey Thistle, welcome Oliver and had this to say on his new addition.“ Oliver is young exciting goal keeper who has a great future ahead of him. We thank Elgin City for allowing this to happen.” 

From Burghead Thistle, James Fraser 
We are delighted to announce the permanent signing of James Felaini Fraser.
Charlie said that in welcoming James to the Club “He is a versatile player who can play defence or midfield. A tough aggressive player who can also create openings for others.
We would like to thank Burghead Thistle FC for allowing this deal to happen.

More exciting announcements both on and off the park will follow in the next couple of weeks or so …..?????….????…stay tuned……

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STRATHSPEY THISTLE GOLF DAY – 9 JULY 2022

Date for your Diary – Saturday 9 July – Strathspey Thistle Golf Day
This is our main fund raising day of the year and this we are delighted to be returning to Grantown-on-Spey Golf club, next door to the Seafield Park ground.
There are a few entries for a four-person team still available to compete in an 18 hole Scramble and all information can be obtained by contacting club chairman Donly McLeod on  07709 990 286. Entry fee for the team is £130.00.

And of course it would not be the same if we did not end on an invitation to play the other very important financial resource for the club which continues fifty two weeks of the year and we must mention Graeme Stuart and Mags Clark in their dedication in keeping the Lottery going – this week the winning jackpot is up to £3,800.00 – play here

Again thank you for all your support in what the Club does, and just think, only 44 more sleeps till the Breedon Highland League starts again on the 21 July………..
we’ll be back soon!

 1^st    Inverness Sports Centre is where the players will start pre-season training on June 14. The Breedon Scottish Highland League (SHFL) will commence on July 23.

7^th    In the first leg of the Scottish League 2 play-off final Bonnyrigg Rose took a big step in their promotion bid with a resounding win over the SPFL’s bottom club, Cowdenbeath. First half goals from Brown and Martyniuk, followed up on 74 minutes with a further goal from Brett have given The Blue Brazil a mountain to climb in the return leg on May 14. Banks O’ Dee defeated Bridge of Don Thistle to add the McLeman Cup to their honours board in their final season in junior football before joining the SHFL. The Spain Park side are going to be a very powerful addition to the league.

10^th    We are pleased to announce that goalkeeper Oliver Kelly has joined us on a season-long loan from Elgin City.

14^th    Cowdenbeath lost at Central Park to Bonnyrigg Rose, 1-0, which means they will be playing in the Lowland League next season. They will join former SPFL teams Berwick Rangers, East Stirling and Gretna together with the B teams from Celtic and Rangers. The attendance was 2,117.

28^th   21 year old defender James Fraser has joined us on a two year contract. James started with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, in their youth set up, before playing for Inverness Clachnacuddin and then Burghead Thistle.

30^th    Due to Fort William taking their case over their relegation to the SFA, an independent tribunal will look at the issue as soon as possible which means that the fixtures for 2022/2023 are at present on hold. 

Saturday 2  After league leaders Fraserburgh’s visit last Wednesday today was a trip to Buckie to face second place Thistle who are chasing The Broch all the way. It was a comfortable win for the home side, their 23^rd league win in a row, which is a remarkable achievement. Sam Urquhart was the standout player in the 5-0 win with a hatrick. The jags have to dust themselves down and prepare for the visit of Forres Mechanics on Wednesday night.

Wednesday 6  On a night when various storms were expected but luckily missed out Grantown the Jags ensured their safety in the Breedon Highland League by beating near neighbours Forres Mechanics by 3-1. It was one of the best performances of the season and  goals from Lawrence, McShane and Duncan made it a good evening for everyone at the club. The result meant that Fort William will finish bottom and will take part in the two leg play off against Banks o Dee from Aberdeen. Dates TBC.

Saturday 9  On a bumpy pitch and difficult winds we visited Lossiemouth for our final away game and came away with a 1-1 draw. Lossie shaded the first half and went ahead through a Liam McDade own goal but in the second half got more into the game and after after Andrew Skinner was fouled in the box Jake Thomson converted the penalty to give the Jags a point. We now prepare for the last two home games of the season.

Sunday 10   Dates were announced for the relegation play off between Fort William and Banks o Dee who were winners of the Superleague. Fort William will travel to Aberdeen on Saturday April 23 and entertain Banks o Dee at Craggan Park on April 30. This will be Fort’s first home game of the season after all the problems they have had with their pitch. We wish them well.

Wednesday 13  It was Fort Williams’ home game tonight at Seafield Park and in an exciting encounter they ran out winners by 4-2 which gave them their first league victory of the season. Goals for the Strathy Jags came from Craig MacKenzie and Ross Logan. The first goal for Fort came from Ethan Cairns who was with us on loan from Caley Thistle in the first part of the season.

Saturday 16  In our last game of the season The Jags came very close to registering their first ever point against Inverurie but went down to a 30^th minute goal from Lloyd Robertson. As in most games since January the team performed well and today created several good chances but still remained goal less. We welcomed 8 years old Joseph Sinclair who was today’s mascot for Strathspey. For the Locos they said fairwell to Club captain Neil McLean and defender Ryan Broadhurst after 18 and 14 seasons respectively at Harlaw Park. 

Congratulations to Fraserburgh who clinched the Breedon Highland League title for the first time in 20 years and the fourth time in their history. They have led from the start of the season but have been chased to the wire by Buckie Thistle. The Broch will now play Bonnyrigg Rose from the Lowland league home and away for the right to play team 42 from the SFL Division 2, Cowdenbeath, for a place in league 2.

Friday 22  During the afternoon the Highland league secretary announced that Fort William had withdrawn from their relegation play off games with Banks o Dee as they did not have enough signed players for both games. Players had to be signed by January 31 2022 to be permitted to play. A disappointment for everyone concerned but it now means Fort William will play in the North Caledonian League next season and Banks o Dee will join The Scottish Highland Football League.

Saturday 23  Champions Fraserburgh travelled to New Dundas Park and were defeated by Lowland League Champions Bonnyrigg Rose 3-1. The Broch pulled the game back to 2-1 with a goal from Paul Young from close range but on 82 minutes conceded a third goal, leaving themselves a mountain to climb at Bellslea next Saturday. The winners will then play team 42, Cowdenbeath, in the play off for a place in the Scottish Football League 2.

Saturday 30  Fraserburgh manager Mark Cowie made four changes from the first leg. In the first half both sides created chances before a large crowd but half time arrived with the score 0-0. With The Broch playing down the slope again both teams again spurning chances until the 68^th minute when Kieran Simpson gave Fraserburgh hope with a shot from close range. The home side dominated the last fifteen mintes but to no avail and Bonnyrigg Rose were through by the odd goal in five. The Rose will now play The Blue Brazil, Cowdenbeath at New Dundas Park, Midlothian on Saturday May 7 and visit Central Park, Cowdenbeath on Saturday May14 to decide who will play next season in Scottish League 2.

It has been a long and nervous season for The Jags and our thanks go out to all the volunteers, sponsors, supporters, team management and players for all of their support. With the arrival of Banks o Dee to the league it will now make the competition even stronger. 2022/2023 season commences on July 23.

Home Match v Inverurie Loco Works FC, Seafield Park, Grantown
Breedon Highland League, Saturday 16 April – KO 3pm

Game number thirty four, and our last game of the season. We welcome Richard Hastings and his Inverurie Loco Works team to Grantown, in what is their last game too, and at the moment they sit in a very safe and creditable seventh place in the league – so again it will be a very tough game and it would great if we manage three points and a flourish to finish the season with.. We imagine that there will be a few more Loco’s fans than normal, as long time servants Ryan Broadhurst and captain Neil McLean are hanging their boots up after the game – we wish them both all the best.

After all the huffing and puffing in the Breedon Highland League throughout season 2021/2022 the dust will settle and we will be able to see on Saturday who wins the title – the odds are highly biased towards Fraserburgh, but mathematically it is still possible for Buckie Thistle to lift the trophy – either way we at Strathspey Thistle congratulate them both for an epic contest!
Wednesday nights game in Grantown against Fort William resulted in a first win of the season for them.  After twenty minutes or so, the Jags could have been two or three ahead, Fort started putting their game together and probably deserved their win 4 -2 over the piece.

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After this weekend we’ll probably have a wee rest in producing the weekly web page – although, we’ll still be able to look forward to, and enjoy, our secretary Clive’s monthly newletters. We should be back webbing in early July ready for season 2022/2023. 

Over the summer keep informed of what’s happening JagsWise on our Twitter and Facebook pages 

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Take care JagsFans and enjoy your summer.

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And as ever lets not forget the Club Lottery as this week the jackpot is £3000 – that would go fantastically well on a nice long summer holiday, when the football’s not on perhaps…. to play – play here

“Home Match” v Fort William FC – Seafield Park, Grantown
Breedon Highland League – Wednesday 13 April – KO 8pm

It must feel like eight days a week for Shadab Iftikar and his Fort William players as their game at Seafield Park will be their third game of five within an eleven day period – a real hard day’s night!!
Fort William, stars of what was a compelling television documentary on BBC Scotland a couple of years ago, about the running of a football club in the lower divisions of the football leagues in the UK, and highlighted the difficult everyday decisions that most other Highland League clubs can correlate with very easily…and I think a sequel is being filmed this year which, again, should be very interesting.
This year they have not had their troubles to seek – all of which has been well documented in the press. Not being able to play their home games at Claggan Park, I would imagine, was a bitter blow – in fact, Wednesday’s match is actually their home game…their trials and tribulations have unfortunately left them in the relegation position and at the end of April they face a couple of play-off matches with Banks o’Dee FC for a place in next years Highland League. We wish them all the best.

It means of course for us at Strathspey Thistle a very tough match, as the Fort are wanting to prove that their league position does not merit their current play and have shown a great improvement over the past few weeks as their draw on Monday night against Turriff United proves.
The Jags will hope to capture all three points and keep our recent run of decent results going too, as proved last Saturday when an 85th minute penalty scored by Jake Thompson secured a deserved draw against Lossiemouth.
Interesting fact from the Lossie game was that a late shot by Jags forward Ross Logan was saved by Lossie keeper Logan Ross……one for a quiz sometime….

Unfortunately captain James McShane, who missed the game on Saturday will not feature on Wednesday either because of suspension – as will Fraser Russell who was injured last week – but everyone else should be fit and ready to go.
Hopefully the weather will be a lot more pleasant than the last time Fort William visited Seafield Park last October. In the pouring rain the visitors went two up very early on in the first half but we fought back for a convincing 7-3 victory.

A win on Wednesday would make all Jags fans feel fine!

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Then, on Thursday morning it’s pitch fixing (everyone welcome) ready for our last game of the season – a home game against Inverurie Loco Works on Saturday.

Away match v Lossiemouth FC – Grant Park, Lossiemouth (IV31 6JG)
Breedon Highland League – Saturday 9 April – KO 3pm

Our last away game of season and the venue is Grant Park, Lossiemouth and our opponents are Lossiemouth FC. 
There has been some fine results from The Jags over the years against Lossie – let’s hope we can make it two wins in a row.

It’s a happy bunch of players who make their way to the coast and to our final away game of Season 21/22.

Happy ? Our impressive win on Wednesday against Forres Mechanics, as detailed in the P&J report of the game the following day, means that our Highland League survival is confirmed and planning can begin for next season.
The Jags won 3-1 with two first half goals – one from Dylan Lawrence, and then captain James McShane got on the scoresheet for the first time in a while…Forres scored just before half time. In the second half both teams had chances, but Jags’ Kris Duncan headed home a cracker after some great wing work by *man of the match Ross Logan. ( *that’s me and the fans and spectators around me). The win also puts us above Turriff United.

During the game on Wednesday, Fraser Russell was injured and for a wee moment we thought it was a head injury and when the stretcher came on we feared the worst. Fortunately, it wasn’t a head knock – and according to our latest report this morning, Friday, he has damaged the ligaments in his ankle. We wish him all the best for a speedy recovery and hope to see him back at Seafield Park at the start of the new season. 

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As mentioned this is our last away match of the season and we’d like to thank our spectators who travelled to any of these games – the boys really appreciate your support.

We finish the season with two home games this week – on Wednesday we have Fort William and on Saturday it’s Inverurie Loco Works.

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Belated thanks must go to club historian Rob A. Clark – with the help of our secretary Clive and help from our main sponsors McGowan Environmental Engineering – for his production of a commemorative programme for the Brechin City home game last month – in the future he hopes to produce the occasional programme for cup or special events …excellent!

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As ever a mention for the Club Lottery which this week’s jackpot stands at £2900. Play here…. Thank you.

Game v Forres Mechanics FC at Seafield Park, Grantown
Wednesday 6 April – KO 8pm

It’s a welcome to the team from the winning town of the “Scotland in Bloom” title many times, Forres Mechanics FC. Our Wednesday fixture in the Breedon Highland League was postponed from a frosty Saturday last December.
Both teams are suffering mixed fortunes at the moment, although Forres are in twelfth place in the league, their season has been a bit of a rollercoaster especially recently – so the idea of a hard fought match in a midweek game under the floodlights is very much in prospect with both teams I reckon capable of securing the three points.  Although we have only had only one win and two draws over the ten years we have been in the league against the Mechanics maybe it’s time for another win – we wish Charlie and the team all the best and hope they continue the improvement in form, especially at home.

Hopefully the weather forecast for this weeks game is wrong as Grantown is predicted to have two days of snow – Tuesday and Wednesday…..Scottish weather eh?