Strathspey Thistle FC

On the road again tomorrow to The Haughs Park in Queens Road Turriff AB53 4EF.

KICK OFF is at 8pm.

Let’s hope for another three points but you can’t always get what you want…..

Multitudinous Greetings Sports Fans…Well, it turned out to be a great few days for Charlie and the boys  – following on from their cup win against Clach mid-week, it was another great performance and the first three pointer of the season.  We now have five points after five games and sit in tenth position. 

It was a cracking game of football in front of a good crowd with Jake Thompson scoring first on 26 minutes and Craig Mackenzie, just before halftime, scoring our second direct from a corner kick. Lossie came back into the game in the second half and both teams had chances. The P&J’s man of the match Craig scored again in the 78th minute to make it three – nil. Lossiemouth’s Elliott scored in the latter stages and that’s how it finished.

We were the featured game in the Press & Journals’  The Score on Monday morning and also on the P&J Weekly Video show.

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/category/sport/football/highland-league/

Next,  it’s away to Turriff on Wednesday night.

On Saturday we were also visited by Steve Pattison and his son Brody.
Brody does the official vlogs for Harrogate Town FC, in England’s League Two. The family were in Scotland on holiday and chose to attend a Strathy Jags home game.

According to Steve’s posts on social media they both thoroughly enjoyed their day and are looking forward to the next time they come to Seafield Park. It was a great pleasure having them visit and we’ll keep a look out for Harrogate Town’s progress through his vlogs!

Brody’s vlog from Seafield Park is very entertaining and very watchable – surely he is destined for a position in major sports media coverage in the future.

Brody’s Vlog https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=MNf7mQq6uxw

This Saturday we welcome Lossiemouth FC to Seafield Park for what is usually a very close fought contest. Both teams had good wins in mid-week and will be looking for all three League points. Some Co-Vid restrictions will be in place for players and officials but spectators should be more or less back to as it was pre-CoVid, with the added bonus of being able to buy a pie and a cup of tea as the catering outlet reopens. But, as ever if you are attending the game stay safe and enjoy.

As mentioned we had a very good 4-0 win in the North of Scotland Cup tie against Clach at Grant Street in Inverness on Wednesday night with goals from Cammy Lisle, Kris Duncan, James McShane and Andrew Skinner finishing the scoring with an 85th minute penalty.

As ever thanks to all who attended the annual Golf Day – players, sponsors, friends – I think everyone had a very enjoyable day and raised money for the Club in so doing ….and hopefully some of the people I spoke to were going to sign up for the Club online lottery – I hope they did…..if not please click on the Lottery Logo…page top right>>>>>>>>

Well, after a disappointing visit to Grant Street, we are back there on Wednesday night (17 August) to play Inverness Clachnacuddin in the first round of the Highland League Cup. In last Friday’s league game, the Jags were one up at half-time but another below-par performance in the second half cost us the three points again.

Speaking of below par performances that was what was required to win at our annual golf day.  This year it was played at Craggan Golf Course on the outskirts of Grantown – the fifth hole runs parallel to the construction site of the brand new Cairn Distillery.  The overall winners were John Tulloch,  Ally Hogg, David Morrison and Louis Stewart and the Women’s Team prize went to the ladies sponsored by John Ross Funeral Services

From the feedback we’ve received so far everyone had a very enjoyable day – and everyone is already looking forward to the Strathspey Thistle Golf Day 2022.

After a disappointing second half at Forres we are on the road again – this time to Inverness and a Breedon Highland League match with Clach on Friday, yes Friday night – kick off  8pm.

This is because our annual Strathspey Thistle Golf Tournament takes place on Saturday (14th August)  at the Craggan Outdoors golf course which is being sponsored by The Royal Fish Bar, Grantown. 

There are three tee times 9am, 12noon and 3pm and the full complement of twenty seven teams of four have entered – thanks to all those who have. Please be there at least half an hour before your tee time to collect your cards etc and give yourself time to make your way to your designated tee for the shotgun start. 

Thanks also to Keith Ballam and Craggan Outdoors for offering the use of their facilities for this event.

We hope all competitors enjoy themselves and on the day catering will be by, one of our main sponsors, The Grantown Diner.

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Back on the playing side of things this week we signed Ethan Cairns, a striker, on a loan deal from ICTFC.

The Club are delighted to get the loan signing of Ethan over the line. For the time being Ethan will be with us until January.  We would like to thank ICTFC for their professionalism and support in getting this deal done. 

Welcome to Strathspey Thistle Ethan.

AND….remember the Weekly Lottery is available online too,  see >>>>>>>

July 6    Important milestone tonight with our first pre-season friendly and at home on our pitch, which had extensive work done over the summer, against a full strength Elgin City FC. We gave a good account of ourselves but went down 2-1 to a goal in the 89^th minute. James McShane scored our goal and we received compliments on how the pitch played. No spectators were allowed and social distancing was observed.

July 7    All players and team management being tested three times a week through the lateral flow system. The club announced the season ticket prices for the new season. £100 for adults and £50 for concessions (60+ and under 12). Supervised under 12s are free.

July 8    Visited SJFA side Dufftown, some say the whisky capital of the world, for our second friendly. Jags 3 up on 30 minutes and playing well and in what turned out to be an interesting and feisty game which finished in the dark and the rain at 5-5.

July 9    Another road trip this time to SJFA North Region division 2 side Islavale FC from Keith. Another competitive game which finished 3-2 to the Jags. Game time important at this time of the pre-season.

July 13    A beautiful summer evening at Mackessack Park, Rothes was the setting for another friendly. The Jags played well but went down 2-1. James McShane scored our goal on 87 minutes from a free kick. We played five triallists through the ninety minutes. Rothes were able to field two different sides.

July 17    Another warm sunny day but with strong gusts of wind saw The Jags play their last friendly before the season opens on July 24 with a home game with Forres Mechanics. In another competitive game the Jags came out winners through a Jake Thompson first half goal. Charlie and his team now spend the week preparing the players for the season opener at Christie Park, Huntly.

July 20    The club now has seventeen signed players for the new season with Stephen Rennie, Jordan Wardrope, Jake Thomson and Kris Duncan all signing for this season. We expect further additions to the squad. Jake is with us on loan from Elgin City for the whole of this season. Stephen was with Caley Thistle from 2008 to 2017 and was with us last season. Jordan has played with us before and also had two seasons with Forres Mechanics. Kris is a very experienced forward having played with a number of Highland League clubs and has also joined the coaching staff.

July 22    Notified by NOSFA Secretary that Golspie Sutherland have withdrawn from the North of Scotland Cup tie with us at Seafield Park on Wednesday July28 because of Covid-19. The tie is awarded to us which means we visit Inverness Clachnacuddin on Wednesday August 18. Time TBC.

July 24    The big day. A beautiful summer’s day with blue sky. 24 degree temperature and expectancy, and we were not disappointed. The Jags led after 16 minutes thanks to a superb strike from twenty yards by Kieran Chalmers. The team settled well as the game went on but were disappointed to concede the equaliser right at the start of the second half. The heat and playing on a rock hard pitch didn’t help the flow and at the end a draw was a good result.

July 26    Today is also a milestone for the club with our weekly lottery going online via the club website. Our paper lottery for Grantown, Carrbridge, Aviemore and Kinguissie remains unchanged. The lottery is our biggest source of income so please participate as every little helps. First draw with online contribution will be August 1 and for every week after that.

July 27    Fort William will play all their Highland League and Highland League Cup matches away from home this season as Claggan Park is currently unplayable. After a league inspection on Thursday at the ground found it not fit and in need of immediate work. An emergency meeting on Sunday of the League Management Committee agreed of the Fort having to play away. The league clubs have offered to pass on the travel costs they would normally have to pay for a fixture at Claggan Park and Fort William have started a crowd funder to assist with costs.

July 28    Announced today the passing of Garry Davies the Secretary of Rothes FC. We were speaking a couple of weeks ago at our friendly fixture in Rothes and he has been a help to me over the last couple of seasons which I appreciated. Shocked and saddened.  

July 30    Donate-a-Ticket announced that this would be their last weekend as a fund raiser. Since the first Covid-related disruption in March 2020 they have sold 40,000 virtual tickets and raised £330,000 for over one hundred and twenty league clubs. For those Highland League clubs that took part the total raised for them was £32906. All of this at no charge. 

July 31    Today saw the return of league football to Seafield Park with the visitors being Wick Academy. Our last league game was on March 7 2020. The Jags and Wick fought out a very entertaining 3-3 draw. Our goals from Craig MacKenzie, Jake Thomson and a superb freekick from Kieran Chalmers. A good performance and a deserved point against a strong side.   

Breedon Highland League match v Wick Academy FC tomorrow Saturday 31 July at Seafield Park  – KO 3pm

We welcome the Wick Academy FC team, management and committee and, at last, their supporters for what will be our first home league game since March 2019 – a long, long time…..but as ever CoVid is still with us and we will be operating under the guidelines as issued by the Scottish Government and the SFA and Highland League.

Because of this, we will not be able to offer catering for committee and supporters, and if you have travelled far for the fixture we can recommend that there are one or two establishments in Grantown which will more than satisfy a football fan’s hunger. Can we mention one of our major sponsors – The Grantown Diner ….which will I am sure will fit the bill….also, another of our sponsors is The Royal Fish Bar – both to be found on the High Street. 
Under the present circumstances please feel free to bring a wee picnic or whatever to the ground if you want. 

REGULATIONS FOR ATTENDANCE

These are the regulations which we ask you all to adhere to :

Gates open from 2pm and will close at 3.15pm – there will be no re-entry into the stadium at any time.

PLEASE LEAVE TIME FOR TEMPERATURE / TRACE AND TRACK ADMINISTRATION

YOUR TEMPERATURE WILL BE DIGITALLY MEASURED BEFORE ENTRY TO THE STADIUM

SOCIAL DISTANCING MUST BE OBSERVED AND MASKS MUST BE WORN THROUGHOUT

THERE WILL BE NO SOFT DRINKS/FOOD AVAILABLE

THERE WILL BE NO RE-ADMISSION

THERE WILL BE HAND SANITISERS AVAILABLE.

STEWARDS WILL BE ON HAND TO HELP WITH ANY MORE INFORMATION

TOILETS WILL BE AVAILABLE

Thank you in advance for your co-operation in what will hopefully be getting back to some sort of normality but all fans are allowed back to the football – so that’s a giant step forward.

At Seafield Park, together we hope we will create a safe environment for you to enjoy your football.

Thank you, thank you and thank you and of course, you’ve all bought your lottery ticket for Sunday’s draw from your local seller or now ONLINE…….>>>>>

STRATHSPEY THISTLE FC ONLINE LOTTO

Speaking of wishing good luck for participation in, after a few months of deliberation and discussion (thanks mainly to Lottery Convenor Graeme Stuart, Club Secretary Clive Wolstenholme and Conall and Martina from Clubforce) we now have an online lottery.

Strathspey Thistle are proud to offer fans and friends worldwide the chance of winning some money (this week the total is £4100.00) – as well as supporting us financially.

See link on right side of page….>> to the Clubforce platform.

This will also be intimated to the world through our Facebook and Twitter feeds so please let all your friends know about this major change.

This is the statement from Lottery Convener Graeme:

MONDAY 26^th JULY 2021.

NEW!! EASY-TO-PLAY ‘ONLINE LOTTO’!!

Today, Strathspey Thistle FC launch ONLINE LOTTO, using the Clubforce platform (first draw Sunday 1^st August 2021). You can buy online entries up to 1 hour before the draw i.e. up to 18.00 hrs in advance of the draw at 19.00 hrs (draws take place every Sunday unless otherwise advised). 

PLAY VIA THE LINK ON OUR FRONT PAGE – it’s easy and enjoyable (N.B. Minimum age for our small social lottery is 16). You do have to register online and then choose your debit/credit card option, number of lines and length of subscription. That process and the completion of your playslips should be straightforward, as all is explained – step by step. Once you have started playing, download the Clubforce app. to your mobile phone for ready access and regular lottery result updates.

This is a brand new opportunity for fans in distant places, or those perhaps finding Covid-19 restrictions an obstacle, to play online and support Strathspey Thistle FC through difficult times. 

Our weekly lottery PAPER TICKET ARRANGEMENTS CONTINUE AS BEFORE and ALL entries from both sources will be included in the weekly draw, giving an EQUAL random chance of winning. 

Strathspey Thistle FC is extremely grateful to regular players and collectors for sustaining and growing the success of our iconic weekly lottery. However, we also need to access those who have not previously felt inclined to participate.

PLEASE PLAY NOW and experience the thrill of having a “flutter” whilst helping to raise funds for your favourite football club. 

Thank you – every £1 helps!

PRIZES:- 

JACKPOT: £4,100 at draw Sunday 1^st August 2021. If not won, prize rolls over and increases by £100 each week until won. If more than one winner (all five picks from 1-20 correct), Jackpot will be shared. Then reinstates at £1000.

CONSOLATION PRIZE: £100 paid every week to one lucky winner.

N.B. Potential online winners may be notified automatically by the Clubforce system.  Actual winners are identified at the physical draw that includes paper and online entries

We are always indebted to our sponsors but our main sponsors McGowan Environmental Engineering are also offering two season tickets to Seafield Park for this seasons Breedon Highland Football League – go to their website, Facebook, Twitter or Linked-In pages for more information – good luck.

https://mcgowanltd.co.uk

Well there’s a lot happening here at STWeb today – but first congratulations to Keiran Chalmers for scoring the first “official” goal of the season for the Jags at Huntly on Saturday – in what was a very entertaining game according to our observers and the boys did really well – again this augurs well for the season ahead. 

We look forward to hosting  Wick Academy FC at Seafield Park this Saturday (31 July) for our first home league game since March 2020 !