Strathspey Thistle FC

NO GAME – JANUARY 6 2024

Firstly on behalf of Strathspey Thistle FC we wish you all the best for 2024.

NO GAME
We were supposed to be travelling to Aberdeen to meet Banks O’ Dee but both clubs agreed on bringing the fixture forward to December 6 with a view to fulfilling another fixture this week or perhaps beating the weather. 
So we have the weekend off which should give any of the players who have niggling injuries another few days in preparation for the second part of the season – which means putting some more points on the board as soon as possible as we do not want to get too marooned at the bottom of the table….

MEDIA RUMOURS

There have been some reports in social media this week of our demise – nothing is further from the truth and now with a more settled squad and with the attitude shown over the past few weeks I am predicting totally different results in this coming half of the season.

And….also further to the demise rumours, we are actively trying to source finance to replace our rather rundown Clubhouse which we aim to supersede…..so if you can or perhaps know someone who can help financing the new clubhouse the Club would love to hear from you …..

PLAYER NEWS

We are delighted to confirm that Liam Shewan will be with us until at least the end of the season as will defender Ewan Neil, who also has joined us from Rothes on loan until the end of the season. Ewan was with us in 2021 so it will be great to see him back on the park in Jags blue. We are sure both will play an important part in our rejuvenation.

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ROB’S NEWSLETTER

As we said last month, the Club’s commercial manager Rob Clark has taken over newsletter duties from Club secretary Clive Wolstenholme and Rob is producing an all new all singing and dancing monthly edition which is available on subscription from either Rob or Clive’s email address – this is free and after submitting your email address to either, you will receive the monthly edition and possibly other goodies and club information.

Rob’s address     stfcprogramme@gmail.com

Clive’s address   wolstc@aol.com

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XMAS RAFFLE WINNERS

Once again the Club are indebted to committee members Mags Clark, aided and abetted by brother Rob, in running the Club’s Xmas Raffle – the draw which was supposed to have taken place on the pitch during half time at the Brora Rangers game on the 30 December but after the match’s postponment we went inside to the warmth of one of our great supporters and friends THE CLAYMORE BAR here in Grantown and the draw was made.

The winners were 

1st Sandra Willox, Grantown – Two nights stay at Loch Ness clansman hotel

2nd Vicki Mackinnon Inverness – 4 ball at Spey Valley golf course

3rd Andrew Borthwick  Kinguisse – Festive Hamper

4th Brian Ritchie, Carrbridge – £100 voucher Duncanos, Aberdeen

5th Tom Clarke, Grantown – Caorunn Gin tour for two

6th Scott Mann, Advie – Thistle jumper

7th Angela Clark, Alness – Prosecco

8th Steven Ligertwood,Grantown – Prosecco

9th David Borthwick, Kinguisse – Prosecco

10th Gillian Foster, Grantown – Prosecco

11th Kirsty Ross, Fortrose – Prosecco

12th Steven Mutch, Inverness – Prosecco

13th Brian Ritchie, Carrbridge – Prosecco

Thanks to everyone who bought a ticket and congratulations to the winners who will no doubt enjoy their prizes!

AND SPECIAL THANKS TO THE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO DONATED THE PRIZES – THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LOTTERY

As ever, we conclude this weeks meanderings with a mention of our online fundraising lottery. This week the first of the new year we’re into the 4000’s.

For the first prize, five numbers numbers and you could win £4000 – click here if you want to play…good luck!

Unfortunately due to the weather conditions here in Grantown today’s match has had to be postponed.

We now have to look forward to our next home match which is on Saturday 13 January against Nairn County – kick off 2pm – hopefully the weather will be kinder.

HOME GAME v BRORA RANGERS FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 30 DECEMBER 2023 – KO 2pm

For the last game in 2023, weather permitting, we welcome Brora Rangers FC – their team, committee and supporters to Seafield Park on Saturday for a Breedon Highland League game with a 2pm kick off. 

Brora are sitting in 8th place in the league but have five games in hand on the leaders – all due to weather postponements and cup duties. In fact, we wish them well in representing the Highland League, along with Buckie Thistle, in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup in the middle of January.
Having played only one game over the past month perhaps we could hope that there could be a rustiness about Brora’s performance on Saturday. 
The last time we played Brora back in August at Dudgeon Park, we played very well. Two down at half time, we pulled a goal back through Jack Davison but finally losing a very late goal making the score 3-1 to the home side…but for large parts of the game we matched or bettered The Cattachs.

So hopefully, if the weather lets us, it should be a another hard game for Robert and the boys but last week’s postponement at Huntly could have helped our injured players get another weeks rest so, fingers crossed they should be ready to go Saturday 2pm!

If any of the Brora contingent want some information about what’s available in Grantown – click here.

NO GAME LAST WEEK – MATCH v HUNTLY POSTPONED SNOW COVERED CHRISTIE PARK PLUS TRAVELLING DIFFICULTIES.

FESTIVE RAFFLE

Hopefully during half-time on Saturday the winning tickets will be drawn for our Festive Raffle – if the match is postponed the the draw will take place at another venue and there will be full notifications over the following days by personal contact and our social media platforms. 

LOTTERY

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £3900 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

There may be some information regarding the lottery coming soon after the current jackpot has been won….

Unfortunately Christie Park is under a blanket of snow so today’s game at Huntly has been postponed…we now hope that the weather improves for next Saturday’s home hame against Brora Rangers, kick off 2pm.

AWAY GAME v HUNTLY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
CHRISTIE PARK,HUNTLY,AB548JE
SATURDAY 23 DECEMBER 2023 – KO 3pm

PLEASE NOTE 3pm KICK OFF

For Christmas week we are heading towards Christie Park, home ground of Huntly FC. After last week’s very inspiring display against high flying Formartine United we will arrive in Huntly with some confidence, and with hopefully a full squad available for selection we may leave with some much needed points. 

It was July 2021 that we last took points off Huntly and with them currently lying in seventh place in the league after a very good start, but recently results haven’t gone their way and, interestingly enough, their last win was against the Jags in November so maybe we can turn the tables this time. The game in November at Seafield Park, was despite the final score a highly contested ninety minutes and I would imagine Rob and the boys are looking for revenge – we wish them all the best. 

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCH v FORMARTINE UNITED in GRANTOWN

Manager Rob MacCormack’s had a very uncomfortable start to his day with the news that his goalkeeper for the day was unable to play – and as regular number one Steve Martin was out of the country much arranging  and re-arranging was required – thankfully first team coach Robbie Flett, who deputised in goal in one of our summer friendlies, was able to step into the goal area, and proceeded to attain Man of the Match status by many of the Jags fans and possibly some of the Formartine fans too with a very assured and competent performance, commanding his box and shouting the odds to his defence…

Again we were unable to field the same team as the previous week, due to work committments, illness and call-offs.

Possibly the occasional strong gust of wind and a softish pitch perhaps helped us a smidgeon, but take nothing away from the team showing and the individuals within, the Jags management, officials and fans appreciated such a performance and another step forward..it will be only a matter of time when it all comes together. 

Formartine’s Emslie scored after five minutes and there were one or two early flurries after that, but the Jags settled in and started playing some good football, defending well as the need arose. I think the away team began to get a bit edgy towards the latter part of the game and in the final minutes we had a couple of very good chances – one of which hit the wrong side of the post which on another day, a few millimetres to the right and it was net bound!!

LOTTERY
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LOTTERY DRAW OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE DRAWS IN THE CLAYMORE BAR IN GRANTOWN SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT TWO SUNDAYS ( DEC 24 AND DEC 31 ) HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY – SAME VENUE.

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £3800 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…if you win what a cracker of a Christmas present eh?

FUNDRAISING CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

Contact Commercial manager Rob Clark for ticket availability.

CHRISTMAS

ON behalf of everyone associated with Strathspey Thistle we wish everyone peace, joy and happiness over the festive season – and hope Santa is good to you and the Jags …a pile of league points in our stockings would be rather nice!!!! 

HOME GAME v FORMARTINE UNITED FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER 2023 – KO 2pm

This Saturday we welcome players, management and supporters of Formartine United Football Club. Based in Pitmedden in Aberdeen-shire, fifteen miles from Aberdeen, they currently sit in third place in the league and arrive in Grantown following a win last Saturday against second place Brechin. We now enter another tough sequence of games with seventh placed Huntly next week, followed by a visit from Brora Rangers.

Hopefully Rob and the boys can continue their hard work and endeavour from the past few games and manage perhaps a wee upset…. 

For any Formartine fans coming to Seafield Park for the first time or anyone who needs a reminder of what is available in Grantown click here for information.

The Club would appreciate car drivers to park either in Burnfield car park or the Golf Club car park, which is adjacent to Seafield Park. The Jags would like to thank the Golf Club for letting us use their parking facilities during their winter shutdown..

SATURDAY’S GAME v FORRES

Regarding the result from last Saturday’s match, one of the Forres officials told us that we didn’t deserve to win but we didn’t deserve to lose either – which seems to a recurring motif we’ve heard throughout the season.
I am really looking forward to the games when we see manager Rob having a fully fit squad and all players available for selection as I think we will do just fine…… whoever we play!

Strangely enough we did not score first last Saturday, in fact we didn’t manage to get on the score sheet at all which was the first time we haven’t scored since 28 October.

The game was played in cold and damp conditions, and after a few inches of snow and -6 degrees of frost the pitch surface was difficult and easily cut up (which was a delight for the pitch fixers on Tuesday morning!!) – but that’s what happens in the Highlands playing winter football….

Three former Jags players were in the Forres ranks and one of them Ethan Cairns opened the scoring just after the half hour. Forres doubled their tally on virtually the last kick before half-time after a pretty even first half, although the Jags Taylor Sutherland was highly alert in heading over the bar a lob which looked a certain goal!

Both teams kept up the pressure in the second half and even the floodlights being switched on failed to really light up the game, and it finished two-nil to Forres – and as already stated we put in a hard-working performance and all of the boys gave their all but, again, a couple of mistakes make all the difference between winning and losing. 

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QUIZ NIIGHT

After the game at Seafield Park we made our way to the Legion in The Square in Grantown for our first fundraising QUIZ NIGHT which was expertly organised and question-mastered by committee member, Tom Clarke, ably helped on the night by fellow committee members Graeme Stuart, Rob Clark and Garry Horton.

With sixteen tables taken and quizzers from all around the Strath, everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Over £800 was raised for the club. 

Winning the £100 first prize were the Cromdale Quizzers with 107 points out of a possible 120, followed by Mags Clark’s team named The Ditherers who scored 103.5 points and they each received a bottle of Prosecco courtesy of one of our major sponsors PREMIER Grantown-on-Spey.
Winners of the Wooden Spoon were the young guys from Strathspey Camanachd shinty team who were named Otters Pocket, named in honour of their late teammate CalMac.

The Club would like to thank each and everyone who helped, and took part, and we would imagine it will be repeated sometime in the future…..

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XMAS RAFFLE

The aforementioned Jags fundraiser extraordinaire Mags Clark and fellow committee member and Jags commercial manager Rob, are pictured in Grantown’s PREMIER on Wednesday during their all day stay in the store selling the Club’s festive raffle tickets – well done to Mags and Rob, and thanks to PREMIER for hosting.

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LOTTERY

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £3700 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

JUST A WEE WORD OF THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN EITHER OUR QUIZNIGHT, RAFFLE OR LOTTERY – THE CLUB VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR ONGOING GENEROSITY.

HOME GAME v FORRES MECHANICS FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 9 DECEMBER 2023 – KO 2pm

This Saturday from across the Dava, we welcome Forres Mechanics FC and their fans. Steven Macdonald and his players have had a bit of a topsy turvy type of season so far, with some good results coupled with some not so good – we hope Saturday’s result joins the not so good variety. In fact Forres have failed to win in their last nine cup and league games so it would be nice to see that trait continue.

In our last league encounter at Forres we lost narrowly 2-1, but our home form, apart from a couple of games, has been pretty good and lets hope we turn in another performance similar to the one we had against Deveronvale a couple of weeks ago. We wish Rob and the boys all the best!
If there are any newbie Forres supporters or ones that want a refresher about Grantown just click here.

Strathspey Thistle would really appreciate car drivers to park either in Burnfield car park or the Golf Club car park which is adjacent to Seafield Park.

LAST SATURDAY’S BANKS O’ DEE GAME, SPAIN PARK, ABERDEEN.

Manager Rob MacCormack was generally very pleased with our performance last week in Aberdeen against Banks O’Dee. Although it was exceptionally cold, Spain Park has an artificial surface so not unduly affected by the weather, and it was the only game played in the Highland League last Saturday.
Again we took the lead from an excellent Owen Paterson goal in ten minutes and this was followed by a missed couple of good chances before Alexander equalised for Banks O’ Dee after half an hour’s play. Both teams then had a couple of good chances but that’s how it remained at half time .
In the second half Banks ‘O Dee began creating some good opportunities but the Jag’s defence were very capable in coping with them until the seventy first minute when Jack Gilliland was judged to have fouled Golding. Many observers remarked that it was a soft foul but then, incredibly, the referee red-carded Jack and much to the chagrin of the Jags team and specatators they scored from the resulting penalty – strangely enough taken by Golding – who in the first half had elbowed Jack in the face in a tussle but had received no punishment from the referee. With only ten men against the team now currently sitting on the top of the league, it was always going to be a struggle and Banks O’ Dee were awarded another penalty after seventy seven minutes and followed that by scoring again in the eighty-fourth minute making the final score a 4-1 loss.
In the report on Monday, Callum Law of the P&J , thought that the final score “was harsh on Strathspey”.

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QUIZ

So all roads lead to the Legion in Grantown on Saturday night 7.30pm for our fundraising QUIZ NIGHT – and with the top team sharing £100 The Jags Committee are hoping for a good turnout ……

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

This is the season to be jolly and I reckon it’s a jolly good idea to check out the merch available supporting the Jags – more details next week…..

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

Christmas is also a time of giving so why not buy one of our fundraising Xmas raffle tickets and if you win the first prize of a two night stay for two at the Loch Ness Clansman Hotel give it to one of your nearest and dearest….or just keep it and treat yourself….

LOTTERY

As ever we conclude this weeks meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £3600 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

NEXT GAME
We welcome Formartine United next Saturday to Seafield Park – 2pm kick off.

HOME GAME v WICK ACADEMY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
WEDNESDAY 6 DECEMBER 2023 – KO 8pm

GAME OFF

Not surprisingly Wednesday night’s game against Wick Academy has been postponed due to a frozen and snow-covered pitch and with temperatures expected to reach minus 5 overnight and continue for most of Wednesday there would have been no chance of betterment.

Temperatures are set to rise slightly over the next few days so hopefully the home game on Saturday against Forres Mechanics will be able to go ahead.

For up to date information please check with our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram platforms.

Be back Fridayish…..

AWAY GAME v BANKS O’ DEE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SPAIN PARK, ABERDEEN, AB12 3AB
SATURDAY 2 DECEMBER 2023 – KO 3pm

This Saturday we make our second ever trip to Spain Park, home of Banks O’ Dee FC and because of the three o’clock kick off I would imagine most of the game will be under floodlights.

Banks O’Dee are currently sitting in second place in the Breedon Highland League which is an excellent achievement for a club in, what is only, it’s second year in the league. The Dee have lost only one game this season so any positive result we can take from the game on Saturday would be a great achievement for Rob and the boys and would make the long trip home enjoyable. We wish the Jags all the best in the Granite City.

LAST SATURDAY’S GAME AGAINST TURRIFF FC

There’s not a lot that can be said about the game other than it was possibly one of our worst performances for a very long time!!
Manager Rob has been quoted in the local paper The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald  describing it as “unacceptable”.
Hopes were quite high after the the last few games that we had passed our “freeze” state but perhaps not quite yet….but being four down after twenty minutes gives you the proverbial mountain to climb….

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CONGRATULATIONS 

Congratulations go to our Highland League adversaries Brora Rangers and Buckie Thistle on reaching the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
A hefty reward awaits Buckie, after winning a monumental tie against Broxburn, the East of Scotland League leaders, as they were drawn against Celtic at Parkhead and no doubt it will be great day to remember for local lads Sam Morrison and Josh Peters who both play for Buckie.

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FUNDRAISING QUIZ NIGHT

FIRST PRIZE WINS – £100 – split between team
SECOND PRIZE WINS – A bottle of Prosecco for each team member
Please remember we are holding a Quiz Night in the Legion in Grantown on December 9 and hope that you can organise a team and come along and support us which would be very much appreciated. All the details are on the poster below and it will be on our social media.

LOTTERY

As ever we conclude this weeks meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £3500 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

HOME GAME v TURRIFF UNITED FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HY
SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2023 – KO 2pm

After a fair bit of noise from various sources regarding the lack of home games at the start of the season when we went seven games with only one home game….we now are faced with a tough shift with six home games in the next eight fixtures before the New Year!  

This Saturday we welcome Turriff United Football Club’s players, committee and supporters for our second match in a row at Seafield Park 
Turra after a few barren years have had an excellent start to the season and are currently in tenth place on twenty-one points but recent form with five losses in their last six outings will give the Jags hope that there may be points to be had – one thing is clear though it’ll be another ninety plus  tough but exciting minutes.

For any Turra fans that require a resumé of what Grantown is all about click here for information…

HOME MATCH v HUNTLY FC  – Wednesday night

Firstly the Club would like to thank Jon at Grantown Diner and Arul at Premier Grantown for helping out with Wednesday’s home match catering requirements.
We would also like to thank Lois McShane, Lisa McLeod, Doris Grant, Sandra Willox and Audrey Sinclair for their help as well.
Hopefully all will be back to normal for Saturday!

Wind reaching forty mph had been forecast but it turned out to be quite a warm and pleasant evening for November and coupled with the floodlights shining and reflecting off the grass the scene was very picturesque – we had two new fans attending from Jasper in Alberta, Canada…we hope they enjoyed the game and the atmosphere.

We seem to start games really well these days and true to form we were one up after twelve minutes when Mike McKenzie finished an excellent move. We held the upper hand until the half hour mark when Huntly scored twice in three minutes. The result stayed the same until the hour mark when Huntly’s Dangana scored followed twenty minutes later by Grant making it 4-1. Shortly after this, Huntly’s Kyle Dalling was substituted due to a head knock – we wish him a quick recovery.

In a hard fought and tense match the result was probably about right, although slightly flattering to Huntly – and on a personal note I must admit not liking the Huntly strip too much.

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PITCH DOCTORS 

Although overground conditions were very favourable for the match on Wednesday night, on the pitch the ongoing wet conditions made it difficult, resulting in plenty of work to do on Thursday morning, trying to condition and repair the surface ready again for Saturday.  Universally in the league maintaining the pitch is very difficult at this time of year, and as I said earlier we have six home games in our next eight fixtures before the New Year – so if you would like to help we should be at the park on Tuesday morning at 10am.

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QUIZ NIGHT 

Have you got your team selected and named for our fundraising quiz night in the Legion on Saturday 9 December ….see poster for details ….

LOTTERY

As ever, we conclude this weeks meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £3400 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…