Strathspey Thistle FC

HOME GAME v SAUCHIE JUNIORS FC
SCOTTISH GAS SCOTTISH CUP FIRST ROUND
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2024 – KO 3pm 

This Saturday we welcome all the way from Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, Sauchie Juniors FC.
Sauchie play in the East of Scotland Premier Division – a title they won as recently as season 2016/2017, so, as ever the unpredictable outcome of a match between teams from the North and the Central Belt, should make this tie a cracker of a game.
Sauchie currently sit in fourth position in their league, three points behind leaders Jeanfield Swifts.
Those eagle eyed among you will recognise that name…we played Jeanfield Swifts here at Seafield Park in a pre-season friendly in July 2023 narrowly losing by 4-3 in a very tight and enjoyable game.
The Jags first played in the Scottish Cup in 2014 in a match against Culter FC from Aberdeenshire which we lost by 4-2, both our goals incidentally were scored by Aviemore’s Josh Peters, now, with Buckie Thistle and with them played against Celtic in last year’s competition at Celtic Park. The last time we made Round 2 was in 2019 and following a win against Lossiemouth we succumbed to Stirling Albion at Forthbank Stadium losing 2-0. So lets hope we can make the second round this time around!

Head coach Ryan Esson will be looking for more of the same form shown by The Jags over the past couple of weeks, as the team begins to mould together after all the summer and recent signings, and are showing great signs of improvement since we started the season. According to sources there should be another couple of players returning from injury and ready to go on Saturday.
As ever we wish the boys all the best in what should be a very hard fought but hopefully a very entertaining afternoon.  

Especially welcome will be the Sauchie fans who will be making a round trip of about 260 miles, and if they want to see what is available in the Grantown please click here. We wish them safe travels.

MACKELLAR SUITE

….and if the above is not enough we are very proud to be opening our hospitality suite on Saturday.

For more information please email : strathyjagscommercial@outlook.com

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LAST SATURDAY’S GAME v NAIRN COUNTY AT NAIRN

We were exceptionally unlucky not to leave Nairn with all three points after another much improved performance.
In a thrilling 3-3 draw with Nairn County at Station Park, we had the better of the first half and were ahead at the break thanks to a great goal from Paul Brindle scoring in the 29th minute. Liam Shewan’s through ball found Brindle and the Jags’ striker beat Dylan MacLean in the Nairn goal.
Nairn made a couple of changes at the start of the second half with ex-Jags loanee Tyler Eadie and Alan Pollock replacing Bain and Kerr.
It paid off with an equaliser in the 52nd minute with Ben Barron finishing from close range.
Barron was on target again in the 63rd minute when he controlled a cross from Scott Lisle, Jags’ midfielder Cammy Lisle’s twin brother and fired the ball into the net for a good finish.

We equalised six minutes later when we were awarded a penalty after Nairn skipper Fraser Dingwall fouled Liam Shewan. Liam duly made no mistake from the spot.
The Jags went ahead for the second time in the match in the 75th minute when Filip Franczak finished a mazy run firing the ball past MacLean.
Nairn substitute Wright made an instant impact when his goalbound shot in the 81st minute was parried by Euan Storrier in the Thistle goal and Barron followed up to score his hat-trick.
Strathspey manager Ryan Esson was quoted in the Press and Journal saying “We were away from home against a decent Nairn team so it was a good point for us, but it should have been three in my opinion. The first half was excellent but in the second half we conceded two goals from our set pieces, which is something we will look back and learn from. Realistically we should see the game out at 3-2.”

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LOTTERY £7800 – THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT PRIZE

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £7800 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
As intimated a couple of weeks ago after the current jackpot, has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of changes.
There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly. 
The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).

1. The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.

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AWAY GAME v NAIRN COUNTY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
STATION PARK, NAIRN IV12 5NQ
SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER – KO 3pm

We’re still on the road as we speed along the coast to Station Park and our first meeting of the season against Nairn County.
Always a tough encounter, and as Nairn currently sit in tenth place in the league, and have eleven more points, Saturday’s game will be no different than the previous ones.

It’s been a bit topsy-turvy in the league this season with, apart from the top two or three teams, no result can be forecast as teams have been winning, losing and drawing in no logical pattern. There is only twelve points between ourselves and the eighth placed team in the league after ten games, and with another twenty-four games to go plenty’s about to happen!!
Nairn have in the last few weeks lost five, won three and drawn two but ominously have won their last two – a sequence that needs to be broken…..

No doubt Ryan and the boys will have that front of their minds and we wish them all the best – and lets hope we’re leaving Nairn on Saturday with at least a point ….three would be better….

WEDNESDAY’S MATCH v CLACHNACUDDIN

As we said previously this was the third match against Clach this season and unfortunately we have been on the wrong side of victory in all three. Wednesday’s victory puts them in a very creditable fifth place in the table after their strong early season form.

Again it was a very close match, and as the P&J newspaper stated, it was a hard fought two-nil victory and with the second goal coming in the eighty-ninth minute I think that would concur with the P&J’s assessment and there was little to separate the teams – which shows that we are very much moving in the right direction – and as I have said previously when we have a fully fit squad, I predict we can elevate ourselves from the relegation position we are currently in.

Following on from his two goals against us on Saturday, Conor Bunce drilled a magnificent shot home from about twenty-five yards leaving Jags’ keeper, Euan Storrier with no chance….an excellent goal.
We did come close a couple of times but generally there was not a great deal of dominant penalty box action and Clach doubled their tally in the eighty-ninth minute when substitute Mackenzie was on target.

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NEXT WEEK

Introducing Our BRAND NEW Mackellar Hospitality Suite!

We’re delighted to officially open the Mackellar Suite for the first time at our Scottish Cup tie against Sauchie Juniors FC on Saturday, 28th September!

~ Mackellar Suite opens at 1.45pm

~ One Course Lunch served

~ Inclusive Drinks for 1 hour prior to KO

~ Seat in the Donly Mcleod Stand

~ Half Time Refreshments

£35 per person.

Book now and be among the first to experience our new hospitality suite!

DM us to reserve your spot or email strathyjagscommercial@outlook.com

Already preperations are very much underway in the lead up to next week’s SCOTTISH GAS SCOTTISH CUP FIRST ROUND tie against Sauchie Juniors at Seafield Park next Saturday afternoon.

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£7700 TO BE WON – THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT PRIZE

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £7700 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES

As intimated a couple of weeks ago after the current jackpot, has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of changes.

There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly. 

The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).

1. The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.

AWAY GAME v CLACHNACUDDIN FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
GRANT STREET PARK, INVERNESS IV2 5GL
WEDNESDAY 28 AUGUST – KO 8pm

THE CHAIRMAN AND THE CEO

So, the phone rings at chairman Donly “Digger” McLeod’s home last Saturday morning – on the phone is Jags’ CEO Grant Mackellar…who says to Donly that he would pick him up from his house at 12.30 as there was something he wanted to see him about……
12.30 and as documented Grant picks Donly up and they drive the short distance to Seafield Park.
Grant leads Donly past the impressive new hospitality suite, that will be officially opened at the end of the month’s Scottish Cup game here in Grantown against Sauchie Juniors, and onto the hallowed turf – “What do you see Digger?”  asks Grant.
Donly looks about and notices the brand new uniformly presented pitchside advertising – comprising one side the paid for advertisement and on the other the Jag’s logo – but that was not what Grant wanted him to see and as they neared the stand Grant said ‘ In appreciation of the the last thirty years of dedicating most of your life to Strathspey Thistle Football club, we wanted to recocognise that so this is what we have done”……….Donly for once in his life was speechless…….Brilliant! 

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This Wednesday we travel to the big city….Inverness …..and our meeting with Clachnacuddin under the Grant Street floodlights for our first Breedon Highland League meeting of the clubs this season.
Although we’ve played each other twice this season both have been cup games, and, unfortunately we have not managed a win yet….but third time lucky.
As most folk know we have been seriously hampered with injuries so far this season, which has resulted in some players having to play positions they would not normally need to. But, on a positive note, it was good seeing Liam Shewan returning from injury and back on the pitch last Saturday and playing the full ninety minutes. 

As ever we wish Ryan and the boys all the best on their travels this week, firstly in Inverness and then Nairn on Saturday.

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PAUL SIGNS UP

Strathspey Thistle are delighted to announce the permanent signing of striker Paul Brindle.
Paul is no stranger to the Highland League, bringing a wealth of experience from his time with Brora Rangers, Clach, and Forres. 
Head Coach Ryan Esson is thrilled to have him on board, stating, “Paul is a proven talent in this league. His experience and ability in front of goal will be a huge asset to the team.”

Welcome to Strathspey Thistle, Paul! 

AS DOES FILIP

We’re also delighted to announce that Filip Franczak has joined us on loan from Forfar Athletic Football Club (Official) until January.

Filip is a versatile 18-year-old capable of playing in both defence and midfield. He brings valuable experience from his time at St Johnstone, where he was a key player for the U18 team and St Johnstone’s B team in the Challenge Cup.
Filip made his debut in Saturday’s game, featuring at right back for the second half.
Head coach, Ryan Esson, shared his thoughts: “We’re also thrilled to bring Filip to the club. His versatility and energy will be a great asset to the squad. We’re looking forward to his contributions as we work towards our goals this season.”

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SATURDAY’S MATCH v CLACHNACUDDIN

It seems to happen very regularly but again we were two down before the fifteen minute mark which makes it really difficult to get back in the game.
Clach scored through former Jags favourite Jack Davison after five minutes and then eight minutes later by Conor Bunce.
He doubled his goal tally in fifty nine minutes making the score three-nil to Clach which was how the game finished with the visitors progressing to the first round proper of the R.Davidson Highland League Cup and a tie against Buckie Thistle.
As our spies, and the majority of the spectators in attendance – which was again a a fine turnout –  commented that there was very little between the teams in general play but defensive mistakes cost the Jags dearly.
New signings Paul Brindle and Forfar loanee Filip Franzak both impressed, and the home support and JagsWeb are looking forward to when we have a fully fit squad all available for selection. 

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SEAFIELD PARK

Pictured this morning, to illustrate the ongoing upgrading of all things Seafield Park we think the uniformity of the backside of the pitchside advertising boards looks fantastic.

NEXT GAME
We coninue on the road, this time to Station Park in Nairn on Saturday KO 3pm. We’ll preview later on in the week.

HOME MATCH v CLACHNACUDDIN FC
R DAVIDSON HIGHLAND LEAGUE CUP – PRELIMINARY ROUND
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2024 – KO 3pm 

We welcome players, management and supporters of Clachnacuddin FC on Saturday to Seafield Park for a cup game – the R Davidson Highland League Cup – Preliminary Round in what will be the second of three matches against The Lillywhites in the space of a month. On August 18 in a hard fought match we were exceptionally unlucky to exit the North of Scotland Cup losing three-two at Grant Park, on a windswept Wednesday night in Inverness, in what was head coach Ryan Esson’s first game in charge of The Jags.
Many of the spectators at the game thought at the least we were deserving of at penalty shoot-out.
So there is every chance of another close game on Saturday.
Clach under coach Conor Gethins have made a very good start to their league season and currently sit sixth in the league and there will be a couple of known faces in the Clach team from their time with the Jags over last couple of seasons.

As ever we wish Ryan and the boys all the best in progressing to the next round.

We will be following this up on Wednesday night with a return trip to Grant Street Park in Inverness for our first Breedon Highland League meeting with Clach – and as there has been a lot of cooperation between the teams over the past few seasons, not to mention some very close games, the rivalry will be evident and it will be another date for your diary.

We’re delighted to announce that for Saturday’s game, all U16s can enjoy FREE entry!
We are distributing tickets to local schools throughout the week, so if you receive one, just present your physical ticket or show the below ticket on your phone at the gate. This offer is valid with a full-paying adult.

We hope to welcome a large crowd on Saturday and would appreciate if you could give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the ground, and if there are any Clach supporters who want a resumé of what is available please click here.

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WE WELCOME DON JOHNSTONE

We are delighted to announce the newest addition to our coaching team and welcome Don Johnstone as our new First Team Coach.

Don joins us from Forres Mechanics, where he spent a short spell as their First Team Coach.
Prior to that, he spent 8 years with Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, including 5 years alongside Ryan Esson as U18’s Assistant Coach and 3 years as U18’s Women’s Head Coach.
Welcome to Strathspey Thistle Don and we wish you every success.

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LAST SATURDAY’S MATCH v BRECHIN CITY 

Unfortunately our long journey to Brechin became even longer for the way home, as the home team succeeded in continuing their impressive run of form and maintaining their lead in the Breedon Highland League. 

On a very hot day in Brechin, in what was a disappointing day especially the second half (again) for the Jags, Brechin showed that they will not be far away from winning the league come April.
As you can see the from the photos the Jags had a tough ninety minutes at Glebe Park and we would like to thank APP Photography ( @APP_photo) for generously letting us use a couple of excellent photos from the afternoon.

Head coach Ryan Esson was quoted in the P&J as saying that the manner of the defeat was really disappointing especially as we had spoken to the players at half-time about what we needed to do but it just didn’t happen. He went on to say that after a decent performance the week before against Lossiemouth, there was a thought that we’d be able to kick on but that wasn’t to be and realistically we’re not going to be judged on a result against Brechin especially away from home. He then stated that the Jags have three games coming up, twice against Clach and once against Nairn and the focus is now on these games. 

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NEXT HOME MATCH 
Our next home match is our Scottish Gas Scottish Cup first round tie against Sauchie Juniors and planned for that day is the opening of our new hospitality suite – watch out for more details nearer the game.

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SEPTEMBER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

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LOTTERY 7600 – THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT PRIZE

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £7600 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…
LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
As intimated a couple of weeks ago after the current jackpot, has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of changes.
There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly. 

The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).

1. The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.

AWAY GAME v BRECHIN CITY FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
GLEBE PARK, BRECHIN, DD9 7BJ
SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER – KO 3pm

This week it’s on the bus to one of our furthest venues in the Breedon Highland League, Glebe Park in Brechin.

As Brechin are currently sitting on top of the league it will again prove to be an exceptionally difficult place to pick up a point or three.
Last season we were unfortunately well beaten twice, home and away, by the team that finished second in the league so hopefully this season, and especially with a rejuvenated team from our first win last Saturday, we will do better and as we always say ….you never know in football!!!

We’re still waiting for our injury list to clear up but the addition of “trialist” Paul Brindle last week seemed to galvanise the team and he was very much instrumental in us getting our first victory of the season.

We wish Ryan and the boys all the best for Saturday.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCH v LOSSIEMOUTH FC IN GRANTOWN

Games between ourselves and Lossie have proved over the years to hard fought affairs and this was no exception.

On what was a beautiful afternoon for football, we started the game very much on the front foot going ahead after twelve minutes when trialist Paul Brindle was taken down in the box and from the resultant penalty Aaron Nicolson scored – his fourth for the Jags putting us one up.
Both keepers, Lossie’s Stuart Knight and our own Euan Storrier were frequently called into action each making a couple of good saves before the Jags’ Scot Docherty rounded off an excellent move and doubling our goal tally – and that is how it remained until half-time.

After the break it was more of the same with the Jags playing some good football and you could see the confidence in their play culminating in the sixty-second minute when Juan Cardona’s shot hit the back of the net to make it three.

The home supporters greeted the final whistle with a lot of noise and everyone at the Club was delighted that we had secured our first three points of the campaign with an assertive display and a clean sheet.
FINAL SCORE STRATHSPEY THISTLE 3 – LOSSIEMOUTH 0.

SEPTEMBER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

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LOTTERY £7500 – THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT PRIZE

As ever, we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £7500 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES

As intimated a couple of weeks ago after the current jackpot, has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of changes.
There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly. 
The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).

1. The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.

SCOTTISH CUP DRAW AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR NEW HOSPITALITY SUITE

The draw for the first round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup was drawn last Sunday and we were drawn at home to play Sauchie Juniors, who hail from Sauchie, near Alloa, and are currently top the Premier League of the East of Scotland FA.

The game will take place at Seafield Park on Saturday 28 September with kick off probably 3pm.

Hopefully the game will attract a large local support.

ALSO GREAT NEWS OFF THE PARK…………

The opening of our brand new Hospitality Suite.
We are thrilled to announce that our brand-new Mackellar Suite at Strathspey Thistle Football Club will be open for our Scottish Cup First Round fixture against Sauchie Juniors FC on Saturday, 28th September!

With high demand expected, we encourage anyone interested to reach out for more details. Please direct all enquiries to grant@strathspeythistlefc.uk
Stay tuned, as we will be publishing the various options available in our suite over the coming days. We look forward to welcoming you and making this a memorable matchday experience!

Saturday 3^rd: The Jags’ tough start to the new Highland League season continued as a strong Brora Rangers side ran out 7-0 winners at Seafield Park but there was plenty of encouragement to be taken from both the way we kept battling for the whole 90 minutes and from the healthy attendance.

Tuesday 6^th: Prior to the long midweek trip to face Wick Academy, the Jags squad was bolstered by the loan signing of Aaron Nicolson from Linlithgow Rose.

Wednesday 7^th: The journey back from Wick was long and filled with a mixture of pride at such a good performance but disappointment that the Jags hadn’t been able to find the equaliser that their second-half display deserved, captain James McShane having halved the hosts advantage soon after the break.

Saturday 10^th: A first-half to forget as Forres Mechanics netted six without reply in just 45 minutes at Seafield Park, Dylan Lawrence’s late goal putting a slightly better gloss on the scoreline for the Jags.

Wednesday 14^th: The club announced the departure of joint-managers Bobby Beckwith and Ronnie Sharp.

Thursday 16^th: Ryan Esson (pictured), a Scottish Cup winner as a player with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, was named as the club’s new manager. Also joining the backroom team are another former ICT player in Aaron Doran as player-coach and Becky Mussett as physio/sports scientist.

 Saturday 17^th: In their first game under the new manager, the Jags took a two-goal lead into the break thanks to Aaron Nicolson with a penalty and a Josh Race strike. However, Deveronvale fought back to level and denied the Jags a first point of the season with a late winner.

Wednesday 21^st: Denied on at least three occasions in the first-half by an inspired Clachnacuddin goalkeeper, the Jags were beaten 3-2 in Inverness to exit the North of Scotland Cup. 

Saturday 24^th: Formartine United were the visitors to Seafield Park for a Highland League fixture and took a single goal lead into the break before adding three more after half-time.

Wednesday 28^th: A tough midweek trip to reigning Highland League champions Buckie Thistle and the 8-2 scoreline in favour of the home side doesn’t quite do justice to the spirited nature of the Jags’ performance, especially after half-time when two quickfire Aaron Nicolson goals halved a 4-0 deficit and had visiting supporters dreaming of an amazing comeback.

Saturday 31^st: A red-letter day as the Jags gained a first win of the season and a crucial one too given that opponents Lossiemouth started the day one place above us in the table. Goals from Nicolson, Docherty and Cardona secured the points.

STOP PRESS: Sunday’s Scottish Cup draw paired the Jags with Sauchie Juniors of the East of Scotland League.

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PLAYER SPONSORSHIP 2024/2025

Contact  strathspeythistlefc@highlandleague.com

Entitles you to;

2x free tickets to home league match of your choice
Company logo/your name advertised against player on this Webesite
Company logo/your name advertised on player related activity on all social media channels
Club gift presented by player at end of season

COSTS

£100 home kit sponsor
£100 away kit sponsor 
£175 to sponsor both home and away

MANAGEMENT

£100 each for Management Team Sponsor
Ryan Esson 
Aaron Doran

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COMPILED BY Alex Wolstenholme 01.09.2024

HOME GAME v LOSSIEMOUTH FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 31 AUGUST 2024 – KO 3pm 

Fans, committee and playing staff of Lossiemouth FC are the visitors to Seafield Park this Saturday and it usually means a very tight exciting game if last years meetings are anything to go by…
This season, as occupants of the bottom two places in the league in the parlance of football “ a real six pointer… 
Both teams have had a difficult start to the season culminating on Thursday in the news that Lossie had parted with their manager, the experienced Eddie Wolek Black, and will arrive in Grantown with Ian Campbell, Steve Porter and Steven Dunn in charge of the team.
Lossie started August well, their four points earned over the first two matches, but have since failed to win a game so they will be looking to change that but, although the Jags are still not at full strength, head coach Ryan Esson has been pleased with progress over the last couple of weeks or so. and will expect much from the match.

If it is anything to go by our web spies agree saying that we have competed well in most of the last few games and in Buckie on Wednesday night there was a wee bit of a change in the atmosphere around the ground after our second goal…..
So we’re hoping that come five o’clock on Saturday afternoon we’re only a point behind Lossie after claiming our first win of the season!

If there are any Lossie supporters wanting a refresher on what Grantown has to offer click here…

WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S MATCH v BUCKIE THISTLE

On looking at the score which was 8-2 in favour of the home team it looks as if it was all one way….but as most spectators would agree it was anything but!

We were playing ok holding our own up until twenty minutes or so, when we lost two quick goals followed by another two before half-time.
The second half had hardly started when Aaron Nicolson had scored two to make the score 4-2 ….we were then the dominant team and missed and real chance to add to our tally at which point my spies said they wouldn’t have known how the game would have finished….however, it was not to be and after seventy-six minutes Buckie scored again and I think that changed the mind-set somewhat as we lost another three goals in the last seven minutes…..lessons learned. 
Special mention must go to Buckie’s young striker Lyall Keir who netted five goals….

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PLAYER SPONSORSHIP 2024/2025

contact  strathspeythistlefc@highlandleague.com

entitles you to
2x free tickets to home league match of your choice
Company logo/your name advertised against player on this Webesite
Company logo/your name advertised on player related activity on all social media channels
Club gift presented by player at end of season

COSTS
£100 home kit sponsor
£100 away kit sponsor 
£175 to sponsor both home and away

MANAGEMENT

£100 each for Management Team Sponsor
Ryan Esson 
Aaron Doran

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CAPTAIN 30

Everyone at the Jags website want to wish Club Captain James McShane a very Happy 30th Birthday on Friday ….three points on Saturday would be an extra celebration…… 

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£7400 TO BE WON – THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT PRIZE

LOTTERY
As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £7400 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
As intimated a couple of weeks ago after the current jackpot, has been won therefore completing that game there will be couple of changes.

There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly. 

The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).

1. The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.

AWAY GAME v BUCKIE THISTLE FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
VICTORIA PARK, BUCKIE AB56 1BJ
WEDNESDAY 28 AUGUST – KO 8pm

On Wednesday we travel to the home of the Eat Mair Fish shop and to what, I imagine, will be a very difficult evening at Victoria Park in our first Breedon Highland League encounter of the season with Buckie Thistle.

Buckie have had a very busy start to the season playing in the Challenge Cup against the likes of Stenhousemuir, Falkirk and Dundee Utd – a frightening trio – and that was before they started in the Highland League!! — but last years champions, understandably, had a bit of a stagger before getting into gear in the league this season. 
This resulted in a few up and down results but got their mojo back on Saturday with a seven – one demolition of Deveronvale, who themselves have had a good start to the season accumulating eight points, currently one point ahead of Buckie!!!

Hopefully we can get something from Wednesday night’s game as currently we sit with no points and there is now a four point gap between ourselves and next bottom club, Lossiemouth, who, strangely, we welcome to Seafield Park next Saturday.

It is very early days on our new “journey” and every game is a learning curve for our new management team and players.

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SATURDAY’S MATCH AGAINST FORMARTINE UNITED AT SEAFIELD PARK

Eventually the Formartine United bus arrived at Seafield Park, having been stuck for around twenty minutes in the town’s Woodside Avenue where, in the midst of all the traffic turmoil of the annual Harley-Davidson “Thunder in the Glens” weekend it, was blocked by a 4×4 pulling a horse box and with no room to manoeuvre, it was stalemate till the police arrived…….

The bus incident obviously did not manifest itself on the field of play, with Formartine running out winners by four goals to nil.
The Jags started well and were possibly the better team for the quarter of an hour missing a couple of good chances.

However, after thirty-two minutes Formartine took the lead after a goal mouth scramble and thats how it stayed until half-time.
Second half and Formartine stepped up their game and were even more aggressive and commanding in the tackle not giving The Jags much space and time we struggled with accurate passing and having no time on the ball.
It was an inevitability that Formartine would score next, which they did just after the hour mark – and then followed by a defensive mix-up four minutes later, which resulted in a soft corner which Formartine capitalised on by scoring their third, and finally finishing the goal scoring with a fine free kick from just outside the box after seventy- seven minutes.

THAT’S ALL FROM ME ‘TILL LATER ON IN THE WEEK WITH A PREVIEW OF THE LOSSIE GAME….

HOME GAME v FORMARTINE UNITED FC
BREEDON HIGHLAND LEAGUE
SEAFIELD PARK, GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY, PH26 3HE
SATURDAY 24 AUGUST 2024 – KO 3pm 

This Saturday we welcome to Seafield Park in the midst of over a thousand or more Harley-Davidson motorbikes, players, management and supporters of Formartine United FC.

In the corresponding fixture last December we managed a creditable one-nil defeat so hopefully this season’s match will be as close, with us perhaps securing our first point or points of the season. United will probably be upbeat after their NOSC win against Inverurie on Wednesday but have found taking points in the league more difficult this season.
They sit on three points, a couple of places above us, so we hope it’ll be an exciting game and hope that on Saturday evening we are level with them in the table.

We wish Ryan and the boys all the best and one little victory could be vast!  

THUNDER IN THE GLENS

As I stated above, this Saturday brings the Harleys to Grantown during their annual Thunder in the Glens weekend. They are based in Aviemore, but on Saturday they have a ride out en masse and are with us in Grantown from about 1.30 pm onwards..

We apologise to the Formartine fans as parking throughout Grantown will be at a premium with an abundance of no parking traffic cones, so we would appreciate that drivers park sensibly and maybe allow a bit more time than normal. Thank you in advance.

CLACH GAME

The Jags were exceptionally unlucky to exit the North of Scotland Cup losing three-two at a windswept Grant Park in Inverness. According to our spies and many of the spectators at the game we were deserving of at least penalties!

We started the game, in what was exceptionally windy conditions, very positively and a header from Dylan Lawrence made the Clach keeper pull off an exceptional save after only three minutes, followed by two more excellent saves from Scot Docherty and Conor MacPhee as well as James McShane hitting the cross bar. It was very much against the run of play that Clach took the lead in the twenty-third minute. 
Dylan Lawrence equalised in twenty-nine minutes but we then gifted two goals in quick succession through defensive mistakes so we went in at half-time, 3-1 down.
With the wind behind them in the second half Clach had a couple of good efforts on goal but in the fifty-eighth minute sub Aaron Nicolson scored our second goal and then it was nip and tuck till the final whistle with Kieran Duffty seeing his effort come off the underside of the bar late on, but 3-2 was how it finished.

New Head Coach Ryan Esson was reasonably pleased but stated that our fitness later in the match looked to be an issue – something that is being dealt with, especially with the recent appointment of Beccy Mussett and coupled with the players beginning to gel a bit more and with players coming back from injury he was positive about the future.

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NEXT GAMES

For your diary…we are in Buckie, at Victoria Park on Wednesday night (28th) for a league match against Buckie Thistle – kick off 8pm.

Next home game at Seafield Park in league action is against Lossiemouth next Saturday (31st) – kick off 3pm.

LOTTERY

As ever we conclude this week’s meanderings offering you a jackpot win of £7300 on our online fundraising lottery – click here if you want to play…

LOTTERY CH-CH-CHANGES
After the current jackpot has been won therefore completing that game, there will be couple of changes.
There will still be a weekly prize of £100 for a consolation winner if their entry matches four of the five numbers drawn, however instead of a weekly increase in the jackpot of £100, this will now be increased monthly. 

The game is to forecast 5 winning numbers, which are drawn at random, from 1-20. The 5 numbers chosen are to be marked by a cross (X).

1. The Jackpot prize starts at £1,000 and the game continues until it is won and starts afresh. As applicable, the Jackpot increases by £100 immediately after the first draw in each calendar month, up to a maximum of £5,000. The Jackpot is then capped at £5,000 until it is won in a weekly draw. 
2. If more than one player has 5 winning numbers, the Jackpot will be divided equally among the winning players. 
3. Should no entry forecast all 5 winning numbers, then any player matching 4 numbers will be entered into a draw for a single Consolation Prize of £100. 
4. THE DRAW will take place every SUNDAY at 7pm unless otherwise advised.
5. The entrant named on the ticket must be at least 16 years of age.
6. All winners will be notified.