STRATHSPEY THISTLE (Seafield Park)

SCOTTISH HIGHLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE, STRATHSPEY THISTLE 3-3 WICK ACADEMY, ATTENDANCE: 102 (h/c)

After Wednesdays North of Scotland Cup tie was cancelled due to Covid I finally headed to Grantown-on-Spey this afternoon to watch Strathspey Thistle take on Wick Academy in their first Highland League home game since March 2020.

Grantown-on-Spey is a town on the northern edge of the Cairngorms, around 20 miles south of Inverness, from where I was based.

The football club were formed in April 1993 as a result, ironically, of another teams success. The only football in town was during the summer months in the Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare League but five players who turned out for Grantown FC in that competition also played for Lossiemouth United in the Junior League when they when the title in 1992/93.

This led to a discussion about creating a team made up of the Strathspey & Badenoch Welfare League's best players and entering the Junior ranks. As a result Strathspey Thistle was born.

The name Strathspey Thistle was chosen to emphasise that the new club represented the district and not just Grantown.

The club enjoyed success in the Junior League before being elected to the Highland League in 2009, where they played their first game against this afternoon's visitors Wick Academy, losing 8-1. Speaking to the lady selling the golden goal tickets, this scoreline still resonates 12 years on!

Seafield Park has been home since the club's formation and was also previously home to Grantown FC until that club's demise in 1995. Th ground is sandwiched between the local grammer school and the golf course. There is a seated stand positioned on the half way line. 

The visitors from Wick started brightest and had the best of all the early chances, the best of which was scrambled off the line by Strathspey 'keeper Robert Donaldson.

It was no surprise when The Scorries took the lead when Gordon MacNab cut in to fire home, despite Donaldson getting a strong hand on the ball.

The goal sparked Strathspey into life and they now started to attack, but still looked susceptible to the counter attack. It appeared that Wick would hold onto the lead until half time but on 42 minutes a defensive mix-up up led to a Jags equaliser.

An initial poor back pass was sliced clear by Wick 'keeper Graeme Williamson and the ball fell to a Strathspey player who squared to Craig MacKenzie, who rounded the stranded Williamson to fire the ball home into the unguarded net.

The second half was four minutes old when a Strathspey free kick was flicked on by Duncan, and James McShane turned the ball towards goal. His effort was blocked on the line (it may have gone over) then, as the ball bounced clear, it was squeezed into the net by Jake Thomsen, maybe going in off his backside as there was much amusement and banter from the Jags supporters behind the goal. Regardless it was a goal and Strathspey were leading for the first time.

Wick created numerous chances as they pushed for an equaliser and eventually they were rewarded after 75 minutes when a shot a goal was saved by Donaldson, but Mark Macadie was on hand to tap home the rebound from inside the six-yard box.

The general feeling was that Wick would now go on and clinch victory but moments later Strathspey were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal and Kieran Chalmers stepped up to blast the ball into the top corner of the net (pictured below).

There were four minutes remaining when Wick deservedly got another equaliser, MacNab's effort being deflected into his own net by Liam McDade.

A fabulous game to watch and a fair result in my opinion. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon all round at a very friendly club, whose officials and volunteers were more than happy to chat and assist with things like badges and teamsheets.

I always love visiting the Highlands and I will do my utmost to return North as soon as possible.

AUCHINLECK TALBOT (Beechwood Park)

SCOTTISH CUP 1ST ROUND, AUCHINLECK TALBOT 5-0 BUCKIE THISTLE, ATTENDANCE: 800 (est)

A painting in the ground to
commemorate Auchinleck's record
10 Scottish Junior Cup wins

This weekend, possibly for the last time with Scotland as part of the UK, I made my way north to East Ayrshire, 

In my eyes this was the tie of the round as the West Superleague Champions Auchinleck Talbot took on Highland League heavyweights Buckie Thistle. 

The Bots have good recent form in the Scottish Cup reaching the 3rd round in 2010 (losing 2-1 at Stirling Albion) and the 4th round in 2012 (losing 1-0 at Hearts).

Auchinleck is a former mining village a couple of miles north of Cumnock. As I drove through the main street to the football ground there did not seem to be a lot going on. The football club though was absolutely heaving with people and clearly seems to be at the heart of the community.

The club are named in honour of Richard Wogan Talbot, the 5th Baron of Malahide, who died 1921, who gifted the then fledgling football club a football ground, hence the name Auchinleck Talbot.

Beechwood Park is still their home to this day and is certainly up there in the list of top Junior grounds I have visited. 

The main stand was once part of Hamilton Academical's Douglas Park and was purchased in the mid 1990's when the Accies old ground was demolished.

The Bots have had a fine start to their season winning 10 out of 10 in all competitions, whilst the The Jags have had a mixed start in the Highland League, winning 4 out of their 8 games so far and last week drew with perennial whipping boys Strathspey Thistle.


The Highland league team started brightly and it was somewhat against the early run of play that Auchinleck took an 8th minute lead courtesy of Graham Wilson's 16th goal of the season. 

Buckie had a couple of half chances but would have considered themselves lucky to be only one goal down at the break after Auchinleck hit the post and squandered a hatful of chances to extend their lead.

They weren't so lucky in the second half as the home side went nap. Once Martin McGoldrick (54) had scored to make it 2-0 the floodgates well and truly opened. 

Further goals from Steven White (60) Gordon Pope (69) and substitute Kenny Connolly (75 - the pick of the bunch) made it 5-0 and, in truth, it could easily have been double that.

A pretty comfortable win for Auchinleck where they will now face a trip to Edinburgh City in round 2.

BRORA RANGERS (Dudgeon Park)

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP, BRORA RANGERS 3-1 STENHOUSEMUIR (After Extra Time, 90 mins: 1-1)  ATTENDANCE: 250

As much as I love this groundhopping malarkey sometimes even I question my own sanity!

When the draw from the Scottish Challenge Cup (for sponsorship purposes it is now the Petrofac Training Cup) was made back in early July, the tie that immediately leaped out was at a ground 500 miles away from home in Sutherland. Don’t be stupid I thought, but when a like-minded  groundhopping pal suggested driving, well oh my goodness!

It was a 3am start for the nine hour drive north to Brora, a village 60 miles north of Inverness. At 6am we were crossing the border into Scotland. After many stops for power naps, breakfast (in Aviemore) and a GBG tick (the excellent Dornoch Castle with 2 Cromarty Ales on tap) we arrived at the ground around 1pm.

Brora Rangers were hosting Stenhousemuir in the first round of the Challenge Cup , having gained entry to this competition by virtue of being the current Highland Football League champions, having won the title for the first time in their history in 2014.

The club were founded in 1879 and originally played at Inverbrora Park before moving to their current home, Dudgeon Park, in 1932. In 1933 they became members Scottish Football Association and joined the Highland Football League in 1962.

The ground is on the outskirts of the village, just off the A9, as you enter Brora. It was a 5 minute walk to the nearest alehouse, the Sutherland Inn, where they had a couple of Isle of Skye ales on the go. Very nice too.

I did wonder how strong the ale was when greeted with the sight of a float going by with youngsters dressed up in various football strips, including an one lad dressed up in a Terry Butcher-style blood soaked England kit, to the strains of the Fat Les tune Vindaloo, very bizarre.

The match wasn't the greatest spectacle, but Brora Rangers managed to pull off a well deserved cup shock to dump Stenhousemuir out of the competition. This was in no small part thanks to a Zander Sutherland hat-trick.

I never actually seen Sutherland's first goal (32) as I was taking a much needed toilet break, but I was told he bundled the ball home from close range, although there was some controversy as to whether the ball had actually crossed the line before the defender cleared it. My mate assures me it did cross the line and, more importantly,  the referee agreed.

Stenhousemuir levelled early in the second half, from the penalty spot, when Martin Grehan (52) blasted home (pictured above left).

There were no more goals in normal time, so extra time it was. A defensive mix up allowed Sutherland to bag his second goal (92) where he was also booked for whipping his shirt off in celebaration, a stupid rule in my opinion. He completed his hat-trick in the 104th minute when his cross/shot found it's way into the net to secure a famous victory for Brora.

It was then a mere 170 miles back to our hotel in Perth and some much needed refreshment. A ridiculously long day but well worth the effort - big thanks must go to the man behind the wheel, which thankfully wasn't me in this case!

WICK ACADEMY (Harmsworth Park)

SCOTTISH HIGHLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE, WICK ACADEMY 2-0 BUCKIE THISTLE, ATTENDANCE: 400 (est)

After New York last weekend, it was back home for another lengthy journey this weekend but, ironically, it actually took me longer to get here!!

I decided to head north via public transport, so I left home on the Friday at 8.30am and arrived in Inverness around 5pm.

This allowed a chance to visit some of the superb real ale outlets in the city, Blackfriars and The Castle being particular favourites.

The journey to Wick itself actually began at 9.30am on the Saturday when I took the X99 bus for a three hour jaunt up the A9. The bus did pass plenty of football grounds including Brora Rangers and Golspie Thistle, two grounds I will have to do at some point no doubt.

Wick Academy have been in existence since 1893 but were only admitted to the Highland League in 1994 after Inverness Caledonian and Inverness Thistle merged to join the Scottish Football League along with Ross County. Last seasons 3rd place finish was their best ever placing. This season they are hoping to do even better.

Harmsworth Park has always been the clubs home but up until the 1920's it was known as Harrow Park. It was bought and gifted to the town by businessman Leicester Harmsworth, and was renamed in his honour.

The ground is the most northerly senior ground in the United Kingdom and now has a capacity of 2,000. The record attendance was 2,400 for a friendly versus Hearts in 1984 (Wick lost 6-1). There are two stands at the ground, a seated stand with 433 seats and a covered terrace, though at one point this was seated (click here to see a photo on the excellent Scottish non-league site).

It was a lovely sunny day in the Royal Burgh of Wick but a strong wind blowing across the sloping pitch was never going to help with free flowing football. 

As a consequence the game was largely forgettable as Wick overcame a stubborn Buckie outfit. A goal in each half from Gary Manson (36) and Richard MacAdie (74) gave the points to the homesters, stretching their undefeated home record into a 21st month. Wick also had the luxury of missing a penalty, when Gary Weir hit the post on the half hour mark (pictured left). 

Only one GBG entry in Wick and it was a pretty uninspiring Wetherspoons, The Alexander Bain, so I was more than happy to get back to Inverness for a couple of late beers. 

A long journey, but in my eyes a corking tick!