THE BEGINING

On the evening of Sunday the 18th of April, In the Dunvegan Hotel in Grantown on Spey the first meeting of a new football club took place. The idea had arisen after the previous season, Lossiemouth United had won what was then called the “Morayshire Junior League” title with no fewer than 5 local players in there squad and give arisen to a few debates “why can we not form our own club”
The clubs name was the main subject of discussion and after a few suggestions were rejected it was decided upon;
Strathspey; After all agreed it was a good decision not to include the name of Grantown in it as to hope show that it was to be more of a community team rather than “just” another Grantown on Spey side.
Thistle; After more traditional titles such as United, Athletic or just plain Strathspey FC where rejected the use of the national flower title like at the time over twenty other Junior sides also used in its name.
Our first ever match was at home on Seafield Park against former Highland league side, Inverness Thistle and what was classed a friendly, turned into a very competitive match in front of a very large crowd and the almost full Inverness Thistle side just held out to win 4-3.
Following an administration error our first “official” league match took place on the 18th of August 1993 when we defeated Nairn.St.Ninian 4-1 at home and continued a decent run of results that actually saw us lead the league table until October.
On the 1st of December 1993 we played in our first ever cup final and despite taking the lead in the match twice, Buckie Rovers scored a late winner a five goal thriller.
In the league during season 1994/95we suffered a few heavy defeats but we still made it to another cup final this time in the Gordon Williamson Cup again at Forres Mechanics Mosset Park however only to suffer another defeat this time by 2-1.
One major chance during this season came just before an away league fixture to Fochabers, Tom MacKellar resigned as manager and the team Player / manager role was taken over by Donly McLeod. It was under Donly’s management near the end of the season in a cup tie only nine players turned up for a fixture away to Lossiemouth United, others preferring to play local Welfare league matches on the same night. It was after “only” a 3-0 defeat that he vowed that the club would start to take a more professional outlook both on and off the pitch!
A new committee at the start of season 1995/96 launched the “Strathspey Thistle Football Ground Appeal” to attempt to raise funds to finance an effort to purchase some local land and devolve a new football ground with full facilities.
Kicking off the appeal was a challenge match vs. the newly formed Scottish league side “Caledonian Thistle” who won an entertaining match 4-0. Unfortunately however that season the club suffered a few heavy defeats most notable the clubs record defeat by 14 – 2 away to Lewis United, it was also the first season the club failed to reach a cup final.
Prior to the start of season 1996/97 the club were able to sign two players for the first time from Highland league clubs in former Inverness Clach. Goalkeeper Derek Arris and Grantown on Spey man Colin Maclean came home from Rothes. There experience helped raise the standard of the club who almost won its first ever trophy in the Connon Cup Final again at Forres Mechanics Mosset Park but in a match donated for long spells by Strathspey Thistle, opponents Burghead Thistle won 1-0 with a late goal. Ironically before the end of the season the man that scored that winning goal – James McNeil and his Burghead team mate on the day Joe Conway had both joined Strathspey Thistle – a clear sign that other Junior players saw what was happening at club and were keen to be involved.
Also this season the club formed an Under 16’s Boys Club run by former players Brian Grant and Bobby Beckwith, playing in the Moray Firth Youth league and they recorded once very famous victory at home vs. Inverness Caledonian Thistle Youth team, coming from 3-1 down win under 10 minutes to play to win 4-3. The Boys club also saw fresh young players into the Junior side to with the likes of Jamie Rodgers, Ben McLeod, and Gareth Smith coming through the ranks.
In many different ways season 1997/98 was a landmark season for Strathspey Thistle! First the club was able to acquire a shirt sponsor in local firm “Mortimers”. The club made further named transfers in signing; Billy Lyons, Robbie MacDougall, Ewan Davidson and two former players returned in Deane Lawson and Iain Brooks. The club got to two cup finals, the first in November 1997 in the Stewart Memorial trophy, played at Grant Street Park in Lossiemouth against Lossiemouth United and a very close match saw the Moray coast side win on the Highland league neighbours pitch 1-0. Then on an afternoon of very heavy rain on they own Seafield Park in Grantown on Spey on Sunday the 7th of June 1998; In the final of the “Clive Williamson Trophy” (named after the hospitality sponsor of the club – and manager of the Ben Mhor Hotel) a Robbie MacDougal brace was enough to defeat Nairn.St.Ninian 2-1 after extra time to win the clubs first ever trophy!
Season 1998/99 so further historic events for Strathspey Thistle; first the Boys Club which by now had advanced into an Under 18 side to keep the same squad together WON the Highland Youth league in a dramatic play-off at Grant Street Park in Lossiemouth defeating Peterhead 2-1. While the Junior club made a small piece of football history becoming the first ever Scottish Junior club to play an official fixture on main land Europe, when they flew to France to take on a team from Grantown on Spey’s Twin Town of Notre Dame de Monts; winning a challenge trophy 3-1. The club won another trophy closer to home too, winning the Robbie Nicol Memory Trophy at Pine field New Elgin, defeating Portgordon United in the final by the astonishing score line of 5-0!
Season 1999/2000 saw the club get a new shirt sponsor and hospitality deal when “S&B Innes” took over the running of the local Claymore Bar. A season that had promised so much turned out to be one of total frustration. The club lost two cup finals both in controversy; The Stewart Memorial Trophy final vs. Forres Thistle was a very close match until an alleged off the ball incident saw the linesman inform the Referee to send off Strathspey Thistle player Gareth Smith, a decision still disputed by many over 10 years on! Following the sending off (which even Forres Thistle players and committee agreed was wrong) Strathspey crumbled to a despondent 4- defeat. Then in defence of the Robbie Nicol Memory Trophy in the final this time vs. raining league champions Deveronside, Strathspey Thistle were 1-0 up with 20 seconds of the 90 minutes to play when an obvious offside goal was given against them. Strathspey lost the final 3-2 in extra time. In March 2000 Notre Dame de Monts returned to Grantown on Spey for a return fixture and Strathspey Thistle won the match by a record score line of 11-1.
Season 2000/2001 was a very much changeover season for Strathspey Thistle with some old players playing fewer matches and new players appearing more often. One record that the club would not like to be reminded of that this was the very first season that Strathspey Thistle failed to win any cup tie! A return trip again over to France possible due to big gaps in the fixture list, in March 2001 and they club maintained its unbeaten record on French soil this time winning against a “Note / St. Jean de Monts select” 8-2.
Season 2001/2002 summed up in one word... CHAMPIONS! A remarkable season with the addition of news players, Dave Ness in goals, Mike Noble captain and centre half supreme, big Mark Taylor an inspiration in midfield all though out the season and up front the lethal duo of Tolga Dagtas and Kenny Hendry who scored over 80 goals between them!
All this came together on the 11th of May 2002 when a 3 – 1 victory away to Islavale won the clubs first ever “Scotscoup” First Division (west) league title! Then just 15 days later at Logie Park in Forres, Strathspey Thistle again defeated Islavale this time by 2-1 (after extra time) to win the Gordon Williamson Trophy.
Season 2002/03; Saw Strathspey Thistle try to build on the success from the following season with two very prominent signings, the first and possibly the most famous of all footballers from Grantown on Spey, after a few pervious attempts failed, Goalkeeping legend Jim Calder finally joined the club, joined by Alan Grant a player who was always a major threat playing against the club be it for Deveronside or Isalvale. The club was unable to repeat its league success of the previous season losing in vital matches against Forres Thistle who did win the league title, actually after defeating Strathspey Thistle in Grantown on Spey. However Strathspey Thistle did have reason to celebrate this season when after defeating Banks O’ Dee on a penalty shot-out after a 2-2 draw after extra time to win the Inter Regional Trophy “The Grill Bar League Cup” the first time in the trophies 98 season it had been played for it was won by a team outside Aberdeenshire.
The same season we progressed to the 4th round of the Scottish Junior Cup for the one and only time.
Season 2003/04 saw the team break up with Mike Noble, Iain Lambie and Mark Taylor either retiring or moving on, and although we finished second in the league again it was clear that some of the sparkle had gone.
Season 2004/05 saw further losses to the squad with Hendry, Calder and Russell moving on,. Manager McLeod was now forced into a youth policy giving a number of young players from around the valley and opportunity to show their talents. Unfortunately a lack of experience in the side meant only a top half finish in the league.
Season 2005/06 saw a restructuring in the league setup, Thistle opted not to join the first division, however when other local teams opted to join the next tier Thistle were left out on a limb. Fortunately the team were able to gain promotion in their first season.
Season 2006/07 began dissasterously, with only one win in the first five games, and even then we had those points deducted for fielding an ineligible player. Things picked up as the season progressed and a mid table finish was just deserts for such a young team. The biggest upset to the team during the season was the loss of inspirational skipper Alistair Michell due to cancer. Thankfully he made a full recovery.
Season 2007/08 saw the team progress into a formidable unit, losing only 4 games during their league campaign, with only one defeat on their travels. However, too many draws resulted in a fourth place finish and just missing out on promotion.
Season 2008/09 began with high hopes, Thistle had a number of young players on loan from Nairn County and the season started brightly. Inconsistencies began to creep in to the side however and at the turn of the year Thistle sat in mid table. Acceptance into the Highland League seamed to spur the players on and we finished third in the last season as a Junior.
To-day is a new chapter in history for Strathspey Thistle as we play our first ever Highland League league fixture!