Football News

FIXTURES/RESULTS 2021-22

SAINTS BROTHERS BOW OUT AFTER CENTENARY

There was cause for celebration and sadness in September for all at St. Duthus Football Club. Just one week after brothers Stuart and Andrew Ross were recognised for reaching 100 games as co-managers of the club, it was with a heavy heart that they tendered their resignations, drawing to an end a five year spell in the hot seats. Marking their 100th competitive game in charge, Stuart and Andrew, along with physio Ian Christie, were presented with hand poured bottles of Balblair whisky, gifted to them by the club committee before their September 21st game against Inverness Athletic. On the day itself, the football was a big success, as Saints picked up their first victory of the season with a 4-2 win over their Inverness visitors. Team captain Ben Bruce was the star of the show, collecting the Man of the Match award as well as netting two of the four St. Duthus goals. Jake Lockett and trialist Daniel Christie scored the others. The joy of winning was short lived, however, as Saints fell to defeat once again just a week later, losing 3-2 to an in-form Loch Ness side at their temporary Fortrose home. Missing several key players including top scorer Ben Bruce and midfield man Ross Tokely, the result was unsurprising - but few expected the fallout to come on the Monday after, when managers Stuart Ross and Andrew Ross tendered their resignations to chairman Niall Harkiss. Speaking to the press during the week, Stuart Ross said, “We set out to reinstate North Caledonian League football to Tain after not having it for many years, and of course to follow in the footsteps of our father, Tommy, who sadly passed away in 2017 with dementia. We grew up in Tain and in the 1990s my dad ran the team. The pitch the team plays on now is the one my dad fought to get control of for Tain St Duthus, which is Grant Park. My dad had it all laid out and seeded, but football just died away in Tain. The main idea for myself and Andrew was to complete what Dad had started. I think we, along with chairman Niall Harkiss and the committee, is we have set the foundations for the club moving forward.” Following Stuart and Andrew’s sudden departure, the club quickly installed coaches Alan Geegan and Justin Rogers as caretakers. Club chairman Niall Harkiss said on the club’s website this week; “It was with a lot of sadness that we said goodbye to two passionate members of the club in Stuart and Andrew this week. The foundations they have helped to establish at the club over the past five years are plain to see, and the club will be forever indebted to them for that.” “The fixture calendar affords us no time to contemplate though, and we are very pleased that we have Alan and Justin here to help us move forward. As coaches, they know the team and the players well and most importantly they have the determination to do well for St. Duthus. I know the players want to get the season on the right track too. It’s now also up to us as a committee, along with our supporters, to get behind them all and will them on.” The interim management team face a busy October, with only one week of respite on the 16th. They begin with an away trip to play Invergordon on the 2nd and another local derby at Tain against Alness United on the 9th. That is followed with that it likely to be a league match on the 23rd and a home meeting with Orkney. Further information can be found on the club’s official website at stduthusfc.co.uk

7/8 Nairn Co. (A) Fr. 2-1 14/8 Alness Utd (A) Fr. 5-1 21/8 Nairn Co. (A) Lge 2-3 28/8 Halkirk Utd (H) Lge 4-4 4/9 Bonar Br. (A) Lge 2-3 11/9 Halkirk Utd (H) FT Cup R1 0-4 18/9 Inverness (H) Lge 4-2 25/9 Loch Ness (A) Lge 2-3 2/10 Invergordon (A) Lge 1-1 9/10 Alness Utd (H) Lge 23/10 TBC Lge 30/10 Orkney (H) Lge 6/11 Thurso (A) Lge 13/11 Invergordon (H) Lge 20/11 Golspie S. (H) Lge 27/11 Nairn Co. (H) Lge 4/12 Halkirk Utd (A) Lge 11/12 Bonar Br. (H) Lge 18/12 Inverness (A) Lge 8/1 Inverness (A) NC Cup R1 15/1 Loch Ness (H) Lge 22/1 Alness Utd (A) Lge 29/1 TBC NC Cup QF 12/2 Orkney (A) Lge 19/2 TBC NC Cup SF 26/2 Thurso (H) Lge