Strathdearn Football Club

Facts:

Strathdearn Football Club was formed in the early 90's by Jimmy Irvine and managed by him until 2005. Club Captain Kenny Macdonald has been with the Club since it was formed. The current squad comes from Tomatin and Strathnairn and plays in the Strathspey and Badenoch Welfare League.

With the 2008 Season almost over, both Tomatin and Tomatm United are left reflecting on what might have been, rather than what has actually been achieved. Tomatm started the season with an early disappointment when they played the delayed final of last season’s inaugural Highland Welfare Cup. They lost to a last minute goal. In May they reached the final of the REL Cup - again losing, this lime 1-0 to Carrbcidge. Early June saw yet another Cup Final — this time of the Tomatin Cup — and the only silverware of the season to date, beating RBL Aviemore 4-1 after a hard slog against a weakened team. On 25~’ July was Cup Final No 4-los­ing again 5-1 to Aviernore Thistle in the Dalvey Cup at Cromdale.

In the League, Tomatin have been involved in a season long battle for the Title with Carrbridge and RBL Aviemore, trying to retain the Shield won last year. However, they were disappointed again as the League was won on 29th July in the last game by Carrbridge - Tomatin finishing runners-up. At the time of writing, only the Tomatin United Cup remains to be played. Tomatin have also reached the semi-final of this season’s Highland Welfare Cup with an away tie at Cullen to be ar­ranged. The winners will play Auldearn in the final.

Tomatin United have aLso had a disappointing second season. The standard of play has considerably improved on last year, but luck has not been with them and victory finally arrived in their last league match at Cromdale, where they ran out 5-4 winners. Hopefully this will give them added confidence when they play their own cup semi-final. They will no doubt be looking forward to next season when peifonnances will improve further, backed up by more concentration on the field dur­ing their matches. Once again I cannot finish this report without complimenting, and thanking, Mike West on bthalf of both Tonialm and Tomatin United, for his excellent maintenance of the Raigbeg pitch. Thanks also to Sam and the boys at the Tomatin Country Inn for continuing the tradition of providing post-match refreshments for both clubs.

Bruce Harman

Team