Latest news with #BreedonHighlandLeague
Press and Journal
5 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Highland League digest: New faces in at Banks o' Dee, Buckie Thistle and Formartine United
Sam Pugh has had a taste for success and is aiming to get his hands on more trophies with new club Banks o' Dee. The midfielder has joined the Aberdeen outfit on a three-year deal following five years at Buckie Thistle, who he helped to win the Breedon Highland League title in 2024. Pugh was with Inverurie Locos and Keith as a young player before heading to America for a scholarship at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. The 27-year-old joined the Jags when he returned to the north-east in 2020, but with his contract at Victoria Park expiring this summer, Pugh has decided to take on a new challenge with Dee. He said: 'With my contract coming to an end I just felt it was the right time to move on. 'I was fortunate to have some good options to choose from, but the reason I chose Banks o' Dee is because in their time in the Highland League they've always been successful in terms of winning cups. 'They want to try to keep pushing on and being successful and I wanted to be part of that so hopefully we can have success. 'Winning the league at Buckie gave me a taste for winning things and wanting to win more and I feel Banks o' Dee is the place where I can do that. 'It's funny when we won the league last year with Buckie when we were celebrating on the Saturday night someone said to me 'plenty of people win it once, but not many win it twice.' 'Having had the feeling of winning the league I'd like to try to do it again. 'It was quite flattering the interest that clubs showed in me and there are pros and cons to every option. 'It was difficult to say no to clubs, but I'm hoping I've made the right choice with Banks o' Dee.' As well as winning the Highland League with Buckie, Pugh captained Thistle when they played Celtic at Parkhead in the Scottish Cup in January 2024. Looking back on his time with the Jags, he added: 'I've got great memories of my time at Buckie, I absolutely loved it at Buckie. 'When I came back from my scholarship I don't think a lot of people really knew me and Graeme Stewart took a chance on me at a time when I didn't have many options. 'The only regret I have from my time at Buckie was that we didn't win more because we put ourselves in the position to win things often enough. 'We were second in the league twice and lost four cup finals, but then when we did actually win the league that was really special. 'I'll never forget leading the team out at Parkhead as well, although it was very unlucky for Kevin Fraser. Kevin is the captain, but he was out injured so I got to lead the boys out. 'With Kevin being a Celtic fan I'd have loved for him to get the chance to do it, but to be captain on that day was special for me. 'The people at the club are amazing. My family come to all the games and the people at Buckie were always so welcoming to my family.' Buckie Thistle boss Lewis MacKinnon says new recruit Ross Paterson arrives at Victoria Park with a hunger to succeed. The Jags have signed the midfielder on a two-year deal from Lossiemouth, with his Coasters' contract expiring this summer. Paterson, 28, is the second player Buckie have signed from Lossie this summer, following the capture of Ross Morrison earlier this month. Thistle manager MacKinnon said: 'I became aware that Ross was available and when we played Lossiemouth in the last couple of seasons the games have been tough and particularly in the central midfield area, which Ross has been part of. 'He's fit, he's keen, he's a local Moray-based player and he's a free agent so he ticks a lot of boxes. We're delighted to get Ross on board. 'I think Ross Paterson, like Ross Morrison, is coming with a hunger to do well. 'He's joining a club bit further up the table and he's keen to push on. 'The attitude Ross has shown in the chats I've had with him has been really good and I think he'll flourish with ourselves.' For a number of years Buckie have drawn players from Aberdeen and Inverness as well as Moray. But MacKinnon says this summer he's largely been looking at players relatively local to Buckie and he hopes the Jags' supporters will back the new faces. He added: 'The way things are at the moment I've had guys from Aberdeen and Inverness who aren't so keen to travel. 'So you have to look elsewhere and when opportunities arise to sign good local players like Ross Paterson and Ross Morrison then you can't pass that up. 'I think if you do well for Buckie the supporters don't care where you're from. 'However, there's no question they like seeing local lads from Buckie, or from Moray, in the team doing well.' Manager Stuart Anderson believes Finlay Murray has a bright future with Formartine United. The 20-year-old defender joins the Pitmedden club after leaving League One outfit Cove Rangers. Murray was previously with Aberdeen and had a loan spell in the Breedon Highland League with Turriff United during the 2023-24 season. However, he left Pittodrie last year and signed for Cove, but made only seven appearances for the Balmoral Stadium side, and has now joined Formartine. Boss Anderson is looking forward to working with him and said: 'Finlay's a good young prospect, he's got bags of potential to develop into a really good centre-half. 'He's had a good background, coming from Aberdeen and Cove, and having that involvement in full-time football. 'He's one we feel can really develop with ourselves and we're looking forward to him getting started. 'The spell Finlay had at Turriff was his first spell playing men's football and he did really well at this level. 'We're a year on from that now and physically he's developed since then. 'I think Finlay will be a good fit for us and he'll give us another good option in the squad. 'Finlay probably had a frustrating season, he needs to get games under his belt, but he'll get plenty of opportunities with us. 'We've developed some good young players in recent seasons and hopefully he can be another one.' This week Formartine have also secured defenders Rhys Thomas and Luke Strachan and striker Brody Alberts on contract extensions. Anderson added: 'The three of them are good players and it was important for the club that we got them tied down. 'We're delighted that they see their future at Formartine, they've all got scope to develop further and hopefully they continue to get better and better.'
Press and Journal
6 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Brora Rangers boss Steven Mackay reacts to Premier Sports Cup draw
Brora Rangers boss Steven Mackay says their Premier Sports Cup draw brings back some great memories. The Breedon Highland League champions have been drawn in Group H alongside Premiership outfits Kilmarnock and Livingston and League One sides Kelty Hearts and East Fife. Brora have played all of those clubs before. In season 2017-18 they defeated East Fife 1-0 in the Scottish Cup at New Bayview to set up a last-16 tie against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, which they lost 4-0. In 2021 the Cattachs took on Kelty in the pyramid play-offs (losing 6-1 on aggregate) and last November they impressed in a 2-0 Scottish Cup third round defeat to Livingston. The League Cup fixture schedule has still to be finalised but matches will be played between July 12 and 27. Reacting to the draw, manager Mackay said: 'This draw brings back a lot of memories, some good and some not so good. 'The Scottish Cup run we had where we beat East Fife and then played Kilmarnock in the last 16 was a great experience. 'We played Kelty in the pyramid play-off, which wasn't such a good experience and then last year we played Livingston and put on a really good show I thought. 'It can be nice to face teams you haven't faced before, but equally it's also good to play teams we've got a bit of history with and we've got history will all these clubs. 'We're looking forward to it and looking forward to challenging ourselves against some top opposition. 'Kilmarnock and Livingston are both Premiership clubs and either of them coming to Dudgeon Park would be a great occasion for the club and the area. 'All these games are an opportunity for us to showcase what we can do. 'It's something for the players to look forward to and it will be good preparation for us for the start of the Highland League season.' The other Highland League side in the League Cup, Brechin City, have been drawn in Group A alongside Falkirk (Premiership), Queen's Park (Championship), Cove Rangers (League One) and Spartans (League Two).
Press and Journal
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Highland League award winners revealed as Angus Grant is named player of the year
Huntly's Angus Grant was crowned player of the year at the Breedon Highland League awards dinner in Inverness. The striker's 23 league goals also earned him the top scorer trophy, while in all competitions he netted 31 times for the Black and Golds. Grant is the first Huntly player to scoop the Highland League's player of the year award since it was introduced for season 1988-89. The 26-year-old said: 'It's a complete surprise, with the amount of talent in the league I didn't expect to win it. 'It's a great honour and I can only thank my team-mates who have put me in the position to win an individual award like this. 'You look at the list of players that have won this award and it's a list of legendary players. 'It's a hugely prestigious award and I'm chuffed to bits to win it. 'I didn't know I was the first Huntly player to win it so that's a big thing for the club and also me personally.' Brora Rangers boss Steven Mackay was named manager of the year after guiding the Cattachs to the first treble in their history as they claimed the Highland League, R Davidson (Banchory) Highland League Cup and North of Scotland Cup. It was also the first time since 1954 that a club had won every tournament they compete in at Highland League level in the same season. Mackay said: 'It's a nice way to end the season winning this award, but I have to mention the guys that back me up David Hind (assistant manager), Jordan MacDonald (first-team coach) and Michael MacKenzie (first-team coach). 'Without them I can't do my job, it's not about the individual, it's about the collective. 'They deserve this recognition as much as me, my day job is very demanding and my time is at a premium and they give me a huge amount of support. 'I'm delighted to accept the award, but it's a collective effort from the management team, to the players, to the board.' Jack Mitchell was named young player of the year after a stellar season with Deveronvale which saw him contribute 13 goals and 14 assists. The 18-year-old winger said: 'I'm stunned to win this award. It means a lot because it's the players that vote for it and there are so many good young players in the league so I didn't expect to win it.' Meanwhile, Fraserburgh collected the fair play award and three club stalwarts were recognised with unsung hero awards. Inverurie Locos' historian David Fasken, Brechin City kitman Alan Grieve and Huntly's Jim McGregor, who has served as player, manager, committee member and ambassador, were all honoured for their dedication to their respective clubs. There was also a celebration of Graham Wilson's service to the Highland League as he steps down following 25 years as assistant secretary and youth secretary.
Press and Journal
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Colin Charlesworth hails Huntly's 'statement' signing
Huntly manager Colin Charlesworth hailed the signing of Lenny Wilson as a 'massive coup'. The 28-year-old goalkeeper's contract with Brechin City was expiring this summer and he's opted to join the Black and Golds on a two-year deal. Former Peterhead player Wilson, who has also had a loan spell with Brora Rangers, signed for the Hedgemen three years ago and helped them win the Breedon Highland League in 2023. Christie Park boss Charlesworth is thrilled to have landed someone of Wilson's calibre. He said: 'We've set our bar high with some of the targets we've gone after this summer and we've managed to land one of them in Lenny. 'I think it's a statement signing for Huntly. It shows the ambition of the club that we've managed to get him and it shows the character of Lenny that he's bought into the project here. 'He's looking forward to being part of it. It's a massive coup for Huntly and a real statement signing. 'Lenny is a modern-day goalkeeper, he's a sweeper-keeper and he's comfortable with the ball at his feet. 'The way he communicates with his defence gives confidence to the players in front of him. 'Every time we've played against Lenny he's never looked stressed or panicked, he always looks confident. 'Those are very good attributes to have. Over the last few seasons I think he's been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the league and one of the best. 'I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on at Huntly.' Charlesworth is hopeful the addition of Wilson can help Huntly improve their defensive record next season. He added: 'It's no secret our clean sheet tally this season wasn't great, we only kept seven and that's not enough. 'Looking at our season I think the first two-thirds were successful, but in the final third of the season we fell away. 'In the final third of the season we saw defensive frailties and, as a management team, we need to try to address that as best we can. 'It isn't just about one player because you defend as a team. But adding someone of Lenny's experience and quality will help us defensively.' Meanwhile, midfielder Leon Etko has left Huntly to join junior club Maud on a permanent basis. The 20-year-old signed for the Black and Golds in January 2024, but has been on loan to Maud this season. Elsewhere, Fraserburgh have signed Formartine United midfielder Kieran Lawrence following the expiry of his contract. Lawrence, 28, spent time on loan at junior side Bridge of Don Thistle last season. Liam Duell and Ramsay Davidson have become the latest Banks o' Dee players to sign contract extensions. Attacker Duell arrived at Spain Park last year from Kirriemuir Thistle and defender Davidson came through Dee's youth set-up. Both penned deals until the summer of 2028.
Press and Journal
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
EXCLUSIVE: Huntly's Angus Grant on overcoming serious injury and a personal tragedy to become north football's top scorer
Angus Grant will be crowned as north football's top scorer at Friday's Breedon Highland League awards ceremony. However, the Huntly striker's journey to this point is a story of perseverance which has seen him go from being on the brink of giving up the game to scoring 23 goals in the league this season and 31 in all competitions. Along the way Grant has also overcome a serious injury and personal tragedy. The 26-year-old revealed things could have been very different had it not been for a game-changing stint with Isle of Lewis outfit Carloway in the summer of 2016. He said: 'I was very close to giving football up when I was 17, I was signed to Cove Rangers under-20s and I was on loan to Newmachar United. 'I wasn't enjoying it, I was missing training and I was prioritising other things. It was at that time when I started going out with my now-fiancée Ashleigh and I was going to see her rather than going to training. 'But nine years later we've got two kids together so that paid off! However, at that time I didn't see football going anywhere for me. 'The love for the game wasn't there, but that summer playing for Carloway and doing well for them changed my outlook. 'If I hadn't done that and hadn't played well for them then I would have given up football. 'My mum Marj is from the Isle of Lewis so we've gone there every summer since I was born. When we visit we stay in the village of Breasclete, Carloway is 10 minutes away and is the local team to us. 'We used to go up for six weeks in the summer and the year before I went along to a training session and ended up playing two or three games. 'That was 10 years ago and then the following summer I went back and really kicked on. I finished up with quite a lot of goals and assists and we won the league and a cup. 'That spell with Carloway gave me a new lease of life and I came back with different thoughts on football.' Following that prolific summer scoring spell, Grant joined Turriff United and started to make his mark in the Highland League during the 2017-18 season. However, he eventually ended up leaving the Haughs to sign for Huntly in May 2021 after a wrangle about his contract during the Covid-19 pandemic and following the death of his younger brother Rory, aged 18, in March 2020. Grant added: 'At Turriff during Covid they wanted us to come to training but they said they couldn't afford to pay us. 'I know the club didn't have money coming in and I understood that. 'But I'm from Aberdeen so I was going to be travelling to Turriff a couple of times a week and I had quite a good deal at the time, which I didn't want to let go of. 'We did try to come to a compromise, but there wasn't really any budging. 'At the time, for me, after my brother Rory had passed away everything was up in the air. Given what had happened it was hard finding motivation to get out of bed and to go to work, never mind play football. 'Then Allan Hale became Huntly manager and he came in for me. It wasn't that long after my brother had died, it was during Covid and, with everything that had gone on, I wasn't too fussed about football or going to Huntly. 'So initially I said no, but then Allan tried again a few months later and at that point I was in a better place mentally so I listened to what Allan had to say and ended up signing for Huntly.' Grant also revealed that thoughts of Rory are never far away when he's on the football pitch. 'It was a sad time in our lives and it will always be a sad thing for us as a family,' he said. 'But I want to do well for my brother, to make him proud and do well for all my family. 'Rory liked football, he enjoyed playing and he came to a lot of my games, he and Ashleigh always wanted to come and watch. 'When we were in Lewis and I was playing for Carloway, Rory would come to every single game along with a couple of my cousins and when Ashleigh used to come up for a week or two she'd be there as well. 'Those are memories I'll always cherish. 'After every goal I've scored since Rory passed away the first thing I do is look up to the sky and dedicate the goal to him. 'He'll always be in my heart, particularly when it comes to football because he was always an avid supporter. Whenever I do well Rory always comes to mind.' Grant has also overcome adversity during his time at Huntly. In August 2021 he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament, which led to a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He said: 'I've said to a lot of people that the injury was a good thing to happen. Not in the sense of being out for as long as I was, but in terms of how it opened my eyes to a lot of things in terms of looking after my body and preparing for games properly. 'The injury took a couple of years out of my career, but what I've learned since in terms of looking after myself has probably added a few years onto my career. 'My mindset following the injury was not to dwell on it too much and to try to find positives from that negative and I think I've done that. 'When you have difficult experiences it definitely makes you enjoy the good things more. 'I suppose my story has been one of perseverance and not giving up. I've overcome a lot of things in my life and I think you end up being stronger for that.' Angus Grant believes his best is still to come – despite finishing as the Highland League's top scorer for 2024-25. The Huntly marksman's 23 league goals will see him receive the top scorer award at the Highland League's annual prize-giving dinner in Inverness on Friday. In all competitions Grant netted on 31 occasions, but missed the closing weeks of the campaign due to injury. The 26-year-old said: 'On a personal level I'm proud of what I achieved, it was a very good season overall. 'It maybe sounds stupid to say after finishing as top scorer this season, but I feel I've got a lot more in me. 'My hope is that my best is still to come. It was great to finish as top scorer, but I missed something like 12 games. 'The injury I got was a freak foot injury and it's something which hopefully won't happen again. 'So if I'm able to get a full season then I'd hope to hit 40 goals plus potentially.' Grant was also quick to pay tribute to those who have helped him enjoy the best season of his career. He added: 'I need to thank my team-mates. It's a team game and they've created the chances for me. 'A lot of it is down to them, if you've got players who can create chances, which we have, that's a big help as a striker. 'I'm also very lucky to have a great support network around me with my fiancée Ashleigh and my kids Noah and Aria. They've really pushed me to do the best I can, as have my dad Dek and my mum Marj. 'I'm really grateful to Gordon Carter (Huntly chairman) and all the people at the club who helped me get back from my knee injury. 'I'm also grateful to Colin Charlesworth, who since he has been the manager, has shown a lot of faith in me to play me regularly which has allowed me score goals.' Given Grant's form over the last year, it's no surprise there has been speculation about other clubs being interested in his services. But he insists that's not something he's thinking about and said: 'I'm still under contract at Huntly, I've really enjoyed my time at Huntly and I'm looking forward to the future with Huntly. 'I know there are rumours and whispers about things, but my only focus in terms of football is doing well with Huntly again in the new season. 'Football is a funny game and you never know what might happen, however, Huntly has been good for me and I'm happy here.'
