The Broch, Aberdeenshire Cup Winners 2015-16 Aberdeenshire Shield Winners 2015 -16 Official Match Programme £2.00 Fraserburgh v Strathspey Thistle Press & Journal Scottish Highland Football League Bellslea Park, Fraserburgh, Saturday 30th July 2016. Kick-off 3.00 pm Official Matchday Programme, Vol 7. No. 3 CCLLUUBB IINNFFOORRMMAATTIIOONN Fraserburgh Football Club (Formed 1910) Manager: Mark Cowie Bellslea Park, Seaforth Street, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, AB43 9BB, Tel No. 01346 518444 Assistant Manager: James Duthie Chairman/Secretary: Finlay Noble Coaching Staff: Alex Mair, Stevie Doak Antony Sherlock & Charles West Vice Chairman: Peter Bruce Community Coaches: Shelley Sutherland, Directors: Graeme Noble & Andrew Dodson Peter Bruce, Peter Cowe, Robert Cowe, Kit Man: Jordan Buchan James Geddes, Calvin Morrice, Team Captain: Russell McBride Ewan Mowat, Jason Nicol & Finlay Noble Club Physio: Ross Cardno Treasurer: Stephen Sim Club Doctor: Dr Michael Dick Youth Co-ordinator: Alex Mair Fitness Coach/Sports Science: TBA Web Master: Finlay Noble Club Honours Highland League Champions: Committee Members: 1932/33, 1937/38, 2001/02 Mike Barbour, Angela Chegwyn, Stuart Ellis, League Cup Winners: 1958/59, 2005/06 Frank Goodall, Sam Mackay, Nathan Matthew, Qualifying Cup Winners: Iain Milne, Lewis Milne, Craig Mowat, Alex Noble, 1957/58, 1995/96, 2006/07 Stephen Sim, Mark Simpson & Colin West Aberdeenshire Cup Winners: 1910/11, 1937/38, 1955/56, 1963/64, Programme Contributors: 1972/73, 1975/76, 1996/97, 2012/13, Mark Simpson (Editor) 2014/15, 2015/16 Finlay Noble Barry Walker (Photographer) Aberdeen Charity Cup Winners: 1911/12, 1913/14, 1921/22, 1926/27 Email: [email protected] Aberdeenshire Shield Winners: Web: www.fraserburghfc.scot 1991/92, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1999/2000, 2011/2012, 2015/16 Fleming Shield Winners: 1919/20 Bells League Cup Winners: 1972/73, 1973/74, 1975/76, 1976/77, 1978/79 Aberdeenshire League Winners: 1994/95, 1995/96, 1997/98 Front Cover: Bailey Simpson takes on Newburgh Thistle defender in pre season action. Bailey has Highland Youth League Champions: been promoted to the first team squad after some 1992/93, 1993/94, 2001/02, 2003/04 impressive displays at under 20 and first team level last season. Fraserburgh FC Official Matchday Programme CCHHAAIIRRMMAANNSS WWEELLCCOOMMEE Today we welcome the players, management, officials and supporters of Strathspey Thistle to Bellslea Park for our opening P&J Highland League fixture of the new season. Personally, I say thank heavens Pre Season is finished and we can now get back to a settled schedule of games and normality off field. People think that because it is pre- season we all have a break but it couldn’t be further from the truth. I am sure secretaries the league over will agree that this is the busiest time of the year, especially if you have a Youth system!! The forms required for that are ridiculous and extremely time consuming. However, having said that, I still love the job and despite moaning When I was younger a stag party lasted four hours on a my face off for weeks it is far more preferable than not Saturday night in your home town and the wedding being part of it. was a whole day at the most. Now the stag party lasts four days in a foreign country and a wedding can last We look forward to the new season and once again, as up to three weeks!! I prefer the older way to be part of the Board of Directors, we make no demands on honest. the manager, coaches or players. They will put pressure As for the game this afternoon, I am sure both sides on themselves and know when things aren’t going well. The manager doesn’t need us breathing down his neck will be looking forward to getting underway and into a saying he must win things. His knowledge of the game is decent rhythm so hopefully we get an entertaining far more than any of us, James Geddes aside! match. It is always good to start with a win at any level so fingers crossed the three points remain at At our level there are many outside factors facing a part Bellslea. time player with work and family life taking priority over football. While we may want to see our best players all Come awa the Broch, available and playing at their best every week, in reality Finlay this is unlikely to happen. Contents Club Information 2 Chairman’s Welcome 3 Manager’s Notes 4 Today’s Teamlines 5 Matc h Sponsorship 6 Club Sponsors 7 Today’s Visitors – Strathspey Thistle 8 – 10 Match Reports – Pre Season 11 & 21 Supporters Club News/Club News 12 Club Sponsor – Cheers Café Bar 13 Fraserburgh Stats 14 & 15 Club Sponsor - McWilliam (Abdn) Ltd 16 Commercial Page 17 Aberdeenshire League/Under 17’s 18 HFL Stats 19 Match Action – Pre Season 20 & 24 Fraserburgh FC Player Profiles 22 & 23 Fraserburgh FC Player Profiles 25 & 26 Club Sponsor - PBP Services 27 Fraserburgh FC Official Matchday Programme MMAANNAAGGEERR’’SS NNOOTTEESS You have had a busy pre season with a lot of games in a short space of time. How have you felt preparations have gone overall? Pre-season is one of the most frustrating times for being a manager. You can have the best made plans all you want but there are so many factors that will affect these. We expect a lot from these players which I know can be hard. The training normally commences in mid June and then pre-season friendlies come on the scene in July, however players quite rightly take holidays and unfortunately due to work commitments, and school holidays etc, these holidays affect our pre season schedule. I do understand that it is sometimes hard for players to attend every session and game, but in order to be fully prepared for the season ahead, this is Strathspey always seem to give the Broch problems something that they must try and do. We had a great especially at Bellslea with some tough games over the schedule written down and had some very good ideas years. How difficult will Saturday's game be? about how we were going to shape up for this coming I have always said that there are no easy games in this year, but these had to be thrown out the window when as much as 10 first team players were unavailable at the league anymore. Every team is now full of fit players same time. It is just frustrating but part and partial of which makes it more difficult. Yes there are teams the game unfortunately. I did manage to get a good look which do not have as many talented players than others at the younger lads though and again the future looks but as long as you are fit and well organised then you bright for FFC with quite a few players looking like they have a chance in every game so I have no doubts that might be ready to step up this year. Also the guys who there will be more than a few surprising results this have had a good pre season are raring to go so hopefully season. One of the most pleasing results in the league we go on and have a good start to the 2016/17 for me last season was our victory up at Strathspey. I know how difficult it can be against them so was campaign. delighted to come away with a 2-1 win. They have There is always a lot of anticipation about the new strengthened also and will be coming here looking to get League season from players and supporters alike. off to a good start so it is important that we match their Given the success the club enjoyed last season how work rate and do not underestimate them. We are difficult will it be to replicate that and what would be playing at home in the first game of the season so I am a successful campaign in your eyes? hoping that it wont take much from me to get the guys up for the game but I will be stressing that we must be It will be very hard. It is hard enough to win a trophy, at our best if we are to get anything from this game as Strathspey will not be coming here to make up the but even harder to retain it as all the other teams in the competition will be looking to win against us so they can numbers. They will be looking to win. claim that they knocked the holders out. We now know we will be away to Formartine in the first round of the All the Best, Aberdeenshire League Cup so in my eyes we have the toughest draw we could have got, but to win trophies Mark. then you have to beat the best teams and Formartine are certainly one of those. I have not set targets for the Late News guys. I have simply told them to take one game at a Marc Lawrence back at Bellslea on loan time and see where we end up. One thing I will be looking to do is improve our home form. Bellslea should be a fortress and no team should look forward to coming Peterhead FC and the Broch have agreed a loan deal for here so I am hoping that we can turn things around from Marc Lawrence. The deal will last initially until 30th last year and win the majority of our home matches. August and everyone at the club is delighted to see Marc Saying that another trophy back at Bellslea would be back with us even it is for a short period.