Strathspey Thistle line up friendly fixtures ahead of new season
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Strathspey Thistle has arranged a number of friendlies as the green light is awaited from the Scottish Government for a return to the game's lower pyramid.
The fixtures arranged by the Grantown Highland League club ahead of the 2021/22 season so far are confirmed as:
June 19 – New Elgin away (3pm); June 24 – Burghead away (7pm); June 27 – Rothes FC at Aviemore Sports Centre (noon); July 1 – Forres Thistle away (kick-off time TBC); July 8 – Dufftown away (7.30pm).
But the Jags are still waiting for the silence to break on the next steps for the return of the Highland League.
This rests on the new protocols that will be put in place to make the amateur game Covid secure.
Club secretary Clive Wolstenholme said there are no clues as to how this will pan out but clarification is expected later this month.
He said: “Temperature testing, safety restrictions, travel impositions, all these and more are still unclear, and will be until May 19.
“It means we can’t plan in any great detail, even though we have a series of pre-season fixtures arranged.”
Mr Wolstenholme added: “We hope to arrange further fixtures. I can also confirm that Seafield Park has had a lot of maintenance done on the pitch in readiness.
The Highland league season starts on July 24 – all being well with Covid restrictions.
One of the biggest areas yet to be clarified is the travelling restrictions for away games for the players and coaching staff.
Last season, such as it was – the Jags played just one Scottish Cup game – no coaches were running and the strict rule was the squad had to travel individually.
“That’s 19 cars,” said Mr Wolstenholme. “It’s impractical for a whole season. And what of spectators? We’ve already said without them, there’s no football future."
