Tribute to be paid to late Clach ladies coach Craig Dishington ahead of kick-off of new season
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Clachnacuddin Women have banded together for 2024 after their coach died last year, according to Nicky Macdonald.
Craig Dishington, from Aviemore, died suddenly while on holiday in Iceland last October – just after the end of the 2023 campaign.
The Lilywhites are due to return to action for the first time since then this weekend, hosting Nairn St Ninian in the opening fixtures of the 2024 Highlands and Islands League season.
There will be a minute's silence ahead of kick-off on Sunday to honour their former coach known to many as Dishy, and Macdonald says the tragic circumstances have brought the whole club closer together on and off the pitch.
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Tributes paid to Aviemore football coach after sudden death in Iceland
"We have new players and a new manager, given the tragic circumstances of our last manager," she said.
"What happened was hard to get over, because it was quite sudden, but I think it did bring us all together.
"Everyone was devastated.
"He was such a good manager who was really dedicated, so we're going to have a minute's silence for him on Sunday.
"It will be good to start playing again to see how we go."
Dishington was manager and coach of Clachnacuddin Women's FC, and aged just 48 when he passed away.
He had also done much to promote the women's game at roots level in the strath through setting up Strathspey Girls and organising mini football festivals for young girls.
Meanwhile, Clach are one of the league's founding members, and were the first league champions in 2019.
Lots has changed since then, but Macdonald's main goal remains the same – to enjoy her football.
"I've been here since day one, and things have changed a lot," she reasoned.
"It's hard to get players up here, because there are quite a lot of teams in the area, but the girls who have been here have stuck with Clach.
"We've obviously got another couple of girls that we've recruited as well, so I think our goals will just be to do well and enjoy it.
"It is some girls' first season, so we'll just take every game as it comes."
