Grand Slam winning manager John Gibson returning to fold at the Dell
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A former Kingussie Grand Slam winning manager is returning to the fold at the Dell after a season away from the pitch.
John Gibson is teaming up with Russell Jones to take charge of the club’s second team.
Meanwhile, Iain Borthwick, who enjoyed a great debut season as the Red and Blues’ first team manager, will continue in the role for another season.
The management positions were confirmed at the Dell club’s latest AGM.
In his inaugural season as boss, Borthwick and his players won the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup, the Mowi Premiership and the cottages.com MacTavish Cup and only missed out on a Grand Slam following a 2-1 loss to Oban Camanachd in the Artemis Macaulay Cup final.
Preparing for his second season in charge, Borthwick said: “The Kingussie manager’s job is a one-year appointment with the manager’s position always confirmed at the AGM and I’m delighted to stay in the role for another season.
“The AGM was a bit later this year but in truth, planning behind the scenes has continued as normal.
“The boys are now back training twice a week and that is going well. The boys have had a rest and are now back raring to go.
“We are training twice a week and we all can’t wait for the games to get started.
“We have also put together our pre-season programme which begins with the Liz Young Sixes at Dalfaber, Aviemore on Saturday 3 February.
“We have left the following Saturday free as the boys play a lot of shinty on a firm surface at Dalfaber and I’d prefer they had a week’s rest than risk any muscle injuries.
“There are then two friendly matches ahead of the start of the new season: one at home and one away.
“We welcome Oban Camanachd, who we had so many good games against last season, on Saturday 17 February.
“Then, a week later, the weekend before the new season starts, we play Glasgow Mid Argyll at Peterson Park on Saturday 24 February.”
Gibson and Jones take over at the seconds from Craig Dawson who stepped down at the end of last season.
Gibson led the Kingussie first team for a successful five-year period culminating in a Grand Slam in 2022, his final season in charge, when he was named Mowi national coach of the year.
Jones previously co-managed the senior side with Davie Anderson, leading them to a memorable Camanachd Cup success in 2014.
Both have been a regulars at Kingussie games throughout the 2023 season and take charge of the Kingussie colts following their relegation from Mowi North Division 1 at the end of last season.
The squad will start their new campaign as Mowi North Division 2 title favourites and it is likely to be a mixture of youth and experience with Fraser Munro, who stepped down from the first team at the end of last season, expected to play an on-field role.
At youth level, the Kingussie under-17 coach is still to be confirmed with Robbie Macpherson staying on to lead the coaching at under-14 level.
There is also some continuity at primary school age where coaching will be undertaken by Paul Gow and Davie Anderson.
