New Newtonmore first team boss Peter Ross describes job as ‘the biggest in shinty’
Newtonmore first team boss Peter Ross has described his new job as the biggest in shinty.
Ross has replaced former coaching duo Norman MacArthur and Evan Cheyne as manager of the Blues and Whites ahead of the 2025 shinty season.
Speaking after his appointment was confirmed, Ross said it was too good an opportunity to turn down but admits it was a tough call to step up from the seconds where he has had a successful time.
He said: “This is the biggest job in shinty and I was honoured when the club approached me to take on the role.
“I’ll admit to feeling a little apprehensive as I’m gutted to leave a second team job which I really enjoyed but I knew I’d always regret it if I didn’t take the first team job on.
“It would always have been a case of wondering what might have been.”
During his playing days, Peter Ross turned out for Newtonmore and was also player-manager at Kincraig where he led them to both league and Sutherland Cup triumphs before relocating and going on to play for a good Glenorchy side in the late 1990s.
As well as a period coaching shinty at youth level, he was manager at Mowi North Division 2 side Strathspey Camanachd for three seasons before taking charge of the Newtonmore second team ahead of the covid interrupted 2020 campaign, replacing Orsten Gardner who stepped up to boss the senior side.
When shinty returned, Ross was no stranger to success as he led the Newtonmore colts to three Sutherland Cup victories, a Strathdearn Cup win and a couple of Mowi North Division 1 titles.
Just as importantly, he introduced a number of the club’s promising young players into the side, several of whom who have already stepped up to play at senior level.
His efforts were recognised when he was crowned Mowi Coach of the Year for the North Area Leagues at the 2022 awards ceremony.
‘More had hoped to appoint a new boss to replace co-managers Norman MacArthur and Evan Cheyne following their AGM in early December.
But with the absence of any notes of interest, the selection process was carried forward to an emergency general meeting at the Balavil Hotel on Friday (December 27) when the appointments were made.
More on this story in the next Strathy out on Thursday (January 2).
