Christie Park, Highland Football League, 11/4/26
Huntly Football Club
Founded – 1928
Nickname – The Black and Golds
Honours – Highland Football League-1929/30, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98 and 2004/05. Highland League Cup -1948/49, 1951/52, 1992/93, 1993/94 and 1995/96. Aberdeenshire Cup -1960/61, 1985/86, 1991/92, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1999/00. Scottish Qualifying Cup (North)– 1992/93, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1999/00
The Highland League is the greatest league in the world. This is something I never get sick of saying and a line I never don’t mean. Said greatest league in the world once again this season had gone all the way after a title battle which up until not too long ago had arguably five teams in the running, but come this afternoon only two remained. The same pair as last season, Brora Rangers and Brechin City who were both playing away in Aberdeenshire in the vicinity of the River Deveron at Huntly and Turriff United respectively. This is the fifth season this has gone to the wire (this season is not actually the last weekend of the league season as there is an outstanding Wick Academy v Banks o’ Dee still to go next weekend). With being in the process of writing a third book there was a plan to head down the road to one of the clubs involved, but as the full time HFL whistles blasted on Wednesday night both Wee Man and I agreed there was only one place to be, well two, but he chose Christie Park.
After Wednesday’s 93rd minute Connall Ewen winner for Brora against Brechin, going into today the teams were level on points with Brora four goals better off. But would it come down to goal difference again? Could Brechin lose the league on goal difference for the third consecutive season? (Has this ever happened in football before?). I was quite excited with the prospect of watching one game while having an eye on the other game on this “helicopter Saturday”. On that it would have been cool if it was a speedboat on the River Deveron, but I imagine it was boring and the trophy was just lobbed in the back of a car somewhere waiting to see how proceedings panned out. This could have been an exciting afternoon but the helicopter/speedboat/car was en route to Strathbogie early doors as Brechin went about getting their asses handed to them at the Haughs. What ever happened at Christie Park became unimportant as the title was pretty much handed to the Cattachs.
After a biblical rainfall over night, to the extent the back road to Bridge of Don from Parkhill was flooded at numerous parts the afternoon ended up turning into a bonnie day for it. Arriving in Huntly early the champions elect bus had just pulled up unloading its cargo as we turned up, and as we walked toward it I looked at the front seeing the club sign, I thought to myself, it is not often I want a team called Rangers to win. But today I did, the reason for it, I wanted a Highland team to win the Highland League and 17 of 18 teams are in the Highlands, the outstanding team is Brechin, of the Lowlands. A simple geography thing. With our bellies growling for a feed we headed to the square, I know it is not an uncommon thing in the country these days but what has happened to Huntly. There only seemed to be one place to get food the Bank and that is it. It was more than noticeable the two big hotels are closed these days. To be honest I haven’t looked for a munch or a pint outwith the confines of Christie Park in my last good few visits to Huntly FC so this might not be a new thing but its a shame to see what used to be a magic town for a scoop decimated in terms of juicers. But the empty units and run down look was just sad. To the Bank we headed and it was bloody fine so no complaints. Fish and chips for me, steak and chips for Wee Man. Really good with nice people working there. A good start to the afternoon, but were the important fitba results to add to it. Ellon Thistle v Kincorth, Aberdeen v Hibs and Huntly v Brora. Once in Christie Park I left the phone in the capable hands of Wee Man to look out for the scores. Thistle were beaten 1 v 2 which was an early blow unfortunately. Keeping on the theme of nice folk, I had a conversation with Brora man Ross Hardies dad during the first half as he was standing next to us. A fine dude and if in the off chance you are reading, your book is waiting. But there were also random blethers with a guy when I was getting a coffee, then two ‘groundhoppers’ who were from Livingston and Crewe who were totally sound, likewise a Brora fan from Aberdeen later on and there was even a wee blether with Lino during the game. This is part of the big draw to the non-league for me. Just a friendly place to watch fitba. However, in all honesty there are many other factors to my dislike of pro-fitba these days.
On the park there was not a huge amount to talk about. The first real incident was the opener for Huntly who were sporting their 1996/97 away shirt. From a corner, captain Michael Clark rose to bury the ball with his head to upset the applecart. Questions need to be asked of the defending which in short was just plain woeful. To be honest, Brora were looking nervous across the park in the first half in general but were looking especially shaky at the back. Some of the Brora contingent around us were constantly shouting for the men in red to settle down. Speaking of settling down, but in a different way, Huntly boss Graeme Stewart is some boy, how the lino on the dugout side put up with him in the first half is actually admirable, ‘Spider’s’ complaining and haranguing is endless and carried on until the half time whistle even with his side in the lead. In an afternoon of potential twists and turns, going into the break both Brora and Brechin were unexpectedly losing. Maybe one but both? I’m not sure too many expected that.
HT 1 v 0
As said above, although not a win, the league trophy was clearly heading to Sutherland not long after the restart when Turriff netted a third at the Haughs, this as good as ending any excitement for the day. The Brora fans in Huntly knew it, we knew it and we were at the stage where nothing in the realms of reality could happen that would effect the destination of the league trophy now. Huntly had a huge chance to net a second when they cut through Brora with incredible ease but they fluffed their lines in a three against one break. From here the game was mostly played in the Huntly half and the Cattachs looked a lot brighter than they did in the first half, but they couldn’t create much as Huntly to their credit were defending very well. Shane Sutherland had an effort cleared off the line but barring that there was not much more. I had an inkling there would be an equaliser given the pressure at times but it was taking its time to come. Huntly came close when Scott Logan drove a strike across goal to Mackay’s right side and the keeper pulled off save of the match getting finger tips on it to see it past the past. Brora were knocking and the efforts were getting closer, notably Gary Pullen (I thought he was really good when he came on) connected a volley soundly from the edge of the box which went a ball hair wide. Huntly keeper Daniel Bell was called into his first real save of the match on 89 minutes when Mark Nicolson headed a goal bound effort which was brilliantly tipped over. Eventually Brora finally got the ball in the net a minute later when Shane Sutherland beat all around him to nod in a free kick from the right, this taking Brora clear top on points and a step closer to the champagne. They then should have wrapped up the match immediately when Bell’s second save of the match flew straight at Tony Dingwall who managed to miss an empty goal and sent his header over and off the toilet block behind the goal. But it was not to matter as referee Will Adam blew for time crowning Brora as champions for the second consecutive season. This while 18 miles away Brechin left the Highland League for good empty handed. They said they were here for a short time and would embrace the Highland League yet never left the league on their own merits for five seasons. Will it be five years or even more in the Lowlands? The new Lowland League East is going to be a tough nut to crack, especially with Brechin’s geographical position which may hamper them now. But that’s a conversation for another day. Today was about the men from the north. Although poor on the day, the table doesn’t lie amd congratulations to them.
On the way home while heading through Oldmeldrum we saw the Forres Mechanics bus heading home from North Lodge, this got me thinking, would we see the the Brechin bus (we live off the Meldrum-Turriff road). Then as we were around 100 yard from our turn off I said to Wee Man “we are running out of time to point and laugh at the Brechin bus”, then in incredible timing as we were away to turn the big black Parks of Hamilton coach came up the brae as we turned. The pointing and laughing was possible giving us some amusement to wrap up this season in the greatest league in the world. At least they never lost on goal difference again. Small mercies and all that.
Haste the greatest league in the world back.
Entrance – Me £12 , Wee Man Free
Attendance – 486 (Rough head count)
Pie – £5, pie, coffee, Twix
Pint – £5, Spey Valley 1814, The Bank
Score Predictions – Me 0 v 3, Wee Man 0 v 2
Season Score Prediction Totals – Me 3 v 3 Wee Man
FITBAWBAG 