Hi

I've been thinking for a while that I might like a change from the SFL every week and am seriously considering following a team in the Highland League for a season, home and away.

I am wondering if people can send me links to the best websites (if there are any!) to give me some ideas.

I live near Kirkcaldy and don't drive, so was thinking that maybe Clachnacuddin would be the best bet as it is probably the easiest home game to get to by train?

Any thoughts, other than don't be a flippin nugget, would be appreciated.

Locality wise Cove Rangers would be the easiest to get to if they are still a Highland League side next season. I would think that getting to Inverurie from Kirkcaldy on train would be easier than heading to Inverness, however that is just a guess.

I don't have individual links to websites however http://www.highlandleague.net normally has good coverage of each club.

Hi Jonathan,

Good to see someone taking an interested in the Highland League. I go to watch Clach and would recommend you do the same as they need the support (although this could be said of many HL teams) and Clach Park is only a short, very brisk, stride from Inverness Railway Station. The balance of superiorty is very much with the eastern teams so i would think it would be better to follow one of the western teams like Clach, Nairn, Brora, or Fort William. That latter should only be considered with extreme forethought.

Clach don't seem to have a properly maintained website but you could check out the Highland League website or the Lossiemouth F.C. Message Board which is handy and popular with fans from many HL clubs.

Let me know how you get on.

Highland League clubs' websites:

Brora Rangers FC
Club has no current website.

Buckie Thistle FC
http://www.buckiethistle.com - OFFICIAL

Clachnacuddin FC
http://www.freewebs.com/clachnacuddinfc - UNOFFICIAL

Cove Rangers FC
http://eteamz.active.com/coverangers - UNOFFICIAL

Deveronvale FC
http://www.deveronvale.co.uk - OFFICIAL

Forres Mechanics FC
http://eteamz.active.com/ForresMechanicsFC - UNOFFICIAL

Fort William FC
Club has no current website.

Fraserburgh FC
http://www.fraserburghfc.net - OFFICIAL

Huntly FC
http://www.huntlyfc.co.uk - OFFICIAL

Inverurie Loco Works FC
http://www.inverurielocoworks.com - OFFICIAL

Keith FC
http://www.keith-fc.co.uk - OFFICIAL

Lossiemouth FC
http://www.lossiemouthfc.co.uk - UNOFFICIAL

Nairn County FC
http://www.geocities.com/nairncountyfc - UNOFFICIAL

Rothes FC
Club has no current website

Wick Academy FC
http://www.wick-academy.co.uk - OFFICIAL

The Lossiemouth FC website is a bitter, ramshackle piece of work run by a humpy old man who regrets almost everything done to this point in life, yet surprisingly is the leagues best. The messageboard is a nightmare scenario also. Feel free to join in.

Loki is right......we would be easiest for you to get to from Kirkcaldy, plus there are supporters club buses/minibuses to most away games that leave from Cove.



We have a cheap social club right next door to the ground and we also need all the supporters we can get.. Plus, if you are a Raith fan, we also play in blue. Admittedly lighter blue, but hey.......

Oh, did I mention that we are the reigning SHFL champions as well?

Drop me a line via here if you're interested. This could all be pointless if Cove get into the SFL of course, but that ain't gonna happen!!

Locos don't need any more supporters, anyway. Plus, you wouldn't fit in there unless you have a major complex about how everyone hates you trying to buy the league, you have a classic big-time billy mentality and like paying £1.00 for a paper cup full of Lidl's own-brand Irn Bru at their catering van!



Don't believe the hype.... The Lossie messageboard is the most fun you can have without Eva Longoria, a sheepskin rug and a pot of custard..............ooops, wrong messageboard

Sounds remarkably like the Raith support, I think we have a winner!

Ha ha! Great response. Thanks very much for all the replies.

I am a bit of a Raith nut and go to most games every season. I seem to spend more and more Saturdays in the close season going up North to get away from it all and on a trip last weekend, I started thinking about following a team for a season. The chance to see 15 new grounds is quite appealing, as is being able to stand.

If I could drive, it would have been a toss up between all the clubs, but realistically it has to be either Cove or Clach as I can get a direct train from Kdy every Sat. I also realise that some trips would mean having to stay overnight, but again I don't mind that. Price wise, it wouldn't be cheap, but if the Clach site is correct, it is only £6 for 14 home games. A lot cheaper than £14+ for 18 home matches. Trains booked in advance too would help save money.

I've held back on my Raith season ticket in case I go for this!

I have made it to a few games in the 90's at Rothes, Forres and Keith as I had a pal that used to live in Fochabers.

A few questions, are there a lot of postponements? And are the matches played midweek? Does Clach have a Supporters' Club that go to all the away matches?

I love my fake Iron Brew too, especially in a cup and for £1. I wish there was an express to Inverurie. My life would then be complete!

Yes, but they happen with pretty much every club so you'll be taking a gamble regardless. Plus, if you travel to Inverness theres other teams nearby.

Clach send some supporters 'abroad' but the locals don't really like leaving the Bronx.

Go for Clach:

• They need all the support they can get,
• They are the only real club left in Inverness and
• They have a good natured and humorous support

Not always.

I reckon it would be quicker to get to Inverurie than it would Cove as from Aberdeen, you'd need to muck about with busses to get up to Cove, whereas you just jump on another train for Locos
Plus, once you get there you have the choice of...
Cove - social club and a few shops where you will probably get your head kicked in
Inverurie - a proper town centre with proper shops

I know plenty cheap B&B's in Inverurie and even know a Raith Rovers fan who goes to see them (he lives up there now)

Supporters busses used to run to every game, they certainly go to most games and there is a variety of ages of folk that go

Forget Cove Rangers ramblings, you wouldn't have thought his team won the league this year, but they did and he's become a million times more bitter because of it

Not ever, if I recall

You aren't selling this very well, you know.



Wide variety of ages between 50 and 65.

You have to wait ages for the trains to Inverurie to connect. Plus catching one bus right outside the station for a ten minute journey is hardly climbing the north face of the Eiger!

Erm, I don't know anyone who's had their head kicked at the four shops in Cove, either!

You should defo go for Clach. If only to hear the brilliant abuse the away team gets from the home support. If the obese Nairn player gets to come on again you will be in stitches for the whole game from the shouts from behind the goal - they are ruthless! Also... almost every game i have seen is exciting ( we started going halfway through last season). Clach either pump the opposition or get pumped. have not been to an away game yet but think were gonna venture out of the 'city' for the next campaign.

Come on the Lillies!!

clachs a pretty easy one to get to and nairns only a quick train connection from inverness.clach away trips may be a problem as i believe they only run a minibus where most of the seats are permenantly reserved though i could be wrong about them.some trips are a nightmare public transport wise eg brora/wick/FW/Rothes.
Whatever you decide youll love it,the HFL is great-great banter,great grounds and as often as not pretty exciting games.In these days of legoland stadiums and primadonna pros i think more and more people are interested in getting back to footballs roots where you can enjoy yourself without remortgaging the house and falling foul of idiotic regulations policed by idiotic security guards.enjoy

Thats hardly a rare occurence, is it?

Yeah, I'm definitely up for this now!

I am presuming I can buy a season ticket at Clach?

It doesn't sound like there is a Supporters Club though? I am happy to travel alone.

(please don't laugh) Is there anywhere you can buy some merchandise? Even a scarf?

Wear a dirty white t-towel round your neck and you'll fit in nicely.

Ho ho Jimmy.

I and a couple of others have been looking to get scarves for next season Jonathan. Not sure where though. Clach have a social club at the ground so that would be my guess of where to get them.

Info on all clubs at http://nonleaguescotland.co.uk

Updates always welcome!

Although it was a couple of years ago, I bought a scarf and a shirt over the bar in the social club.

It was the last game of the season , they had sold out of shirts and the Club secretary, when he heard where I was from , came out for a chat (he had a Trial at Southend in the 80's ) he then went into the changing rooms and came out with one of the Unused squad shirts (No 19) and sold me that !

Nice!

I'll ask in the social club.

It was the last game of the season , they had sold out of shirts and the Club secretary, when he heard where I was from , came out for a chat (he had a Trial at Southend in the 80's ) he then went into the changing rooms and came out with one of the Unused squad shirts (No 19) and sold me that !
[/quote]

Do you know the name of the club secretary? If it was Gilbert Skinner, he was also on Leicester Citys books late 70s/early 80s having started his career at Ross County.

People...

Again thanks for your help. I have a few questions that if any of you can be bothered to answer, would be great. If not, I'm sure I'll find out myself over the season...

What sort of crowds should I expect?
Do certain teams have a fairly bigger support than the rest?
Do any teams take a decent away support?
Are there teams that are universally not liked?
Does every team have a Social Club?
Seems to be £6 to get in last season on average?
Can I buy a season ticket?
Does every team produce a programme?
I take it the League is the one to win, but there are other cups?
Is the Scottish Cup the 'big one'?
What is usually the fave away trip?
What one is usually not looked forward to?
Is there a lot of postponements in Winter?
How the flip am I meant to get to Wick for 3pm on public transport?
What are the big rivalries/derbies?
Any memorable matches of the last 10 years? Big upsets?

Sorry about the amount of questions!

There is the League; 2 'major' cups (Highland League Cup + North Challenge Cup); 1 or 2 'local' cups (depends which team you pick); as well as the opportunity to chase glory in the Scottish Cup.


The 15-team Highland League is of course the most important tournament.

Currently all of the Highland League clubs are members of the SFA, and therefore participate in the Scottish Cup. They would need to win 1 tie to reach Round 2, where you can draw a Third Division team (although the 1st and 2nd in the Highland League get a bye to that round). They would need to win 3 ties (or 2 if you're 1st or 2nd) for a chance to play an SPL club.

The Highland League Cup is straight knock-out tournament for the 15 clubs, held in spring.

The North Challenge Cup replaced the old Qualifying Cup North, which was scrapped when all SFA members were given direct admission to the Scottish Cup. All 15 clubs enter, plus the Shetland FA Select, and Golspie Sutherland (an amateur club who by historical quirk are a member of SFA). The North Challenge Cup, straight knock-out, is played on autumn weekends.

Clubs in membership of the North of Scotland FA (which covers the western half of the Highland League area) play in the North of Scotland Cup. These clubs (Forres; Lossiemouth; Brora; Clachnacuddin; Wick; Nairn; Fort William; Rothes) join the aforementioned Golspie, as well as Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Ross County and Elgin City. The ties are generally played on midweeks during August. The competition often played as small groups followed by knock-out.

Clubs in membership of the Aberdeenshire FA (which covers the eastern half of the Highland League area) play in the Aberdeenshire Cup and Aberdeenshire Shield . These clubs (Buckie; Huntly; Cove; Fraserburgh; Inverurie; Deveronvale; Keith) join Banks O'Dee, a Junior club who hold membership of the Aberdeenshire FA. Aberdeen and Peterhead don't enter any more. Both cups are generally fitted in as required during August, virtually always on midweeks.

I remember that certain clubs also play in the Inverness-shire Cup (or maybe it's the Inverness Cup but the Inverness-shire FA... usual Scottish football confusion), but I've no idea who or when.

Inverurie Locos. Plus Inverurie Locos. And possibly Inverurie Locos

You'll be referring to the Inverness & District FA Cup - or the Inverness Cup as it is known. I'm not sure exactly which clubs are in the IDFA - Clach and ICT definitely are and I suspect that Ross County also is. Other than the member clubs themselves a whole host of 'invited' teams also take part and this can vary with season. Lossiemouth have taken part on occasion.

When it is actually played varies from season to season and I can't recall it being played in the last couple of seasons?

BTW, the North Cup has gone back to being a straight knockout this coming season, although the teams are being kept apart geographically in the draw.

Thats the Chap, ex Leicester, seemed a really nice bloke, sat and had a long chat with us.

I can't claim to have an in-depth knowledge of the competition but Ross County played Forres Mechanics in an Inverness cup final around 5-6 years ago. It was played at Grant Street Park and if I recall correctly Ross County won on penaties - they had the likes of Darren Henderson, Alex Bone and Derek Holmes playing that night (must have been late October/early November).

The clue was in my next sentence. They (Ross County) definitely take part in this competition on a regular basis - but I don't know if that is because they are members of the IDFA or if the IDFA regularly invite them to take part. Lossie, for example, are definitely not members of the IDFA but we've taken part on quite a few occasions.

Ross County used to play in it regulalry however since Caley have pulled out, we also have now pulled out of the competition. I don't even think it ran last year.

I'll try to answer some questions

What sort of crowds should I expect?
Depending where you go you may 50 anywhere up to 1200. Some teams just don't attract big crowds unfortunately, the average crowd is probably about 150-200 per match. Some games, top of the table deciders will reach the 1000 mark along with derby games.

Do certain teams have a fairly bigger support than the rest?
The Aberdeenshire clubs have a bigger support than anywhere else, they have a wider catchment area, therefore better players, more locals and so bigger crowds.

Do any teams take a decent away support?
My team, Wick, used to take an excellent away support in the 90s to most away games, however not so anymore. Rothes took a very excitable bunch up to us the in 06/07, not sure about other teams, maximum of maybe 20-30 per match.

Are there teams that are universally not liked?
Well, locally rivalries tend to thrive, a lot of supporters generally don't like Locos, not quite the Gretna of the HL but as close as you'll get. Possibly Huntly as well because of their domination and success in the 90s.

Does every team have a Social Club?
Not sure there, most do, Wick don't but everyone tends to go to the Seaforth after the game. Cove, not sure there, not at the ground as far as I'm aware unlike most.

Seems to be £6 to get in last season on average?
No word of it going up.

Can I buy a season ticket?
You should be able to buy one, £70-80

Does every team produce a programme?
Most do.

I take it the League is the one to win, but there are other cups?
There are but my interest in HL has wained in recent years having moved away from Wick, I'm not so hot on the names and the regions, I'll let someone else answer.

Is the Scottish Cup the 'big one'?
I assume so, most chance of someone recognition.

What is usually the fave away trip?
For us, Brora, haven't been to a derby match in many years, they used to be passionate affairs, there was crowd violence many years ago.

What one is usually not looked forward to?
The furtherest away, probably Cove then.

Is there a lot of postponements in Winter?
There are, depends on whether it's a good or bad winter. Fort William have weeks without games because their pitch often becoming waterlogged. Usually not too bad overall. You get the occasional late call off as well. Our Lossie match (away) was cancelled at 1:00 last season, a trip wasted.

How the flip am I meant to get to Wick for 3pm on public transport?
Pretty pointless on the train, the route it takes is awful and takes over 4 hours for a 2 hour drive. Citylink buses will take about 3 hours and drop you off at the ground. £15 one way if I remember correctly.

What are the big rivalries/derbies?
Wick/Brora
Buckie/Vale I think.
Not so sure about the others.


Hope this has helped.

What?

Cove have a social club which runs along one side of the ground. Lossies is not at the ground but close enough to get a pint at half time. If you can run.

As for the Lossie game being called off at 1:00, I wish someone had told me, it was 14:15 before anyone from Lossie knew about it.

Wick Academy all the way to Wick for a game and then you have to go to the Seaforths for a drink come on you are kidding me??

Wick v Brora is indeed a derby i have been a good few of the games and one wednesday night game was a bit violent with crowd trouble and 3 sending offs. Wick fans were throwing stones at the Brora fans and a few older fans were taken to hospital with cuts to there heads!!!!!

It was only last season Lossie ended up at the Seaforth Club after the game. In previous years its been the (much better) Town and County Club. Much cheapness.

They do? Ah well, I never saw it!
One of the boys from the team said it was 1ish, wish someone had told me and my dad, him coming down from Wick, myself coming across from Aberdeen. A bit annoying when theres a Juniors match being played just down the road.




Quite possible, I remember an older Wick chap with blood pouring from his head when I was like 10, a brick aparently.





Get yourselves down to The Camps next time and get some karaoke on the go.

Haven't heard from Jonathan in a while. Is he still planning on following Clach this season?

Maybe he's seen some sense & decided not to bother.

RayBees, how can a fan of the famous Caledonian FC even contemplate wearing a Clach scarf/shirt? Just because our team is dead, there's no need to follow the enemy instead. Personally speaking, i've no more time for Clach than i have for Merger B@stard FC. Never liked them, never will.

Clach = shite
Thistle= shite

Never really had any hatred for Clach. When i was watching HL football they were always so shite it never seemed like there was much rivalry. I hated Thistle though but even more so Elgin and Ross County at the time. Nah I don't see anything wrong with following Clach - and to me they seem like the greatest club in the history of the world compared to you-know-who.

And another thing, short of taking SandyCromarty's (ironic) advice and starting an FC Caledonian, it's the best option around, plus they've got a good history, are local, cheap to watch and i quite fancy going round the HL grounds again.

RayBees, been crazy busy in July.

I have booked up my train tickets from Cupar to Aberdeen and then I've got the most wonderful bus journey on the 268 to Fraserburgh!

You can all run a sweepy on how long I'll last. Put me down for 5 weeks...

Leave home at 08:30 and I'll be back for 21:30. Actually put me down for 2 weeks...

We'd better draw the Shipyard away in the Scottish Cup.