December 9th 2024
On Saturday 3rd August we begin our 100th Highland League campaign as we take on Brechin City at Station Park.
Of course, our season should have started on Saturday 27th July however we were scheduled to play Buckie Thistle but due to their participation in the Premier Sports Cup as well as their tie in the SPFL Trust Trophy this was rearranged.
Following Steven Mackay’s departure and subsequent appointment at Brora Rangers, Ross Tokely was appointed manager in May.
Here is what you need to know ahead of the new season:
We kick-off our season at home to Brechin City on Saturday 3rd August before travelling to Inverness on the Wednesday to face local rivals Clachnacuddin. We are then on the road again to take on Banks O’Dee at Spain Park. We will play 34 league games this season, playing each of the 17 other teams, home and away.
The furthest we will travel is to Brechin City (Saturday 30th November) and our shortest journey will be along the A96 to Forres Mechanics (Saturday 31st August).
You can view all our fixtures here.
We will be taking part in three cup competitions this season.
R Davidson Highland League Cup – we have been drawn against Banks O’Dee in the first round. Tie to be played Saturday 9th November. We last won the Highland League Cup in the 2010/11 season.
North of Scotland Cup – we face Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the first round of the North of Scotland Cup. This will be held at Station Park on Wednesday 21st August. If we beat Inverness, we will travel to the winner of Clachnacuddin v Strathspey Thistle. In case anyone needed reminding, we last won the North of Scotland Cup last season.
Scottish Gas Scottish Cup – the big one. We start in the first round of the Scottish Cup in September. The ambition is to reach the fourth round for the first time in 68 years, where we could face a Premiership side.
Clachnacuddin v Nairn County: Wednesday 7th August
Forres Mechanics v Nairn County: Saturday 31st August
Nairn County v Clachnacuddin: Saturday 14th December
Nairn County v Forres Mechanics: Saturday 18th January
Our permanent summer signings have been Ben Barron (Att) from Elgin City, Matty Wright (Att) from Ross County, Jonathan Bain (Def) from Inverness Caledonian Thistle plus Gary Kerr (Att) and Alan Pollock (Mid) from Rothes.
We have also signed Ross County player, Alister Morrison (Def) on loan and Brodie Watson (Def) from Inverness Athletic.
Youth team players Liam Mackenzie (GK) and Josh Stephenson (Att) have signed first-team contracts over the summer too.
The management team of Steven Mackay and David Hind (Brora Rangers).
Aaron Nicolson (Linlithgow Rose), Horace Ormbsy (Keith), Kyle MacDonald (Nairn St Ninian), Robbie Lean (Nairn St Ninian), John Grant (Nairn St Ninian) and Scott Stewart.
At the end of last season loan players Matthew Strachan and Calum Mackay (Inverness Caledonian Thistle) and Andrew Macleod (Ross County) all returned to their parent clubs.
Liam Mackenzie has joined Nairn St Ninian on loan this season with Josh Stephenson and youth team left back Ross Murphy being loaned to Forres Thistle. Brodie Watson has been loaned back to Inverness Athletic while he completes his plumbing apprenticeship.
We go into the new season without Kenny MacInnes, who has missed pre-season due to an Achilles injury. Winger Andrew Greig is back after missing all of last season.
We played six pre-season games:
Nairn County 1 – 6 St Johnstone
Nairn County 1 – 3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Lochee United 3 – 1 Nairn County
Cumbernauld Colts 3 -2 Nairn County
Forres Thistle 1 – 8 Nairn County
Nairn County 2 – 3 Dyce (played in Elgin)
Ross Tokely: “We are all looking forward to the start of the new season on Saturday. The players have been worked hard during pre-season and after six weeks or so of training and friendlies, it will be good to get back to it for real.
We have added eight new signings to the squad who are all hungry players and want to come here and do their best to help the team and the club.
I am sure we will see a good turnout from our fans on Saturday and at the rest of our games this season. It is great for the players to play in front of big crowds of our own supporters and even at our friendlies at Lochee and Cumbernauld, the Nairn fans were there which was really encouraging to see. Hopefully, the support will continue to grow and we can give everyone something to cheer about.
I would like to thank everyone for their support on behalf of the management team and the players and we will be doing everything we can to make sure it is a successful season.”
The biggest change is the installation of new floodlights to Station Park.
Other changes you may notice include an additional cubicle within the female toilets, a new covered area for sugar and milk at the tea hut, further improvements to the club shop and PA system.
As well as the usual extensive summer work to the pitch there will be ongoing improvements made to Station Park over the first few months of the season.
We have launched our new home and away shirts. We also have a new range of fan wear as well as highly requested new NCFC umbrellas.
They are also available online here.
Murray Travel continue to be the main club and front of shirt sponsor. Check them out if you are booking a holiday.
Via our partnership with Sidecrystal, Mikeysline feature on the back of our home and away shirts.
Scotsafe Services are our warm-up wear sponsor, Scott Owens Joinery, Kitchen & Bathrooms are our training wear sponsor.
We also have lots of other generous local businesses partnering with the club this season including but not limited to Ashers Bakery, Westerlea Hotel, The 1645 Inn, Peter Gow, Inverness Sign Centre, Tradeway and The Classroom Bistro.
For those in Nairn and close-by, coming along to Station Park and supporting the team is the obvious answer. Purchasing a season ticket is even better.
If you can’t make as many games as you would like, we have several different ways you can support us:
Become a Club 1914 member – from as little as £10 a month, you can become a Nairn County member and receive various benefits and rewards. Our Club 1914 membership has raised valuable funds for the club since it began in 2020. Join here.
Play our 50/50 Monthly Prize Draw – costing less than £1 a month, you can be in with the chance of winning one of our three-monthly prizes (£150, £100 or £50). It is easy to join online here and once you are in, you don’t have to do anything else.
Buy Club Merchandise – all profits from club merchandise sales are re-invested back into the club.
Sponsor a Player – we only have a handful of players left to sponsor. Home sponsorship is £100 + VAT and Away/Third sponsorship is £100 + VAT. Email info@nairncountyfc.co.uk for more information.
Own a business? – Sponsorship and advertising begins with taking out an advertising board all the way up to event and community initiative sponsorship.
Some things to mark in the diary:
NCFC Sporting Dinner – Feburary/March 2025
Nairn County Golf Day – TBC 2025
Thank you to everyone for their support and we will hopefully see you at Station Park this season. Come on Nairn!
