October 9th 2026
It seems like no time at all since the end of last season yet here we are having got the first week of pre-season training under our belts ahead of the new campaign.
The players have shown up well in the fitness testing we have been doing with them, which has been really pleasing and is testament to the effort they have put in over their break. There are still some players to join up with the squad due to holidays and we look forward to welcoming them back soon.
We will continue to put the players through their paces over the next couple of weeks before the preparations ramp up another notch with our first pre-season friendly match against Inverness CT on Tuesday June 23rd, which serves as a testimonial match for Callum Maclean, Dylan Maclean and Kenny McKenzie.
All three players have been excellent servants to Nairn County and are fully deserving of this reward for their loyalty and everything they have given the club over such a long period of time. It will, of course, be Callum’s final appearances in a Nairn County shirt and I really hope he gets an amazing turnout for his send off and to show appreciation for what all three players have done for the club down the years.
I was delighted to secure Jonathan Bain, Adrian Voigt, Finn As-Chainey, Ben Kelly, Kenny MacInnes, Ben Barron and Lewis Munro on new contracts between the season ending and pre-season training getting underway. It means the majority of the squad is now committed to the club long term, which gives a really solid platform to work from.
Charlie McKenzie has now left the club as he prepares to head off to university. Charlie made a brilliant impression for us, starting last season as just a 16-year-old. He showed maturity and performances beyond his years and as much as we are disappointed to lose him, we understand his academic ambitions given how well he has been doing with his studies at school. Everyone at the club wishes him all the very best for the future.
Andrew Greig has also moved on after four-and-a-half years with the club. We wish Andrew all the best as well and I am sure he will be a success with his new club, Strathspey Thistle.
We have brought Leo Walker to the club after he left Inverness CT. Leo is a left-sided defender from Auldearn and we are delighted to get him in and give an opportunity to another young player from the local area. Leo looks like he will tick a lot of the boxes required to play in the Highland League as a defender and although it may take him time to adapt to men’s football – as it regularly does with young players – we will afford him that patience because we have real belief in his potential to emulate what someone like Jamie Carnihan has done for us over the last three seasons.
Speaking of Jamie, I was delighted for him when he picked up an awards double at our end-of-season dinner at the Sundancer. Calum Mackay was also named the Young Player of the Year with Millar Gamble our Clubman of the Year, Gussie Dey winning Goal of the Season and Ben Barron our top goalscorer. All award winners were fully merited and I congratulate them all.
We are working hard to add further new players to the squad. We realise we are light in a few areas of the park with the players who have moved on and have identified targets we would like to bring to the club. It is very challenging though and every player you speak to regardless of how much experience they have in the Highland League has at least another three or four clubs interested in them. We had not brought any new players to the club yet this time last year though, so we will keep looking to see what is out there, try to get a look at some free agents in training and take it from there.
We have a good run of pre-season games coming up after the testimonial match, with Elgin City coming to Station Park on Tuesday June 30th before we host Nairn St Ninian on July 4th. We then go to Lossiemouth United on July 7th with Ross County our last home friendly on July 14th. Finally, we round off our preparations away at Stirling University on July 18th ahead of the big kick-off against Rothes at home on July 25th.
Hopefully we will see as many of you there at our pre-season games as possible. As ever, your support is very much appreciated by myself, the staff and all the players.
WAYNE MACKINTOSH
Manager
Nairn County Football Club
