Pitch Perfect

NAIRN County FC has the best playing surface in the Highland League. And that is official, writes Graeme Macleod. The pitch is given a score between 0 and 5 by the match referee after every fixture with an average for the year taken starting and ending in February. The latest rankings for February 2015 to February 2016 have just been released by the SFA and the club has achieved an average of 4.6, higher than any other SHFL club, which means the Station Park surface achieved a rating of Platinum. Put into context, if the club's score was ranked alongside all of the SPFL clubs, they would finish equal second beside Heart of Midlothian, Queens Park and Greenock Morton, only 0.1 of a point behind table leaders, East Fife. Director of Football, Peter Mackintosh commented: "This is fantastic news and is the third year running that we have finished top of the Highland League clubs, putting Nairn County in the upper echelons of Scottish football, which includes all clubs from the Premiership downwards." "This does not just happen automatically though – a lot of dedication and hard work goes in to maintaining the pitch at Station Park and this rating is testament to the many, many voluntary hours that are put in by those who have a shared passion for Nairn County and freely give up their time to assist with work on the park in the days leading up to a home game, following a home game and during the close season." "Anyone is welcome to join us and help out – just turn up at Station Park at 9.30 am on the Sunday after a Saturday home game. If you cannot make it at that time but would still like to help out, feel free to drop us an email to info@nairncountyfc.co.uk and we will get back to you." Full Scottish Highland Football League Pitch scores: Nairn County FC: 4.6 Very Good (Platinum) Inverurie Loco Works FC: 4.2 Good (Gold) Buckie Thistle FC: 4 Good (Gold) Fraserburgh FC: 4 Good (Gold) Lossiemouth FC: 4 Good (Gold) Cove Rangers FC: 4 Good (Gold) Brora Rangers FC: 3.9 Good (Silver) Formartine United FC: 3.9 Good (Silver) Strathspey Thistle FC: 3.7 Good (Silver) Deveronvale FC: 3.7 Good (Silver) Turriff United FC: 3.6 Good (Silver) Clachnacuddin FC (1990) Ltd: 3.5 Satisfactory (Bronze) Huntly FC: 3.5 Satisfactory (Bronze) Keith FC: 3.4 Satisfactory (Bronze) Forres Mechanics FC: 3.3 Satisfactory (Bronze) Rothes FC: 3 Satisfactory (Bronze) Wick Academy FC: 2.9 Satisfactory (Bronze) Fort William FC: 2.7 Satisfactory (Bronze) Graeme Macleod