October 9th 2026
Three bright young prospects have been promoted from the club’s Under-18s team to the First Team squad by Manager Wayne Mackintosh.
Ross Murphy (far right), Chevy Thomson (far left) and Charlie McKenzie (second left) are pictured in front of the Culloden Cars Main Stand at Station Park before commencing with pre-season training with the rest of the squad last weekend.
All three have been involved with the First Team squad to various degrees over the last year and now have become a permanent part of the group.
The Manager was delighted to introduce the trio to fans. He said: “I am so keen for us to bring through our own players and as a coach and becoming Manager, one of the parts of the role that brings the most joy is seeing a young player you have seen developing behind the scenes break through into the First Team, so I am excited for these boys and what the next few seasons holds for them.
“I have known Ross a long time now having coached him in the youth teams. I brought him up into the Under-18s a year ahead of schedule and he has had a good couple of years playing there and had a successful loan spell out last year.
“Chevy was one I was really impressed by when he first joined us in the Under-16s and is another I wanted to be part of the Under-18s group when I coached them whereas Charlie joined us halfway through last season. He is a Nairn lad and although he is still young enough to play for the Under-18s, I feel he is ready to step up to the First Team.
“All of these lads have done great to make it this far but there is still so much hard work for them to come. We will work with them at training though and as coaches, we are all really eager to help them to continue to develop their game and earn themselves a place in the squad on matchdays and some time on the pitch when the new season starts. It won’t be handed to them on a plate though and they need to continue to work hard and show the right attitude, taking on board the information they are receiving from the Coaching Staff and senior players around them, which is what they have all been doing up to this point.
“We are delighted to promote these players into the First Team squad and the message to those coming behind them is to work as hard as you can at your game and your fitness both at training and away from the club, apply yourself in the correct manner, show the right attitude and perform to the required level and we won’t hesitate to give you an opportunity.”
Ross Murphy is an 18-year-old left back who can also play in the middle of the park. He joined us in 2022 after leaving Inverness CT, initially joining our Under-16s group before being fast tracked into the Under-18s. He is yet to make his competitive senior debut but featured in our pre-season friendly away at Lochee United last July before spending a successful season out on loan at Forres Thistle.
Chevy Thomson is an 18-year-old winger who joined our Under-16s squad in 2022 and also moved up to the Under-18s ahead of schedule. He spent time away from the club during the 2023/24 campaign but returned last season and caught the eye of the First Team coaching staff enough to be included in some matchday squads towards the back end of the campaign. He made two appearances as a substitute with his debut coming off the bench away at Fraserburgh in March while his other outing was at Formartine United in April.
Sixteen-year-old central midfielder Charlie McKenzie is a fifth year pupil at Nairn Academy and made three appearances for us last season. He joined us in the New Year following his release from Inverness CT and made his debut away at Fraserburgh in March. So far, he has made three appearances for the club, including his first start which came when he played a starring role in the 2-0 home win over Turriff United in April.
Image by Kenny Macleod Photography.
