Seafield Park, Grantown-on-Spey. 28th September 2024.
By the time it came to the edge of the Forest, the stream had grown up, so that it was almost a river, and being grown-up, it did not run and jump and sparkle along as it used to do when it was younger, but moved more slowly. For it knew now where it was going, and it said to itself, “There is no hurry. We shall get there some day“. A. A. Milne
And get there, we did. Attendance at this game involved the delicate negotiation between party-animal daughter and very real animal spaniel, to arrange for both to be in the same place and allow me to escape north for a few hours. So it was that I made the train and enjoyed the very pleasant couple of hours to Aviemore and an even more pleasant 15 miles on the bike on the delicious cycle path to Boat of Garten and the quiet back road to Nethy Bridge on into the town of Grantown, crossing the majestic Spey twice as I did so.
It’s an outwardly sleepy haven, nestling close to the Cairngorms at Moray’s southern edge. The Dava Way starts/end here, taking you north to the coast, southwards takes you along the Spey towards Aviemore. We are well off football’s beaten track.
Aviemore to Grantown | Ride | Strava
The quiet main street is disturbed by a local youth, masked up and seemingly menacing as he wheelies up and down on his electric motor scooter. Edgy, dangerous? No. No one seemed to bother about him. Much, I suspect, to his annoyance.
Thistle are relative newcomers, only founded in 1993 from the ruins of Grantown FC, joining the Highland League in 2009. They have tended to be at the southern half of that league and, at time of writing, were rooted to the foot of the table, early season results including a couple of 7 goal reverses. The mood among locals is buoyant, though, with the opening of a new hospitality suite and a new management team lead by Ryan Esson, who has plenty of senior football experience, and a cup win, to his name. Money is flowing from a local businessman and there is a sense of better days being just around the corner. Much excitement around the proper branding of advertising hoardings and repainting of fence posts. These things matter.
Entrance is a tenner, a couple of quid for the HT draw and the same for the programme, and £4 for my tea and tasty treat from the fare on offer, I’m less than £20 all in. I take my seat in the stand and study the team sheets, and smile at the three legged dog, whose interest in the match wasn’t apparent.
Sauchie’s line up is impressive, and as the teams take the field, they seem taller, fitter, altogether a more professional outfit. They waste no time and are quickly in the lead and score again before half time. Despite honest endeavour, the Strathy Jags are in trouble here.
Half time saw me exchange a pleasant chat with the lovely staff at the pie hut. Indeed, so impressed was she with my cycling, that she gave me a free cuppa and a kit kat! You don’t get that in the SPL, that’s for sure. Chatted to local fans too, though both turned out to be Rangers fans really, and were none too pleased when I pointed out that their club was deed. Ooops, it doesn’t go down well, that. They also asked me if I was a YouTuber. I was quite flattered at being seen as someone that groovy.
Second half was more of the same and Sauchie barely broke sweat in running out 0-6 victors, the poor young keeper helpless as Ross Kavanagh helped himself to a late brace of breakaways as Jags pressed to get something to cheer the fans. So it’s Sauchie who went in(to) the hat the following day, pulling the much sterner highland test of Buckie Thistle, that promises to be as tasty as a Buckie fish supper.
The ride back to Aviemore was every bit as enjoyable as the ride out, though I missed out on a pie at the Craig Bar, not quite enough time – that will be savoured the next time.
What I can recommend is the Claymore, a great pub on the main street, just don’t expect fed. Its walls are covered in sport memorabilia, including a homage to local hero, Craig MacLean – his post Olympic homecoming must have been a great day for the town.
Scottish Cup, 2024-25:
Matches: 3
Goals: 13
Total miles cycled: 52.27
Pies: 2
Grounds visited: 2
In the Hat 
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