Another trip to Nairn County shows what football's about

The Centenary Stand and the dugout at Station Park

Jonny reports on the professionalism and dedication of Nairn County - and how pyramid-style promotion to the Scottish Leagues is actually a threat - rather than something to strive for.

When they said, "Haste ye back" my many friends at Nairn County meant it, so I couldn't wait to return to Station Park with my pal, Iain Ramage. 

It was another taste of the Highland League as the Wee County faced Lossiemouth.

Getting the warmest of welcomes from manager Les Fridge just seconds to kickoff, I felt like the away boss coming out of the tunnel for a prematch hug!

A football trip to the Highlands is literally and metaphorically a breath of fresh air. From the turnstiles, walking over the NCFC paving into the stand, this is a club aiming to be the very best it can be.

The newly refurbished stand marking County's centenary with plush new home changing room, gives everyone a pride to play for the shirt.

I've got the wrong boots on! 

The day after the game, volunteers spend five hours forking the pitch back to top condition.

Any molly-cuddled "professional" who complains that 50 grand a week's not enough should come to Station Park and see the dedication of everyone here.

Nairn County came into being in 1914 staying unbeaten for their first five years. Quite an achievement? The Great War broke out within days of the club's formation - the Wee County didn't play their first game until 1919!

And as it was the day before Remembrance Sunday, the minute's silence in this 100th anniversary year had extra poignancy.

To the action and County's players had to bounce back from the bitter disappointment of Scottish Cup exit at Arbroath, "smoked out" by the ref in a narrow 2-1 defeat.

And despite superior possession and play, Lossie took the lead from the spot. Post-Arbroath, it knocked confidence. What we needed was a goal - and we got a cracker!

Martin 'Bobo' MacDonald levelled it jumping way higher than Lossie's defence to glance in a header from a corner. 

Later we had a couple of collectors items; the normally clinical Conor Gethins had a spot-kick saved, but if County faithful fret over too many goals from one source, they need worry no longer.

Sam Urquhart struck FOUR and with that, Wee fans have a new hero. He's left and right footed, fleet of movement, full of running and knows where the goal is.

Gethins was later substituted. A sharp reminder that the boss now has choices.

Not sure what formation that is but what a picture!

The Northern Irishman's not getting younger and he's asked for a transfer. He works for the Brora Rangers owners. Will he even be at Station Park next season?

The times they are a-changing!

And on Ladies Day, where the main stand had some unusually noisy support, these lads must've caught the eye!

Kyle Wilkie likes to play and Mike Morrison distributed the ball well. In goal, Calum Antell, a Hibs youth player and still wearing green is a commanding presence.

The Main Stand lasses enthusiasm, cheering a goal even after it was flagged offside, helped create a rather unique atmosphere!

But Sam's goals settled nerves and as the game wore on, County just got "better and better" as Andy Gray might say. Nairn were 5-2 winners.

After an on-pitch chat with the boss, he proudly showed me around the new changing room, complete with hallmarked badge. They really are the pride of the division.

Recalling his early days at Chelsea, Les told me he'd played with a young Paul Lambert on his return north to St Mirren. There's a fine line between success and failure. At Motherwell, Lambert couldn't attract a £100,000 bid from Dundee United but moving onto Dortmund, the rest is history. He came back to Scottish football a one-and-a-half-million-pound player with Celtic -  and a European champion.

I'm cuptied and not matchfit but terms were a formality!

Nairn County could be a Scottish League club one day. The SPFL now has a pyramid system of promotion and relegation which extends to the Highland League.

But the Wee County is firmly rooted in its community. When you go and support the team, there's a real feeling of connection; something you don't get sitting next to a South Korean tourist at Stamford Bridge!

Walking down the High Street, I got into a discussion with Paul MacLeod's mum as she served me at the newsagent. That's how Nairn is.

Les: "Did I tell you that last time, Jonny?"

Promotion would spell real upheaval. Volunteers who keep the club going on so many levels couldn't leave full-time jobs to make a midweek trip to Berwick Rangers. They'd have to quit the club - but who'd take their place?

So let's say all the best to Brora Rangers and may I wish the Wee County many happy years near the top of the Highland League!

Thanks as always to Iain Ramage and Donald Matheson, to Les Fridge and the Gurn from Nurn for the memorable time.

My first trip to Station Park was also against Lossiemouth. Click for the story.

A Highland Fling double header

Regular Soccermongery readers know how I love to experience the lore of other football nations to see how their fans, players and stadia fit together.

..and if you know your history! Celtic fans before kickoff.

And there's few lands this sassenach has greater respect for than Scotland. When football was proclaimed to be 'coming home' at Euro 96, the very assumption seemed one-eyed.

No doubt England is 'a' home of football. The Sheffield Rules and the Football Association are indeed foundation stones. But it was the Football League and my beloved Aston Villa that was literally built on the pioneering skills and drive of Scots. Archie Hunter, George Ramsay and William McGregor are basically the forbears of the football industry. They did it from Villa's boardroom, touchline and playing fields.


And so it was with a keen eye to history, I went along with my pal and fellow journo Iain Ramage to not one, but two games. Talk about making the most of a Saturday afternoon!

Terry Butcher's team play for him.

First destination: the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium for Inverness Caledonian Thistle against Celtic. Hype sprang eternal from the local press. Fresh memories of a 3-2 Caley win the season before coupled with Celtic's Premier Lag to Rangers put a determination in the step of the home team.

And a well organised Caley proved a match for the visitors even growing in stature as the game progressed. That was until Greg Tansey was sent off for what boss Terry Butcher called "assault by fingernail". A midfield challenge with Georgios Samaras ended Caley's chances as Celtic eventually broke the ten men's resolve - but not until the hour mark.

Celtic's sell-out end sung with vigour all game even finding time to taunt Terry Butcher for being both English and outclassed by Maradona in Mexico. To me, those taunts sound like back-handed compliments. Inducted into the Scottish Football Hall Of Fame earlier this month, the ex-Rangers star must reflect with quiet satisfaction at Celtic's attention. After all, it was 25 years ago.

Still, one day Scotland will be good enough to play Argentina in the second round of a World Cup - well, possibly.

Good game!

It was disappointing to see the Caley contingent punctuated by empty seats but walking out of the stadium to see a beautiful stretch of water, forest and hills certainly wasn't. There aren't too many more beautiful settings for top division football in the whole world.

After a minor battle to get out of the car park, it was six miles down the road to our next game, a Highland League encounter between leading lights Nairn County and Lossiemouth at Station Park. With no preconceptions of what to expect, I must say I was totally bowled over by the experience.

Walking into the ground, I saw about thirty heads above the perimeter wall. I imagined a modest uncovered terrace about ten rows deep. Turning the corner, to see a mound of turf was a bit of a surprise. The row of heads stood at the back of the hill for the best view. Truly a Spion Kop!

It's such an intimate ground. Fans and players, keepers and management interact. There's nowhere to run and hide at this level. You can hear everything. For Lossiemouth, read potty mouth!

As the visitors left back took a throw, a kid in the stand shouted, "you need a haircut!". The mop top, two hours from a Saturday night out just nodded in agreement.

Special mention for Andy Neill and Connor Gethins, who looks a real talent. I haven't watched enough football north of the border to make a judgement on how high he could play, but surely there's a Scottish League club who could use the ex-Peterhead striker's services again.

Honoured to talk to Les Fridge on the pitch post-match

We sat in the main stand and watched ebb and flow to a three-all climax, although opportunist Lossiemouth took their chances when County should've wrapped it up at 2-nil and 3-2.

The Highland League is played with commitment, pace and fitness. There's quite a lot of chasing the long ball.

Donald, the club photographer saw me take a photo of Nairn boss Les Fridge and offered me my own private audience with him at the final whistle. I was on the pitch talking football with the boss! That doesn't happen at Villa.

The ground is beautifully maintained and every club official wears a Nairn tie to add to the air of pride and professionalism at the club.

"Haste ye back", an expression I heard a few times during my afternoon. I really hope to very soon.

Also: Soccermongery visits Israel's number one derby game.

Pictures: Iain Ramage.