Post by Brian Mackay on Mar 18, 2007 12:24:23 GMT
Workshops and Mid County pull out
Published: 16 March, 2007
A FAMILIAR name will be missing from the County League scene this summer with the demise of Dounreay Workshops.
The Thurso outfit, formed in 1977, were relegated to the second division last year. Their withdrawal from competitions comes in the wake of club stalwart Gus Mackay stepping aside.
After a 15-year stint as manager, he has been forced to call it a day because of work commitments at the Dounreay site.
Mr Mackay hopes this will not spell the end of the road for Workshops. "Unfortunately, I just don't have the time any more but hopefully somebody else will take over to get the club back up and running again next year," he said.
Watten-based Mid County have also withdrawn. That leaves a lopsided league set-up of nine teams in the first division and six in the second.
A headache is being caused to the summer clubs by wholesale renovations being carried out to the changing rooms serving Wick's Harmsworth and Bignold parks. The Highland Council intends starting the work in April, after the end of the Highland League season. The work, expected to last six weeks, poses major problems for Wick summer league sides. They could potentially use the East End Boys' Club changing rooms for county matches but not for Highland Amateur Cup ties.
At their AGM in Wick last week, Caithness Amateur Football Association officials agreed to meet council representatives to seek a compromise.
Alison Firth, from Castletown, was elected CAFA secretary at the meeting in Wick's Nethercliffe Hotel. She succeeds Angus Mackay, who had to resign following his deployment with the Territorial Army in Iraq. Murray Mackay, Thurso, was re-elected as president, while Sanders Harper, Wick, took over as vice-president. Hilary Budge, Thurso, remains registration secretary. Affiliation fees are unchanged at £160.
Thurso Swifts manager Stevie Reid is to take charge of the senior county team, while Thurso Pentland's co-manager Alan Henderson is the under-19 boss.
Caithness play Orkney away and Sutherland at home this summer.
Published: 16 March, 2007
A FAMILIAR name will be missing from the County League scene this summer with the demise of Dounreay Workshops.
The Thurso outfit, formed in 1977, were relegated to the second division last year. Their withdrawal from competitions comes in the wake of club stalwart Gus Mackay stepping aside.
After a 15-year stint as manager, he has been forced to call it a day because of work commitments at the Dounreay site.
Mr Mackay hopes this will not spell the end of the road for Workshops. "Unfortunately, I just don't have the time any more but hopefully somebody else will take over to get the club back up and running again next year," he said.
Watten-based Mid County have also withdrawn. That leaves a lopsided league set-up of nine teams in the first division and six in the second.
A headache is being caused to the summer clubs by wholesale renovations being carried out to the changing rooms serving Wick's Harmsworth and Bignold parks. The Highland Council intends starting the work in April, after the end of the Highland League season. The work, expected to last six weeks, poses major problems for Wick summer league sides. They could potentially use the East End Boys' Club changing rooms for county matches but not for Highland Amateur Cup ties.
At their AGM in Wick last week, Caithness Amateur Football Association officials agreed to meet council representatives to seek a compromise.
Alison Firth, from Castletown, was elected CAFA secretary at the meeting in Wick's Nethercliffe Hotel. She succeeds Angus Mackay, who had to resign following his deployment with the Territorial Army in Iraq. Murray Mackay, Thurso, was re-elected as president, while Sanders Harper, Wick, took over as vice-president. Hilary Budge, Thurso, remains registration secretary. Affiliation fees are unchanged at £160.
Thurso Swifts manager Stevie Reid is to take charge of the senior county team, while Thurso Pentland's co-manager Alan Henderson is the under-19 boss.
Caithness play Orkney away and Sutherland at home this summer.