Kenny Wotherspoon on Oban Celtic

WHEN Oban Celtic won Marine Harvest South Division 1 at the end of the 2016 shinty season, they took the decision to make the step up to the Marine Harvest National Division.

This not only provided a greater test on the field of play against tougher opposition but also presented the logistical challenge of playing shinty at a national rather than regional level.

Despite starting the season as many people’s tip for relegation, Oban Celtic manager Kenny Wotherspoon had other ideas. ‘The boys showed during the 2016 shinty season the potential was there,’ he said, taking time away from his plumbing and heating business to reflect on last season’s campaign.

‘Our aim was to be still playing National Division shinty in 2018. Many said we would do well to stay up as some South 1 teams had struggled in the past when making the step up. It was always going to be a challenge, especially being a one-team club, but we did it with a bit to spare and gave a few teams a fright along the way.’

It’s fair to say Oban Celtic took time to settle into their new surroundings, starting the season with four league defeats. Wotherspoon remembers the opening day defeat against Fort William at Mossfield well.

‘The Fort William team at that time included Daniel Stewart and Niall MacPhee and we lost 2-1 to a late goal. It was so frustrating to come away from that match with nothing – a huge disappointment.

‘We created chances against champions Skye at Ganavan but they were too strong and whilst we also lost to Fort William again and Caberfeidh, who we led twice, these three teams would go on to battle it out at the top of the table.’

In-between times there was a Gregor Cameron Glasgow Celtic Society Cup defeat to Bute in a tie which went all the way to a penalty shoot-out. ‘We made hard work of that one. A number of Bute cup ties have gone to penalties over the last few years and you have to admire the role played by Bute keeper Kevin Queen. He is fantastic in the shoot-outs and was the difference once again.’

A couple of cup successes boosted Oban Celtic’s confidence as they beat Kilmory in the Balliemore and Inveraray in the Artemis Macaulay Cup and they only lost to Fort William in the Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup after a replay.

‘Our performance of the season was against Inveraray in the Macaulay,’ said Kenny. We came from 3-1 down to win at the Winterton, which is never easy. Photographer Stephen Lawson caught a great picture at the end of that tie and you can see the joy in the players’ faces. We did really well that day.’

Oban Celtic, with a spring in their step, returned to league action, beating Inverness and drawing with Strathglass, either side of cup losses to Inveraray in the Balliemore and Oban Camanachd in the Macaulay.

‘Connor Howe and Robert Alexander made their Oban Celtic debuts against Inverness. I think it was significant these guys joined us from Oban Camanachd, as Ross MacMillan did at the start of the season, because the more usual pattern in recent years was for players to move in the opposite direction.

‘Gary McKerracher was the most recent to leave us for Camanachd. He is a player I admire very much and he has been excellent for Camanachd since signing for them. We went behind against Inverness before going 5-1 up, eventually winning 5-3. Connor Howe got a debut goal.’ Kenny points out the cup draws were unkind to his side.

‘We obviously had a lot of travel in the National Division anyway but the initial cup draws gave us four away ties. However the players showed a never-say-die attitude and perhaps we had that wee bit of luck that we didn’t have in the league games.’

‘Toad (Graham MacPherson) was in goal for Inveraray in the Balliemore tie and he had a great game, whilst we competed well against Oban Camanachd during the first 35 minutes, hitting the frame of the goal twice, but their fitness told and our heads dropped a bit when they went in front. I sent Haybo (Oban Camanachd manager Iain Hay) a text after that match wishing his side all the best in the semi-finals.’

As the season progressed, it became evident Oban Celtic were involved in a mini-league in the lower half of the National with Beauly, Strathglass and Inverness. Once more, the narrow margins between success and failure were evident as Celtic first drew 2-2 with Strathglass before losing 4-3 to Beauly.

‘It’s unbelievable how we never won the Strathglass game. We led twice before losing a late goal and that draw felt like a defeat. Against Beauly, our forward line was superb and we led 2-0 at half-time but it was a classic game of two halves with Beauly eventually winning 4-3. A draw would have been a fairer result.’

Oban Celtic picked up all four of the next available four points, beating Inverness and Strathglass. ‘I missed the Inverness win as I was at Wimbledon. It was a game I always felt we could win and a Daniel Madej hat-trick helped us to a 6-4 victory. ‘Games against Strathglass at Cannich are

always tight and we were in a relegation battle with three other teams. We had David MacInnes back and our centre line of Ally McKerracher, George MacMillan and

Robert Alexander won us that game.

It was the best they played all season but the victory came at a cost as we lost Andy Hunt though injury for the rest of the season.’

A couple of heavy defeats against title challengers Caberfeidh and Skye Camanachd followed, Oban Celtic’s only two big beatings of the season. ‘The Caberfeidh match was a mad one. After travelling such a long distance, we thought they might make a sluggish start so we hit them hard from the throw-up and went a goal up after 18 minutes before trailing 2-1 at half-time. Caberfeidh had a player sent off, but still won 6-1. There’s no explanation to that. We travelled to Skye with no recognised keeper and just 12 players and a young substitute but superb performances from stand-in keeper Iain MacFarlane and Andy MacDonald limited Skye to a six goal win.’

The side bounced back with a league win over Inveraray at the Winterton. ‘There must be something about having a man sent off as we were a goal up early in the game against Inveraray but David MacInnes was sent off after 13 minutes. But this time we won the game 2-1 despite relentless Inveraray pressure. I remember we had to pull Andy MacDonald back as an extra defender so we were in effect playing with just two forwards.’

Oban Celtic had secured National shinty for another season and they finished off their campaign with a draw against Beauly and a defeat to Inveraray.

‘Beauly boss Alan MacRae, who is also Scotland U21 head coach, phoned me the morning after their game to ask if Andy MacDonald could join that day’s Scotland U21 training.

‘Unfortunately it was too short notice for Andy but it shows what an impression we made during the match. There was little between the sides over our two matches with Beauly. I missed the Inveraray game so Davie Hamilton took the side and he said it was an even game.

‘We’ve come a long way over the last couple years but last season could have been even better because, when you analyse our games, we left a lot of the points on the pitch. However I expect next season will be the same battle with the same teams.

‘The guys themselves know when a game’s gone wrong. I tell them how I feel at half time and full time and they listen and show respect. If I didn’t get that from them, I wouldn’t do the job.’

Kenny’s one wish for next season is consistency when it comes to player availability. ‘Discipline is something I want us to improve on next season. We only picked up a couple of bookings in South 1 in 2016 but we had more than 20 bookings last season. Perhaps the National is a bit more physical but we need to cut out the stupid bookings and that’s something I’ll be addressing next season. The best thing for a manager is being able to select the same 15-17 players each week and whilst you will always have players unavailable on certain weeks, say through work or attending weddings, it’s frustrating to lose players through suspension.

‘I only missed two matches last season and I want that same commitment from the players. I want them all to be available for 80 per cent of our matches and if we can get that, we’ll secure another respectable league finish. Guys need to commit for the season as unavailability kills the team. We can get better next season and I’d love to have a good cup run too with some kind draws after failing to get a home draw in 2017.’

There will be changes next season. ‘David MacInnes and keeper Stephen Davidson won’t play whilst Connor Howe is playing football in Glasgow although he will help us out if he is at home.

‘We will have Robert Alexander though and we will hopefully have Andy Hunt back after he missed the latter part of last season through injury. Andy is a strong and committed player and we’ll see how he trains in the New Year.’

Kenny is also working on adding a couple of new players to strengthen his squad.

‘There is an open invitation to any potential new players to get in touch either with me or through the club’s Facebook page.

‘I’m working on a couple of possibilities, but there’s nothing concrete yet. We are always looking for volunteers to help off the park too. Davie Hamilton and Andrew MacKenzie do a superb job behind the scenes but more help would be welcome.’

Kenny laughed as he added: ‘I’ve known Davie for years, but I still don’t know when he is being serious or when he is winding me up.

‘We already have five pre-season friendlies lined up to get our eye in and we are all really looking forward to the fixtures for the new season being announced.’

It wasn’t always this way though with Kenny Wotherspoon starting off his shinty career on the other side of town, first enjoying U17 London Shield success with Oban Camanachd before featuring as a forward for a Lochside Rovers side, managed by Nigel Evans, which notched five Bullough Cup successes as well as a couple of South 1 league titles. Kenny was denied the chance to win all three junior cup competitions when suspension ruled him and Sandy MacLeod out of the 2001 Aberdein Considine Cup Final defeat to Lovat at Spean Bridge after he had scored in every round in the lead up to the final.

Kenny joined Oban Celtic in 2008 but stopped playing on a regular basis when he took over as manager.

Despite having no previous managerial experience, he set a target of winning South 1 in 2016 in what was his first full season in charge and was as good as his word.

The National campaign was a success and the team’s survival

ticked another target and they will look to kick on again in 2018.

Oban Celtic and Kenny Wotherspoon are a good fit and Lochside’s loss is Celtic’s gain. With wife Lorraine, who plays her part completing the weekly team lines, and a young family as well as his own business to run, there’s much to juggle. It’s not uncommon for Kenny to spend Friday evenings working in his office so that Saturday is free for shinty.

He is a man who gets things done and these are exciting times at Oban Celtic with Kenny Wotherspoon at the centre of it all.

Footnote: Kenny Wotherspoon bemoaned Oban Celtic’s luck in cup draws last season when they were invariably drawn away from home.

Kenny joined Oban Camanachd manager Iain Hay last week to make the 2018 Artemis Macaulay Cup draw and, with the Oban Celtic man pulling the home teams out of the hat, he drew his club a meeting with Bute in Oban. Now you know how to get a home tie Kenny!

Artemis Macaulay Cup draw

The 2018 Artemis Macaulay Cup draw was made live on Oban FM’s Sports Show on Saturday December 9.

Shinty supporters from across the country tuned in to hear Oban Camanachd manager Iain Hay and Oban Celtic boss Kenny Wotherspoon make the draw with Davie Hamilton and Les Kinvig from the Macaulay Association also in attendance.

Eligibility has changed slightly this year with participation no longer solely based on the previous year’s league placing. The Macaulay Association will now take year-by-year consideration of club’s cup

participation and decided that Kilmallie, who finished bottom of the Premiership last season and would normally have taken part, be replaced by Caberfeidh, who finished second in the National Division last term.

This means Caberfeidh will now compete in the Camanachd, MacTavish and Macaulay cup competitions, whilst Kilmallie will play in the Camanachd, MacTavish and Balliemore tournaments.

There was a late change to the participating south teams as Kilmory opted not to take part so their place was taken by Ballachulish with Tayforth also declining an invite.

This tournament is the only cup format in senior shinty to be played on a regional basis meaning a final between a north and south side is guaranteed.

Kyles Athletic are the current holders, having beaten Newtonmore 7-4 in the 2017 final at Mossfield.

The south were represented by: Aberdour, Ballachulish, Bute, Glasgow Mid Argyll, Inveraray, Kyles Athletic, Oban Camanachd and Oban Celtic.

The north were represented by: Caberfeidh, Glenurquhart, Kingussie, Kinlochshiel, Lochaber, Lovat, Newtonmore and Skye Camanachd.

When the draw got under way, the Oban teams were kept apart with both given home ties against lower league opposition; Oban Celtic against Bute and Oban Camanachd against Glasgow Mid Argyll.

They were also kept apart in the second round with Oban Celtic, if they beat Bute, given the tougher task against the winners of the tie between Kyles Athletic and Inveraray.

Oban Camanachd’s reward should they beat GMA would be a home tie against South 1 opposition in Ballachulish or Aberdour who clash at Jubilee Park.

The pick of the ties is the North meeting between Kinlochshiel and Newtonmore on the west coast. The winners will meet whoever comes out on top in the tie between Kingussie and Skye Camanachd at the Dell so there are the possibilities of either west coast or Badenoch derbies in the quarter-finals.

Lovat welcome Lochaber to Balgate and the prize for the victors is home advantage against Glenurquhart or Caberfeidh who meet at Blairbeg.

Oban Celtic preseason friendlies

Oban Celtic have been quick off the mark in organising their pre-season friendlies ahead of the start of the 2018 shinty season.

Kenny Wotherspoon’s side have set the following schedule which includes a derby against Oban Camanachd:

Saturday January 27 - Oban Celtic v Kilmory at Mossfield

Saturday February 3 - Taynuilt v Oban Celtic at the Taynuilt Sports Field

Saturday February 10 - Oban Camanachd v Oban Celtic at Mossfield

Saturday February 17 - Oban Celtic v Glengarry at Mossfield

Saturday February 24 - Oban Celtic v Ballachulish at Mossfield (Robert Wylie Memorial Cup)

Taynuilt AGM

Taynuilt’s annual general meeting takes place at Taynuilt Sports Pavilion tonight (Thursday December 14) at 7.30pm.

Change of manager at Strathglass

Strathglass have made a managerial change ahead of the start of the 2018 shinty season.

David Balharry has stepped down as first team manager of the Marine Harvest National Division side to be replaced by Bruce Douglas, assisted by Roy MacKenzie.

Charlie Hall will continue with the Strathglass second team who play in Marine Harvest North Division 2.

Lochaber EGM

Lochaber will hold an emergency general meeting at Spean Bridge Hall on Friday December 15.

The meeting will discuss the chairman’s position, the first team manager’s position and the Lochaber U17 coach for the 2018 shinty season. All players are asked to attend.

Oban Camanachd Superball

Oban Camanachd have opted to wind down their weekly lottery and will instead focus on their monthly Superball draw.

The Superball was inspired by the late Neil ‘Nonny’ MacInnes and for a contribution of £10 each month, subscribers have the chance to win a guaranteed £500 each month.

With the recent success of the Superball, the club decided at their recent AGM to wind down the lottery and, if it isn’t won beforehand, there will be a definite winner on Monday December 18.

It was always Oban Camanachd’s long-term plan to pursue the Superball and anyone willing to support the club in this way is asked to contact any player, coach or committee member for entry details and direct debit forms.