HIGHLAND LEAGUE PREVIEW
The Breedon Highland Football League season will kick off next weekend in what promises to be a historic season.
On August 4, the second round of fixtures will coincide with the 125th Anniversary of the creation of the League in the Workmen’s Club in Inverness.
The fact that only two of the current 18 clubs – Clachnacuddin and Forres Mechanics – have been ever present is worth noting as we approach a season where off-field discussions around the future development of the pyramid system are likely to be extremely significant.
Cove Rangers are a shining example of what can be achieved when the opportunity to climb the leagues exists. They have risen from the amateur ranks to become the most successful SHFL side of the current millennium, with manager John Sheran’s record more than a match for any that have gone before him.
Last season, they dominated opponents and thoroughly deserved their title success, albeit the loss to Cowdenbeath was a bitter pill to swallow.
The question is . . . will it have an impact on their 2018-19 campaign?
The fillip of entering the new stadium and the arrival of players of the quality of Blair Yule and Jordan Brown would suggest that Cove are only going to get stronger and, therefore, it is going to take a significant improvement from one of the challengers if they are to be denied another tilt at promotion.
Formartine United, having finished second last season, will be the most likely pretender to Cove’s crown.
Over the past six seasons, they have been runners-up three times (each time to Cove) and have retained a top-six berth in the other three campaigns. Paul Lawson has taken a lower key approach to his predecessors and the mix of youth and experience at the club suggests that the bridesmaid’s tag isn’t one they will wear too much longer. The development of Inverurie Locos under the stewardship of Neil Cooper was one of the stories of last season and, with Chris Angus on board for the full campaign, they will continue to be a threat.
Fraserburgh are another example of why the League is one of the most entertaining around and the return of Scott “Fig” Barbour will only increase their impressive goals tally further this term.
While Buckie Thistle’s ongoing casualty list may prevent them from targeting a return to the top, the rise of Rothes will be of interest to all those who have followed the league for some time.
The Speysiders have invested heavily in their squad over the past two seasons and now have the spine of a team capable of claiming silverware, albeit it is hard to see them claiming a second title 60 years after their first.
Therefore, we may have to look across Moray for the dark horse in this title race, Forres Mechanics.
Charlie Rowley will have been delighted to have held on to Stuart Knight and secured the signature of Andrew Macrae, who has been a standout loanee over the past two campaigns.
The squad is as strong as it has been since their shock title success in 2012, however they will require the rub of the green if they are to catch the Blues.
While I will predict Cove to finish as the champions, I am less confident about predicting how the league will be shaped by the wider political developments within the Scottish game.
As the Junior clubs and Colts teams get set to test the will of the members for a broader base to be introduced to the pyramid that could increase the number of potential SHFL teams significantly, will a two-tier league become a reality just over three decades after it was initially mooted?