The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
MacRae goes due north
Pacy wide player Oliver MacRae has quit Glasgow Mid Argyll to rejoin Kinlochshiel. Former Scotland under-21 skipper MacRae, now 24, will make the long-distance commute from Glasgow, where he is a stonemason, to Balmacara to play – a 272-mile round trip.
He will leave older brother Duncan at Mid Argyll, while he links up with younger brother Archie, who scored five goals to help Kinlochshiel win the MacMaster Juvenile Cup last autumn. Oliver was the Marine Harvest under-21 National Player of the Year in 2016.
The Wester Ross club’s boss, Johnston Gill, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Oliver has agreed to sign for us. We’d sounded him out previously and were told he was staying put. But Oliver has had a change of heart and despite the distance involved he has committed himself to us.
“With our other new signing, Ruaridh Macdonald from Glengarry, we now have a stronger squad with better attacking options, which is encouraging as we bid to get back among the honours.”
Mid Argyll, promoted to the Mowi Premiership, have snapped up Ally MacKerracher from Oban Celtic to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
Mid Argyll playerMark manager Bain said: “Oliver has indicated that he’s going back to Kinlochshiel and we accept that.
“But we’re extremely pleased to have signed Ally
Kinlochshiel manager Johnston Gill
MacKerracher, who was with Oban Celtic last season.
“Ally, who is now based in the city, has played up front for Celts for the last three years but can also operate well in defence, so he’s a very useful acquisition.
“We’ve also signed Hamish Anderson, who was at Kingussie and who has come to us via Kingussie legend Rory Fraser who is now coaching with us. Hamish hasn’t figured for a year or two as he’s been travelling but he looks very decent and we’re working on his fitness.”
MacKerracher, who played football for Dumbarton as a 17-year-old, will make his debut in tomorrow’s friendly with Oban Camanachd at Mossfield.
Ewen Fraser, who gained a Camanachd Cup winners medal with Newtonmore last September, will also be on show. Ewen is now a doctor in Glasgow but Bain reports he has attended 80% of training sessions.
Skye have their first full outing of the season when they face Premiership champions Kingussie at The Dell.
Attacker Jordan Murchison has been appointed the islanders’s new skipper. Thomas Borthwick, who has been out for a couple of years, will make his first reappearance for Kings, who have James Hutchison back from a ski holiday.
Glen Urquhart, who will have a younger line-up this season, will face Inverness at Bught Park.