WILL THEY WIN SOON? 'MON THE FORT!!!

Following on from the feature on The Highland and Lowland League in Scotland we have to give a mention to Fort William Football Club who opened their season with a 6-0 defeat at Brora Rangers yesterday. The club is to feature on a BBC Scotland programme to be aired on Tuesday called THE FORT which will also be on the I-Player and is definitely well worth a watch - it focuses on the team's fortunes last season with Manager Russell MacMorran taking over in the dug-out in January 2019. 

He had only volunteered to help out behind the scenes at the club in the summer of 2018 and was working as Secretary. McMorran, originally from Inverness, had represented clubs in the Highland League Reserve section but his playing career was ended with a serious knee injury when he was in his early 20s. 

You have to go back to Wednesday 12th April 2017 and the penultimate game of the 2016/17 season to find a Fort William win The Highland League when they beat Strathspey Thistle 4-1 at their Claggan Park home which has to be one of the most picturesque ground in the game affording views towards Ben Nevis and the beautiful surrounding countryside in Lochaber. 

The Fort's record over 17/18 and 18/19 is 61 defeats and 7 draws in 68 games with a goal difference of -377. Last season they finished on -7 points as they were deducted 9 points for playing a ineligible on three occasions. 

The club have recently announced a link up with Scottish Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle where nine young players have been loaned to gain experience and develop playing for Fort William. Eight of those were in the starting XI in Saturday's defeat at Brora. 

The Fort's next fixtures come on Wednesday when Nairn County visit in the Pat Munro North of Scotland Cup - they won 0-2 at Deveronvale in their opening league fixture. They then host Inverurie Loco Works on Saturday 3rd August before travelling to Strathspey Thistle the following Saturday. 

Further down South in the Scottish non-league game Berwick Rangers will play their first Lowland League game on Tuesday evening when promoted Bonnyrigg Rose visit their Shielfield Park ground. The 2018/19 East of Scotland League Champion's won their opening league game 6-0 against Vale of Leithen yesterday. 

Rangers haven't had a great start to their season playing in the BetFred Cup losing 0-7, 0-6, 0-5 and 0-3.