Fond farewell for Helmsdale football stalwart following in Dad’s footsteps
A stalwart of Sutherland football received a fond farewell from his former teammates and supporters this past week, as he prepares to set sail for a new start in the Western Isles.
Colin MacRae, long-time player and volunteer with Helmsdale United, has made a move to the Isle of Lewis after receiving a transfer with the police.
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The 26-year-old defender says he will miss the “community” of Helmsdale the most.
He said: “I’ll miss the community as a whole. It’s such a great place to stay and I’ve obviously got a lot of close friends there who I’ll miss.
“Being so heavily involved with Helmsdale United for a number of years, I have some great memories there.
“Winning the league at home in 2017 against Lairg Rovers, winning the league in Golspie in 2022 and this year’s Highland Amateur Cup run was brilliant.
“We had some superb away days in Orkney which will live long in the memory.”
The police constable, who has also played with Highland League sides Wick Academy and Clachnacuddin, first joined Helmsdale United after leaving Ross County when was 17, after his family moved to the area from Lochalsh.
Nine years on, his switch to the Isle of Lewis comes attached with another family connection, as he moves to the area his dad — Roddy “Barvas” MacRae - grew up in.
During his time as a player, Roddy MacRae won three Highland Amateur Cups with Ness.
On returning to his Dad’s parish, MacRae added: “It’s a big motivator. I have been back and forth to Lewis on holiday all my life and I love it over there.
“Playing for the team where my Dad is from is nice, have played the odd game for West Side over the years when I’ve been over seeing my girlfriend — although my dad was actually better known for playing with Ness.
“My girlfriend’s Dad will be trying to convince me to sign for Back, but that’s not happening!”
Helmsdale United co-manager and former teammate, Josh Booth, paid tribute to MacRae’s influence — in particular as his cohort, recounting how the pair took the reins as managers together after the Covid pandemic.
He said: “Colin and I always joked about taking Helmsdale United and after Covid with no one coming forward to do it, we stood forward and said we’d give it a crack.
“Working alongside him has been first class. He’s an absolute winner in everything he does. He’s never half hearted, and it’s always 100 per cent with Colin. That’s probably why we did so well that year.
“We were training all the time, only lost one game, and drew one, and won the league. It was a massive achievement for the village.”
Most recently, MacRae has represented the club as its captain while working in Thurso, leading the way as the club embarked on a Highland Amateur Cup run, reaching the quarter-final stage after back-to-back wins in Orkney.
Booth added: “He doesn’t take losing lightly, and everyone laughs and jokes about that in Helmsdale. That’s the pure winner in him. He doesn’t want to lose a game.
“He had a bit of reputation for his red cards in his younger days but he grew up to be a captain and leader for all of us.”
Booth remarks that MacRae’s influence off the field has been almost as significant on it, saying that his departure will leave a “massive gap” at Helmsdale.
“Between fundraising, getting strips, and organising buses”, he added. “It’s an unbelievable loss for us.
“On a personal note it’s sad to see him go as a best mate, and I’ll be looking to try to get over and see him as much as possible.
“Hopefully he’ll sort us out with a friendly against West Side and when he is visiting family over here he can pull the strip on again.”
