Manager hails champions Golspie Sutherland for professional attitude after winning North Caledonian League Division One
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
GOLSPIE Sutherland have been crowned North Caledonian League Division One champions after beating Orkney and nearest challengers Invergordon lost in Thurso last weekend.
Golspie have secured the title with one game to spare after taking an unassailable four-point lead after their 1–0 victory in Holm thanks to Liam Bremner’s second half strike.
Manager Sam Mackay paid tribute to his champions saying their professional attitude since coming back from the season being suspended for five months earned them their 11th league title.
When they heard the news Invergordon lost 3–1 in Thurso, they were in the most appropriate place to celebrate.
“We were in a pub in St Margaret’s Hope where a couple of the players’ families were at the game in Thurso giving us updates,” said Mackay.
“When we got the news we were champions, there was a fair scene in the pub.”
Invergordon were heavy favourites to win the league at the halfway stage of the campaign. But since the league returned from suspension, the Ross outfit have failed to win a game and Mackay says his players simply took their chance.
“Invergordon have stumbled since the restart which was surprising because they had a strong team.
“We were left in a position where we had to win our games and see where it took us.
“I said to the guys that we had four cup finals to play and if we won every game we would win the league because we still had to play Invergordon at that stage.
“We got a great point which helped us massively and pleased with the way it has all worked out.”
Mackay took over from previous manager Andrew Banks during the campaign and thanked the club for their support.
He said: “There are people at the club who deserve more credit than me who have been there for years and this is for them.”
