Pals to turn 90 minute rivals as Brora Rangers take on Nairn County
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FOR all that Craig Campbell is thrilled to see friend and erstwhile football cohort Steven Mackay back in the game, competitive juices will flow at 3pm on Saturday.
The former and current Brora Rangers managers will go head-to-head at Station Park for the first time in their careers and, with crucial points at stake, friendship will be farthest from their minds.
Close as they are, as fierce competitors from an early age playing and growing up together in the Highlands, it hasn’t all been sweetness and bromance.
“It will be the first time Steven and I have been in opposite dugouts,” Campbell, Mackay’s former assistant at Dudgeon Park, said.
“We’ve obviously worked closely together at Brora and played together at most of our clubs in the past.
“We know each other really well. It will be a bit different being in opposite dugouts, but come three o’clock on Saturday that’s all forgotten.
“We are both very competitive types. Since we were young, we’ve had a few ding-dongs in training and games together, but I think the dugouts at Station Park are far enough apart to stop us coming to blows!
“There’s no doubting his managerial credentials. He’s got the experience and has won the league so it is a good scoop for Nairn.”
Brora are out to bounce back from a damaging 3–0 defeat to Brechin. Campbell felt the scoreline flattered the league leaders, but admitted: “Credit to Brechin – they’re difficult to break down and were clinical.
“The Highland League is very competitive this year and points will be dropped. We just have to go and put a run together again and see where it takes us.”
Midfielder Martin Maclean will miss out with a hamstring strain.
