Strathspey Girls FC is not yet a year old but founder and head coach, Craig Dishington, explains that a platform for all ages to play is already being constructed.
SK: Tell us a little of your footballing history and any personal high points?
CD: I played school football, boys brigade football, youth football in West Lothian and at amateur level in the Edinburgh leagues, dropped away from organised games in my early 20s, returned to organised games playing in an over-35s league. Not the best player in the teams by far, was daft enough to be a goalkeeper as well as playing outfield at times.
I started coaching with Murieston United Girls U-15s as goalkeeper coach, as well as assisting with the club’s goalkeeper school. Took more of an interest in coaching and obtained outfield coaching, started up an U-9 team and headed the girls section. I moved to the Highlands two years ago, saw that there was no local girls team and established the club to provide a platform for girls of all ages.
I won a few leagues and cups as a player, also won a league cup with one of the girls teams. Proudest moment – and I have had a few – was seeing a player join the U-15s having not played football before and within three months she made her debut for the team.
SK: How long has the club been going?
CD: Our club was only established last year, with the anniversary of our first session coming up in May. We have players aged from 5 to 30+, we have an Under-11 team that takes part in the Highlands Festivals. Our aim this year was to establish a senior squad and build up the youth section, also to start working on getting U-13 and U-16 squads established to create a full pathway. We have also been working to obtain the Bronze quality mark from the Scottish FA, which is being checked over.
SK: How had your team’s season been going before lockdown?
CD: Our U-11 team were starting to gel and learn more on how to play the game as a team, with the season just about to kick off bad weather cancelled the first festival for the girls, then the lockdown put a close to all training and matches.
We have been establishing a senior team with aim to join the Highland League for season 2021 but bad weather put a massive spanner in trying to get some motion going – just five sessions in 2020.
SK: How did you do against any local rivals in 2019-20?
CD: We don’t have any close local rivals, closest club to us is Thistle Girls who are a few years ahead but along with others in the Highlands, all working to provide a fantastic platform for girls to learn and play football, no matter their starting ability.
SK: Any rising star, club veteran or stand-out personality we should know about?
CD: We are lucky that two sisters are from our region who both have done well in the game and both represented our national team, Shelley and Suzanne Grant. Both have help promote our club and our aims for the region.
SK: How are you trying to keep fit and fill the void in football?
CD: I’m lucky to stay in a national park, so walking and some gentle runs, as well as blowing cobwebs away with the bike.
I have been lucky to have contacts within the game to use some videos to send to the players to use to practice ball mastery and some basic at-home keep-fit ideas for all ages.
