PICTURES: Faces of the future stars of the Highland League – and how they finished this season
The curtain fell on another season of Highland League under-18 north football this past weekend, with division champions Wick Academy only narrowly missing out on Highland-wide glory.
With just one defeat on record, the young Scorries lost 1-0 to east division champions Formartine United in the final at Dalmore Park in Alness.
With the season now at a close, we bring you a look at the teams who took part in this season’s campaign, in order of their final league placing.
1. Wick Academy
Winners of the north division of the Highland League, Wick won 21 of their 22 games under the guidance of team boss Derek Shearer.
George Ewing, who has also been playing for Academy’s senior side in the Highland League, finished as the club’s top scorer – and joint top league scorer – with 28 goals.
2. Balloan Thistle
Last season’s division champions Balloan Thistle came agonisingly close to catching their Caithness rivals. Despite finishing neck-and-neck with 124 goals apiece, they finished six points behind the champions in the end.
Forwards Bodhan Campbell (28 in the league as joint-top scorer) and Lewis Gibson were both relentless in front of goal for the Inverness-based side, Campbell finishing on 37 goals and Gisbon on 32 in all competitions for the season.
Campbell has since secured a deal with Highland League side Buckie Thistle.
3. Forres Mechanics
Finishing in third place, the young Can-Cans ended the season five clear of their closest rivals, with 15 wins on the board.
Jake Newlands, who has also been involved with the Forres first team, was named as the club’s player’s player of the year, with Angus Mackintosh claiming the coaches’ award. Kieran Hayller was the standout in front of goal, notching 22 goals.
4. Inverness Athletic
Climbing four places to fourth this campaign, it was a season-on-season improvement for Gary Addison’s side.
Oscar Beattie, who has since made his way up to the club’s senior side, finished as Athletic’s top scorer with 15 goals.
Beattie is just one of several who have since featured for the North Caledonian League club.
5. Clachnacuddin
Clachnacuddin enjoyed their highest finished in the north division since winning the championship in 2022.
Two players managed double figures in the scoring stakes for the young Lilywhites this season, with Daniel MacDonald and Alfie Forsyth sharing the title of top scorer.
Several of the side have gone on to feature for Clach’s North Caledonian League side.
6. Dingwall
Easter Ross campaigners Dingwall saw the goals spread across the team this season.
With 10 goals apiece, Fraser Ross, Ryan MacNamara and Flynn Harper could not be separated when it came to top marksman honours.
7. Alness United
Former under-18 north champions Alness United had a transitional season in this year’s league campaign, but they still managed to secure a space in the top seven “pack” – a clear 14 points ahead of eighth placed Lossiemouth.
With 27 goals on the board, Jamie McLeod finished as the Easter Ross side’s top scorer – third only to overall league top scorers Ewing and Campbell.
8. Lossiemouth
Finishing up as the “best of the rest”, top of a bottom five pack, Lossiemouth will have found frustration in the amount of draws they recorded this season, with no fewer than six on record.
Netting 12 goals for the young Coasters, Sam Russell finished top of their club scoring chart.
9. Keith
Young Maroons’ striker Michael Maver led the way with six goals as the club’s top scorer as the club recorded their best league finish in three seasons.
10. Buckie Thistle
A frustrating end to the campaign saw Thistle bow out with two games left to play.
Finlay Weir and Magnus Main were the top scorers for Thistle with seven goals apiece.
11. Nairn County
Plagued by their home form, County did manage to pick up valuable points on the road to avoid the bottom spot in the end.
Chevy Thomson was the standout for the young County side, named as their player of the year for the season.
With eight goals to his name, James Lawrie was their top marksman.
12. Rothes
Although they took the bottom place spot, Rothes still held their own in close quarters with wins over Keith and Nairn during the season.
The duo of Lewis Bower and Leo Ford shared the top scorer spoils for the Speysiders with four goals each.
