For the first time in more than a decade, there was a runaway winner in the Highland League, with Brora Rangers romping to their first title with a 20-point winning margin over second-placed Inverurie Locos.
Brora’s dominance is reflected in my team of the year selection but, overall, the task has been as difficult as ever. In the Sutherland side’s case, the biggest problem was who to leave out.
During the past 12 months, and especially since the start of this season, standards have thankfully evened out.
I don’t expect Davie Kirkwood’s men to take the title again by such a huge margin but I expect them to retain it.
However, with Turriff United, Wick Academy, Inverurie Locos, Formartine United, Fraserburgh and Cove Rangers all capable of beating the best, and the recent resurgence of Fort William near the foot of the table, there are certainly no more easy games in the league.
I have opted for a 4-4-2 formation and reckon my selection would take some beating.
GOALKEEPER
The crop of goalkeepers is as good as we have had but there is one standout.
Amazingly, Brora Rangers number one, , conceded only 16 league goals last season. Obviously, his defence played an integral part in that feat but the former Ross County goalkeeper is not only a great talker who organises those around him, his handling is immaculate and his shot-stopping unparalleled, so big Joe walks into the side.
Picking his deputy on the bench was much more troublesome. Kevin Main has carried on at Turriff United where he left off at Buckie Thistle. Clachnacuddin’s John Campbell and Stuart Knight at Forres Mechanics are as good as they have been but, like last year, I am opting for Inverurie Locos’ Andy Reid, who is always so dependable.
FULL BACKS
Blair Yule, of Cove Rangers, just misses out this time. The 22-year-old, who can also play in midfield, was in line to be picked but in the past month I have seen Wick Academy right back twice score important goals, at Inverurie and Fraserburgh. That nudged the former Huntly man ahead.
The left-back position was more problematical but Brora’s , who is extremely good in the air at set-pieces, just had the edge over Formartine United’s Stuart Smith.
CENTRAL DEFENCE
Formartine’s has impressed me greatly and, even although he only arrived at the start of the season, his prowess at both ends of the park and his ability to read the game makes him an automatic choice. Turriff United’s Cammy Bowden, who has been rock-solid this year, ran him close.
Hay’s central defensive partner is former Caley Thistle captain, Brora’s , who just pipped his Dudgeon Park team-mates Ross Tokely and Scott Houston.
MIDFIELD
North football continues to provide an embarrassment of riches in the middle of the park.
Wick Academy’s Sam Mackay, Fraserburgh’s Willie West and Brora Rangers quartet Andrew Greig, Gavin Morrison, Martin MacLean and Dale Gillespie all staked a strong case for inclusion this time around.
But in the wide areas I have gone for a prolific pair, Brora’s , who has found the back of the net 52 times in the last 12 months, partnered by Fraserburgh hotshot , whose lethal left peg has bagged him 60 goals in the same period.
In the engine room there is no one better than Inverurie Locos’ inspirational captain
and for Nacho’s partner in the centre of the midfield I go for Turriff United’s – son of former Fraserburgh favourite, defender Jimmy, and grandson of former Peterhead player Jimmy Wedderburn. Paul has shone in Turriff’s rise.
FORWARDS
With only two attackers to choose from you would have thought that this selection would have proved most difficult but there really were only two choices for me.
Firstly, I go for Brora captain , whose move from his traditional attacking midfield role to up top proved to be pivotal in the Cattachs’ championship triumph.
Known to all in north football as Sid, he has scored an incredible 78 goals in the last 12 months and he walks into my team.
My choice of his strike partner may raise a few eyebrows but any player who retains the Highland League player of the year title is worthy of inclusion and his 61 goals so far in 2014 add further credence to the selection of
The Mackay-Gethins partnership worked wonders at Nairn County. They know each other’s game inside-out and I see this as an unstoppable combination.
Formartine’s Czech forward Marek Madle has done brilliantly up front this season, as has new Cove Rangers’ forward Daryl Nicol, and both are worthy of mention, as is Rothes’ Portuguese forward Joao Rodrigues.
SUBSTITUTES
Andy Reid (Inverurie Locos), Blair Yule (Cove Rangers), Cammy Bowden (Turriff United), Gavin Morrison (Brora Rangers), Willie West (Fraserburgh), Andrew Greig (Brora Rangers), Joao Rodrigues (Rothes).
MANAGER
For leading his team to a historic first league title Brora Rangers’ Davie Kirkwood is my 2014 Highland League manager of the year.