With the first big fixtures of the Highland League season set to kick off tomorrow, a number of new big name signing will be itching to grab the headlines.
From talisman strikers and returning heroes to a midfielder with a poignant family connection, here are the new boys we believe could be set to make a big splash in this season’s Big Game fixtures…
BRORA RANGERS – CRAIG GUNN – the Wick based former Dons youngster is a proven goal-scorer having scored 111 goals in 280 appearances for Elgin City over the last eight seasons, but he will have to fight for his place alongside other talented strikers such as Craig Campbell, Zander Sutherland, Scott Graham, Kyle Macleod and Andrew Greig, not to mention Steven Mackay.
BUCKIE THISTLE – STEVEN ROSS – the former Ross County striker was top goal-scorer for Brora Rangers last term with 24 strikes, and since his arrival at Victoria Park he has looked an ideal foil for last season’s Highland League top scorer, John McLeod.
COVE RANGERS – JAMIE MASSON – with the departure of multi-talented midfielder Blair Yule to Arbroath the former Aberdeen and Formartine United midfielder was seen by Cove as the ideal replacement. He is excellent on the ball and his attacking flair came to the fore towards the end of last at the Pitmedden club when he notched the majority of his 10 goals.
FORMARTINE UNITED – ARCHIE MACPHEE – the 24-year-old former Nairn County player, who was skipper of Elgin City last season, is a talented left-sided ball player who is extremely versatile, he can play with at full back, in a midfield role, or even wide on the left in a front three.
FRASERBURGH – PAUL YOUNG – the 24-year-old former Peterhead central midfielder has joined the club his uncle, Jimmy Young, served with distinction for nearly two decades. The ex Turriff United player reads the game superbly and is an excellent passer of the ball who will add much to the central area of the Broch side.
ROTHES – DALE GILLESPIE – the most recent and arguably the most important of Speysiders’ manager Steven MacDonald’s 13 new signings. The 28-year-old former Nairn County central midfielder was a virtual ever-present in Brora Rangers’ back-to-back championship winning sides between 2013-2015. He poses a potent threat to opposing defences and scored 22 goals for Brora during the 2015-16 season.
INVERURIE LOCOS – NEIL GAULD – after two seasons with local rivals Formartine United he has returned to the club where his Highland League career began. He may not be the biggest centre forward in the league but on his day he can be one of the most dangerous, as he showed in the 2013-14 season at Locos when he was the league’s top goal-scorer with 43 strikes to his name.