Clachnacuddin having the benefit of team in North Caledonian League as players being called up to Highland League squad
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CLACHNACUDDIN Reserves head coach Paul Maclennan says a number of players being promoted from their colts outfit into their Highland League squad shows the benefit of forming a team in the North Caledonian League.
Troy Cooper, Thomas Lewis, Lachlan Quate, Kieran Syrjanen and Robert Urquhart were all named on the bench in the 4-2 win at Inverurie Locos last weekend.
The players were all upgraded from the Clachnacuddin colts squad which are back in the North Caledonian League this season for the first time in over a decade.
The decision to re-enter a colts team into the North Caledonian League was to develop young players and find out if they are good enough to play at a higher level.
Maclennan says success for them is not winning leagues or trophies in the North Caledonian League, but watching their young stars being considered for selection for the Highland League squad.
He says the fact they had five players involved in the clash at Inverurie Locos last Saturday, shows that the system is working.
"The success we judge our team on is when we had five reserve players with the first team squad last weekend," said Maclennan.
"That is the success we can take, if we can promote two or three players a year, then that is our job done.
"We had no expectations going into the season, from our point of view it was about building these players up and make them ready for Highland League.
"Although the North under-20 league is a good league, we felt it wasn't developing boys fast enough and that is why we wanted to enter a team into the North Caledonian League."
Maclennan says Clachnacuddin were impressed with how the North Caledonian League in recent years has grown, which led to them reapplying for membership.
The division was struggling six years ago, with only six teams competing in the 2015/16 season and had no representatives from the Inverness area.
Now the league boasts 13 teams from across the Highlands and Orkney, including Inverness Athletic, Loch Ness and Nairn County A.
Maclennan says the club identified how strong the league has become in recent years and acknowledged the willingness of the league chiefs to open the division up to colts teams.
"The committee has done well to get the league back to what it used to be as it was dwindling in numbers," said Maclennan.
"We wanted to be part of a tier six system, and we believe being involved is good for us as a club and for the league as a whole.
"The first season for us was all about getting used to the league and go on from there. Nairn County A are a prime example of that.
"They have established themselves as a good North Caledonian League team and all credit to them. We looked at what they did and then tried to do that.
"Success will come over time and won't come straight away to young players. Inverness Athletic are a prime example of that.
"They have been in the league for a number of seasons and have made changes in that time.
"All credit to them, they are now in third place, they have had a good run of games and were the first team to beat Loch Ness in the league this season.
"They have shown in the league teams can move on."
Clachnacuddin A currently find themselves in 10th place in the 13-team league, with four wins and eight defeats from the 12 league matches so far.
They also reached the semi final of the Football Times Cup, winning at Golspie Sutherland 3-0 in the quarter final, before losing in a penalty shoot-out in the semi final to St Duthus.
Maclennan says while the primary focus is developing players for their Highland League squad, is pleased they have shown they can be a competitive outfit in the North Caledonian League.
"We want to compete and win games. I am a bad loser, I want them to have that side that they don't want to lose.
"We had a goal of 12 points before Christmas and now have a good cup game against Nairn on Saturday and try and get on a good run for the rest of the season.
"We knew that it would be a hard start as we played in the Inverness Amateur league and won the second division last summer.
"It has been a slow start, but the boys are getting to grips with the league and had a run of good wins.
"When you beat Golspie, Halkirk, Nairn, you know they are up for the challenge of playing good players each week."
