Goalkeeper Martin MacKinnon goes back to the future with Clachnacuddin deal
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MARTIN MacKinnon was thrilled to commit to Clachnacuddin – but still has a clear eye on a full-time future.
The former Caley Thistle youth goalkeeper is thriving at the Merkinch club and this weekend an initial short-term stay became a deal through to summer 2023.
Lilywhites manager Jordan MacDonald already rates Fort William-based MacKinnon, just 21, as the best keeper in the Highland League.
That has shone in performances so far and, even amid a 7–0 trouncing by Fraserburgh on Saturday, there was a string of quality saves to keep the scoreline only mildly embarrassing.
MacKinnon, who was offered the chance to extend his stay at Caley Jags last summer, explained: “It was tough, in a way, to leave Caley Thistle and they offered me a contract extension, but I wasn’t enjoying it in the sense I wanted to get out there playing first team football.
“That was the thinking behind it.
“I only signed a very short-term deal initially at Clach but was enjoying myself so much and was guaranteed football so I signed another deal through to the end of this season.
“Then they got in touch a few weeks ago to speak to me about extending that further.
“I’m loving it at Clach, so I accepted.
“I’ve played most of the games for Clach this season, just missing a couple through illness.
“I’m still ambitious to make a full-time career in the game – that has always been the plan for me.
“But I know I need to play well for Clach, keep improving and then you just never know what might come along.
“It can be tougher for a goalkeeper to get noticed and there’s only one position for us to compete for, but as long as I keep playing well I’m hopeful that an opportunity will pop up.
“I’m happy playing with Clach and I’m enjoying it - that’s the main thing for me.”
The Lilywhites remain in transition, with a mostly young, promising set of players making solid progress but having to learn to deal with defeat as well.
MacKinnon added: “There’s a huge amount of potential in the squad. We have a couple of more senior boys, which we need, in the backbone of the side and we have young boys there with bags of enthusiasm who are only going to get better.
“When the manager came in, he outlined the style of play he wanted and the team has take it on board.”
