Clachnacuddin Women closer than ever ahead of 2024 Highlands and Islands League season after death of former manager Craig Dishington
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Clachnacuddin Women have banded together for 2024 after their coach died last year, according to Nicky Macdonald.
Craig Dishington, from Aviemore, died suddenly while on holiday in Iceland last October, just after the end of the 2023 campaign.
The Lilywhites are due to return to action for the first time since then this weekend, hosting Nairn St Ninian in the opening weekend of the 2024 Highlands and Islands League season.
There will be a minute's silence to honour their former coach, and Macdonald says the tragic circumstances have brought the whole club closer together on and off the pitch.
"We have new players and a new manager, given the tragic circumstances of our last manager," she said.
"What happened was hard to get over, because it was quite sudden, but I think it did bring us all together.
"Everyone was devastated. He was such a good manager who was really dedicated, so we're going to have a minute's silence for him on Sunday.
"It will be good to start playing again to see how we go. We've got a few new players coming in and younger ones who have never really played football before.
"We just want to gel together, and find out what position we're all in. We've had six weeks of training and a couple of friendly games, so we're getting there."
Clach are one of the league's founding members, and were the first league champions in 2019.
Lots has changed since then, but Macdonald's main goal remains the same – to enjoy her football.
"I've been here since day one, and things have changed a lot," she reasoned.
"It's hard to get players up here, because there are quite a lot of teams in the area, but the girls who have been here have stuck with Clach.
"We've obviously got another couple of girls that we've recruited as well, so I think our goals will just be to do well and enjoy it.
"It is some girls' first season, so we'll just take every game as it comes."
Watch players from several Highlands and Islands League clubs discuss why you should support the division in 2024 below
