Buckie Thistle F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Buckie Thistle


fullname = Buckie Thistle Football Club
nickname = "The Jags"
"The Hoops"
founded = 1889
ground = Victoria Park
capacity = 5000
chairman =
manager = Kevin Will
assistant = Doug Will
league = Highland Football League
season = 2006-07
position = Highland Football League 3rd
pattern_la1=_white_hoops|pattern_b1=_whitehoops|pattern_ra1=_white_hoops
leftarm1=008000|body1=008000|rightarm1=008000|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=FFFFFF
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=008000|socks2=FFFFFF

Buckie Thistle are a senior football club based in the town of Buckie, Banffshire, who currently play in Scotland's Highland Football League. Founded in 1889, they are also known as "The Jags" and play their football at Victoria Park, in Buckie.

Overview

Although there is no accurate date for Buckie Thistle's formation, it is widely accepted that the club was formed in 1889. The early years saw the club play a number of challenge matches before being accepted into the Banff and District League. It wasn't until the 1909/1910 season that Buckie Thistle joined the Highland League, becoming the first team from Banffshire to be accepted into the league, Morayshire having been represented for several years by Forres Mechanics and Elgin City. Buckie have since gone on to win a respectable eight league titles, and coupled with many victories in cup competitions throughout their history they are considered as one of the leagues more successful teams. Buckie have however failed to win the league since 1958 but many feel it is now just a matter of time until Buckie win the championship again.

Buckie Thistle's first-choice kit is identical to that of Celtic's green and white hoops and local legend has it that The Bhoys donated club strips in the early 1900s when the club hit hard times. In 1989 Glasgow Celtic came north to play a friendly to mark the Jags centenary year and earlier, at the start of the 1980s, they had visited Victoria Park to play in a fund-raising match for the spires appeal of St. Peters RC Church.

Being a senior team means they can play in the Scottish FA Cup. In fact they are the only non-league senior club in Scotland to have won a Scottish Cup game at Hampden Park - when they beat Queens Park in a 4th round replay in 1954.

It is widely accepted that the Jags have the biggest and best support in the Highland League.

Current squad

"As of 22 August 2008."

Season 2007/08

Buckie Thistle bolstered their squad for the 2007/08 season with the signings of Craig MacMillan, Tony Low, Graeme Stewart, David Macrae, Brian Neill, Bob Duncan and Andrew Courage. The Jags started the season as one of the favourites to win the league title for the first time in 50 years and managed to live up to this tag early on with an opening day victory over Fraserburgh followed by a first round win away to Cove Rangers in the Aberdeenshire Cup. Buckie went on to lift the Aberdeenshire Cup with a fantastic 1-0 victory over Keith in the final after beating rivals Deveronvale in the semi.

Buckie's season got even better when they completed the Aberdeenshire Double by winning the Shield with a fine 3-0 victory over Inverurie Loco Works in the final. Buckie defeated Fraserburgh and Huntly on the way to the final to complete a brilliant double.

Meanwhile in the Scottish Cup campaign, Buckie started off with a 2-1 victory away to Glasgow University in the first round. It was the first year that all Highland League sides entered the Scottish Cup proper without having to qualify and Buckie looked to make the most of the opportunity to go far. The Jags went marching on to round 3 of the competition after defeating Highland League rivals Nairn County 4-1 in round 2. Thistle were then handed a tough tie against Scottish First Division side Greenock Morton in round 3. Buckie had it all to do after going 2-0 down early on but superbly fought back to 2-2. However the campaign ended in heartbreak when Morton scored a last minute winner to knock brave Buckie out of the cup. Many felt Buckie deserved the victory but Buckie could be proud of their efforts in the Scottish Cup.

After starting off superbly in the Highland League in the first half of the season, the second half of the season didn't go quite as well after going out of the Scottish Cup. Buckie failed to beat fellow title rivals such as Keith and Cove Rangers and this ultimately ended the Jags title hopes for another season. However The Jags will again be one of the favourites to win the league next season.

Craig MacMillan was Buckie's top goalscorer in 2007/08 with a fantastic return of 21 goals. Stephen Bruce also chipped in with a fine total of 11 goals.

On 20 April 2008, former Aberdeen, Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers and Scotland international Striker Duncan Shearer was sacked as manager of Buckie Thistle. Shearer was sacked just one day after a disappointing home defeat to Cove Rangers which all but ended Thistle's hopes of winning the league championship. During Shearer's reign as manager he managed to win the Aberdeenshire Cup twice and the Aberdeenshire Shield once but in the end it was his failure to win the league which led to his sacking.

On 13th May 2008 Kevin and Doug Will were revealed as Buckie Thistle's new management team for a second spell.

Season 2008/09

With the Will's back in charge for the second time the Buckie support were hopeful of enjoying another successful season. Transfer activity started early into the Will's second spell in charge at Buckie with Graeme Stewart leaving for Inverurie Locos before bringing in striker Charlie Brown from Forres Mechanics.

Buckie were drawn at home to Rothes in the first round of the Challenge Cup.

The Jags Highland League campaign began on the 2nd of August with a 1-1 draw away to Forres Mechanics.

Club honours

Highland Football League
*Champions: 1919/20, 1926/27, 1927/28, 1933/34, 1936/37, 1953/54, 1956/57, 1957/58.

Aberdeenshire Cup
*Winners: 1936/37, 1938/39, 1945/46, 1952/53, 1953/54, 1954/55, 1956/57, 1984/85, 1986/87, 2005/06, 2007/08.

Scottish Qualifying Cup
*Winners: 1952/53, 1953/54, 1958/59, 2003/04

League Cup
*Winners: 1953/54, 1955/56, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1960/61, 1979/80, 1986/87

Aberdeenshire Shield
*Winners: 1992/93, 2007/08

External links

* [http://www.buckiethistle.com Club website]
* [http://www.buckiethistlesupporters.co.uk Supporters' club]