Keiss ‘ready for the step up’ as Caithness summer league kicks off
Keiss will be adopting the “one game at a time” approach as they adjust to life in the top flight of Caithness amateur football.
The village outfit will be competing in Division One of the county league for the first time in 17 years after winning the second division championship last season.
They welcome Lybster to Bayview Park on Wednesday, April 16, for their season opener. Lybster finished sixth in the eight-team first division in 2024.
Keiss manager Bradley Thomson said: “It was a big achievement for us last season but the hard work continues. We’ve done well in our friendlies so far and everyone is ready for the step up this season.
“I think for us this season it’s just going to be one game at a time and see how we do. It’s difficult to compare us to other teams in the division but we will be confident in ourselves as a team.”
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Keiss striker Olly Manton was top scorer in Division Two last summer with 25 goals, two ahead of his team-mate Tony Miller. Manton was also named as player of the year for the division.
“We have a couple of new faces around the squad but it’s mostly the same as last season,” Thomson said. “Olly will be looking to replicate his form of last season.
“Our team is a year older and more experienced, so keeping the squad together was always the most important thing.”
Thomson himself will still feature as a player if needed.
“For myself I’ll see how it goes, like the last few seasons,” he said. “I can’t see myself playing as many games but I will when required to.”
Speaking at the end of last season, Thomson emphasised that it had been a team effort.
“Our full squad has chipped in with great performances throughout the season,” he said at the time. “Of course everyone talks about the forward players, and rightly so, but we’ve had the best defence in the division as well as the best attack.”
Caithness AFA fixtures – Tuesday, April 15 – Division One: John O’Groats v Wick Groats; Staxigoe United v High Ormlie Hotspur (6.30pm). Division Two: Watten v Acks (6.30pm).
Wednesday, April 16 – Division One: Keiss v Lybster; Pentland United v Castletown (6.30pm). Division Two: Halkirk v Thurso Pentland; Swifts v Wick Thistle (6.30pm).
Saturday, April 19 – Highland Amateur Cup, north section, preliminary round (ties involving Caithness clubs): Golspie Stafford v John O’Groats; High Ormlie v Castletown; Staxigoe United v Keiss; Thurso Swifts v Inver (3pm).
Tuesday, April 22 – Division One: Castletown v Keiss; Lybster v High Ormlie Hotspur; Wick Groats v Staxigoe United (6.45pm). Division Two: Acks v Swifts (6.45pm).
Wednesday, April 23 – Division One: John O’Groats v Pentland United (6.45pm). Division Two: Top Joe’s v Watten; Wick Thistle v Halkirk (6.45pm).
Friday, April 25 – Division One: Staxigoe United v Lybster (6.45pm).
CAFA final league standings from 2024 – Division One (after 14 fixtures each): 1 Pentland United (36 points); 2 Wick Groats (32); 3 High Ormlie Hotspur (27); 4 Staxigoe United (20); 5 Castletown (19); 6 Lybster (12); 7 John O’Groats (6); 8 Wick Thistle (4).
Division Two (after 12 fixtures each): 1 Keiss (27 points); 2 Swifts (25); 3 Acks (24); 4 Halkirk (22); 5 Watten (15); 6 Top Joe’s (8); 7 Thurso Pentland (1).
