'One step at a time' as Halkirk return to Caithness county league
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The Caithness amateur football scene will have a 15th club this summer as Halkirk return to the fold for the first time since before Covid.
It means Recreation Park will again be hosting county league matches, three years before Halkirk's centenary.
The village outfit will join the six existing teams in Division Two, with Division One again consisting of eight clubs.
The 2024 CAFA season kicks off next week, with matches scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday across the two divisions.
Michael Bremner and Paul Lockhart will be sharing co-manager duties at Halkirk, who begin with a home match against Swifts on Thursday.
Club chairman Stevie Elder said: “We tried last year and weren't successful, and we tried the year before that, so this year is kind of a last crack at getting it going again.”
Halkirk have a strong youth set-up from under-six level through to under-16s, with Brian Davidson having played a key role in bringing on the juniors.
The club has raised funds by running a beer tent at the Eain Mackintosh Cup final, staged at Recreation Park each year, and putting on barbecues at youth football festivals.
“We've got a good strong committee and our youth side is as good as it has been for a while,” Elder said.
“The club as a whole is thriving. Everything is all good, so this is the last push to try and get a team out.”
The squad of about 20 will be a blend of youth and experience.
“It'll be a kind of mixture,” Elder said. “There is a core of boys that have been there for the last 10 years, maybe, and then there are younger guys round about.”
Halkirk won't be setting targets such as challenging for a promotion place.
It will be “one step at a time”, Elder said. “The first thing is to get a team out for the season and build from that.”
He is hopeful that in years to come the club will reap the benefit of the youngsters currently being developed at under-16 and under-14 level.
“It's our centenary year in three years' time, in 2027, so our aim is to keep the club going,” Elder said.
“But teams all over are struggling for players. They are hard to get.”
CAFA fixtures for next week: Tuesday, April 9 – Division Two: Watten v Pentland. Wednesday, April 10 – Division One: Castletown v High Ormlie Hotspur; Wick Thistle v Pentland United. Thursday, April 11 – Division One: John O'Groats v Staxigoe United; Wick Groats v Lybster. Division Two: Halkirk v Swifts. Friday, April 12 – Division Two: Acks v Top Joe's; Keiss v Pentland (all 6.30pm).
Wick Groats were the dominant force in last year's county league.
They regained the first division title, finishing two points clear of Pentland United, and also collected the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup and David Allan Shield.
However, Kevin Anderson's men were hit for six by High Ormlie Hotspur in the Eain Mackintosh Cup final and also lost out in the Highland Amateur Cup final against Avoch.
By their own high standards it was a poor year for Pentland United, not only emerging trophyless but without even a cup final appearance.
The Stabbies will be looking for a big improvement this time, while High Ormlie Hotspur (third last season), Staxigoe United, Wick Thistle, John O'Groats and Castletown will again be going all out to challenge the big two. Lybster too will aim to make an impact on their return to the top flight.
Thurso Acks are set for a fresh start after being relegated last season. Division Two proved highly competitive in 2023, with Lybster eventually securing promotion and Keiss pipping Swifts for the play-off spot only to lose out to Castletown.
Swifts had earlier won the Steven Cup, the knockout competition for second division clubs.
Also competing in Division Two are Top Joe's, Watten, Thurso Pentland and now Halkirk.
CAFA 2023 roll of honour:
Division One champions: Wick Groats (runners-up Pentland United)
Division Two champions: Lybster (runners-up Keiss)
Colin Macleod Memorial Cup winners: Wick Groats (runners-up Wick Thistle)
Eain Mackintosh Cup winners: High Ormlie Hotspur (runners-up Wick Groats)
David Allan Shield winners: Wick Groats (runners-up High Ormlie Hotspur)
Steven Cup winners: Thurso Swifts (runners-up Lybster)
Relegation/promotion play-off winners: Castletown
Highland Amateur Cup winners: Avoch (runners-up Wick Groats)
Player of the year: John Budge (Wick Groats)
Young player of the year: Mark Munro (High Ormlie Hotspur)
Second division player of the year: Tony Miller (Keiss)
Top scorer: Steven Anderson (Wick Groats)
Fair play award, Division One: Pentland United.
Fair play award, Division Two: Top Joe's
Archer Shield: Orkney 2, Caithness 1. Portland Bowl: Caithness 3, Sutherland 1
