Nairn St Ninian look to make an impact in Highland and Islands League as they kick off new season against Orkney on Sunday
NAIRN St Ninian Women are set to kick off their Highlands and Islands League campaign and are looking to make an impact in the competition this season.
The Saints are set to begin the season with an away trip to face Orkney in Kirkwall on Sunday in the six-team division.
However, after a recruitment campaign, they now have a squad of 23 players which are ready to compete.
John McGowan has been appointed as the new manager of the club who has played a major part in dragging the women’s team from the brink of shutting down.
He said the club have done a lot of good work in promoting women’s football in Nairn in the last five years and they were determined not to give up and make it even stronger.
He said: “Unfortunately we had to pull out of the league last year halfway through due to injuries and not having enough players.
“We decided not to give up on the team as some were just ready to leave.
“But we had a discussion to recruit new players and work hard and see what we can do. They are looking good, they are all ready for the start of the season and we have been working since August with them.
“We didn’t want to give up and not have a team, we stuck together and promised the ladies that we would try and make this work.
“We now have a squad of 23 players and a good mix in the team with girls travelling from Carrbridge, Inverness and Lhanbryde,. The girls are committed to the club.”
McGowan took on the role as manager after previously being a coach in the youth set-up in the club. He said that he is ready to make the step up as manager and lead the women’s team into a new era.
“I have been with the club since 2020 and started coaching in the under-14’s when the last manager Ross Hepburn was there and he asked me to help out.
“When he left, they were looking for somebody to manage the team and I wanted to step up.”
McGowan says the club have also gone into schools in Nairn to help recruit players at all age levels.
He says the Highlands and Islands League have boosted women’s football in the north and is determined Nairn St Ninian are part of it.
He said: “The league gives the younger ones the opportunity of more than just school football.
“They have the opportunity to progress from the youth squad into a senior team and that can only be good for women’s football in the Highlands.
“At the club we have under-eights, under-10’s, under-12’s, under -14’s and then the women’s team.
We went to schools at open days and encourage girls to come and play football and did a demonstration day, that is how we got the girls on to the under-14’s team.
“We have a few good players from Nairn Academy.”
Saints are in the league with Buckie, Caithness, Clachnacuddin, Orkney and Sutherland. Reigning champions Ross County are not entering this season.
Speaking about the team’s chances, McGowan said: “I would like to finish in the top three, that would boost the girls team. But to get further would be better.”