Nairn St Ninian well-placed to avoid bottom of the table finish in approaching Highlands and Islands League season
Nairn St Ninian have a simple ambition for the 2024 Highlands and Islands League season – avoid finishing bottom of the table.
Last year was a disappointing one for the Nairn Saints, who had appeared to be growing and developing in the seasons before that.
However, results did not go St Ninian's way in 2023, and that means improvements will be needed this year.
Nairn kick off their season this Sunday away at the league's first ever champions Clachnacuddin, and player Isla Campbell admits there are some nerves in their camp after last season's disappointment.
"I think there's been a bit of apprehension over the last few weeks, because we didn't do very well last season," Campbell explained.
"We're hoping to improve on our performances this time around, so it has been a bit nerve-wracking but I think we'll be all right.
"There was a bit of background noise, so to speak. We all just became a little bit distracted, and we couldn't really find our flow, but I think we've got it back a little bit this year.
"We're hoping to improve on last season this year, and I 100 per cent think we're in a better spot this time around, so we will just take every game as it comes and enjoy it apart from everything else.
"We're maybe not quite ready to compete for the league, but we can definitely put in better performances and get a couple of wins under our belts."
New faces in the squad have added a fresh impetus to the Nairn St Ninian squad ahead of the 2024 campaign, and Campbell is raring to go again after the off-season.
"We've had a good couple of new players join us, so it's looking promising," she added.
"Hopefully that will give the ones who were playing last year a bit of a break as well, because I think that was a problem – we all got tired halfway through the season, and there wasn't anyone else to come in and help out.
"It is a very long season, so by the end of it I think everyone is ready for it to end, but it will be fine.
"At this time of the year you can't wait to start again, so the break is always good and I'm very happy for the season to be coming back."
Hear players from several Highlands and Islands League clubs discuss why you should support the division in 2024 below