A familiar face is enjoying his return to the Breedon Highland League with Strathspey Thistle.
Former Deveronvale, Buckie Thistle, Lossiemouth, Forres Mechanics and Elgin City player Steven Rattray has joined Charlie Brown’s coaching staff at Seafield Park.
The 45-year-old is enjoying helping the Grantown Jags who are currently 17th in the Highland League, having lost their last seven games.
Rattray said: “Charlie gave me a call and asked me to help them out as a physio for two matches.
“So when he got in touch a couple weeks back about coming in as an assistant it was an ideal step and I have really enjoyed it so far.
“There are a lot of good footballers in the squad and the main task just now is helping them believe that after a run of tough games.
“The league has a 7-11 split this season and the way the fixtures work there is a run where you face the top seven in the space of eight games.
“We are just coming out of that now so we will be looking to start picking up points.
“If we can put the tactical structures in place and encourage the players to be confident in possession then the results will come.
“Hopefully we will be able to entertain along the way too.”
Rattray eager to learn
Rattray is keen to develop as a coach and added added: “I have started a BSc in Football Coaching, Performance and Development which is run jointly by Edinburgh Napier University and the Scottish FA.
“It means I will work through to my A Licence at the same time as taking a range of degree level courses in match analysis, sports science, leadership and management.
“I am also doing a coding course at RGU that should enable me to create algorithms to identify and query data patterns as part of an advanced analysis of player development.
“I am hoping it will all lead to a role within the full-time game.
“Experience was always going to be vital to back up the education and I have been doing analysis work for Lowland League outfit Spartans for the past few months.
“I also continue to work with the growing youth set up at Keith, where my son Alex plays in the U-14s.”
