The best league in Scottish football is back as the Highland League season gets under way this weekend.
There are new kids on the block, too, in what is a changed league with – Superleague champions Banks o’ Dee replacing Fort William in the division.
While perennial strugglers Fort begin their new challenge back towards the Highland League by competing in the North Caledonian League, their replacements Dee will have much loftier ambitions.
The Spain Park outfit have dominated the junior scene in the north of Scotland for years and have also held their own against the Aberdeenshire teams in the Aberdeenshire Shield and Cup competitions.
They will not have it all their own way in the Highland League, but the newcomers should be aiming to be up near the top six, if not in it, in their debut season.
Champions are weakened but still a force to be reckoned with
Champions Fraserburgh will be the team to beat after an outstanding campaign last season, but runners-up Buckie Thistle will be the favourites in the eyes of many.
The Jags have strengthened the squad which put together an incredible run to push the Broch all the way to the final day of the season, while Mark Cowie is still hoping to add to his championship-winning squad following the retirement of experienced campaigners Grant Campbell and Gary Harris.
It is an advantage Buckie have before a ball has been kicked, but only a fool would rule out a Broch team who withstood an incredible onslaught from the Jags and still pipped them to the post last term.
It does feel as if much will depend on who Cowie can add to his ranks though, with depth likely to prove crucial as another fiercely contested campaign plays out – but the devastating firepower, which amassed 135 goals in 34 games, is still largely intact.
Brechin City’s aim remains what it was a year ago – the title and with it a shot at promotion back to the Scottish Professional Football League.
Andy Kirk built a team from a standing start last season and those early weeks of trying to bed his players in at Glebe Park ultimately cost City dear in the title race.
But they are more settled this season and look primed to mount a stronger challenge this time round.
Brora Rangers’ objective is the same every season, with the deposed champions looking to reclaim their title from Fraserburgh.
At this stage the top four of last season look well placed to retain that billing, with the likes of Rothes – bolstered by the evergreen Steven Mackay – a new-look Formartine United and regular top-six contenders Inverurie Locos expected to be among the chasing pack.
With Fort gone, whose league status is now at risk?
But perhaps the biggest question is which team will take the fallen Fort’s place at the bottom of the division?
For me, it’s between Strathspey Thistle and Deveronvale. The Vale won nine league matches last season, but only three came in 2022 and they have a very young side for the new campaign as it stands.
With Fort now out of the league, the Grantown Jags are the team with the biggest question mark defensively.
They have to improve considerably after conceding 114 goals in their 34 matches over the 2021/22 season.
In what should be a much tighter contest at the bottom of the division, goal difference could be crucial.
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