Forres Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Forres, Morayshire. A member of the SJFA North Region, the club play in the North of Scotland Football League.
The club was founded in 1906, and the team play in red and white.
Logie Park
Forres Thistle currently play at Logie Park, which is named after the club's former president, Alexander 'Sandy' Logie.
Their first fixture at the ground was a friendly vs Dundee United on October 14, 1990. Notable football players, such as Duncan Ferguson, Mixu Paatelainen and Paul Sturrock, were in attendance. Dundee United won the game 3–0.
Logie Park's current record attendance is around 250, during a Scottish Junior Cup Second Round game vs Pollok.
Staff Management staff Forres Thistle appointed a new Management Team in March 2025. This consists of Derek Theman and Barrie MacDonald, with Keith Simpson and current First Team player Ricky Wardop contributing to the coaching efforts.
In their first game in charge, the new Management Team achieved a significant milestone by securing Forres Thistle's first win in six months, defeating league contenders Hall Russell United 1-0 in an Elginshire Cup First Round match at Logie Park.
Board members
PositionNamePresidentStevie JohnstonVice PresidentTony 'Chuck' YoungTreasurerJames 'Suds' SutherlandSecretaryDutch Holland
Seasons
2021/22 MatchesWinsDrawsLossesGoals scoredGoals concededGoal differencePoints2418337117+5457
Top scorer: Mattie Davidson (19 goals) Biggest win: 7–0 vs Islavale Biggest defeat: 0–6 vs Tayport Scottish Junior Cup exit: First Round (0–6 vs Tayport)
Forres Thistle finished a successful league campaign as runners up in Division 2 behind Rothie Rovers. Due to a reconstruction of the league system, Division 1 and 2 were combined into one league, named the Championship. This denied both teams promotion.
Forres Thistle also reached the Edmundson Electrical Elginshire Cup Final, against Dufftown. The game, played at Logie Park, ended 2-2. Thistle lost 5–3 on penalties.
2020/21
The COVID-19 pandemic continued to cause chaos within Junior football, so no league games were played. One regional cup competition started, however, it was not fulfilled to its entirety.
2019/20
MatchesWinsDrawsLossesGoals scoredGoals concededGoal differencePoints1512215318+3538
Biggest win: 7–1 vs Cruden Bay Biggest defeat: 2–5 vs Downfield (Regional Cup) Scottish Junior Cup exit: Second Round (0–3 vs Pollok)
Forres Thistle welcomed a new management team, headed by Tony Ross.
When the league was annulled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thistle were second, only a point behind Burghead Thistle with a game in hand. They were enjoying a very successful campaign, and they were in a great position with two teams set to be promoted.
A record crowd of around 250 people attended Logie Park to watch Thistle face Pollok in the Scottish Cup Second Round.
2018/19 MatchesWinsDrawsLossesGoals scoredGoals concededGoal differencePoints2446143456-2218
Biggest win: 4–1 vs Dyce Biggest defeat(s): 2–6 vs Longside, 2–6 vs Banchory St Ternan Scottish Junior Cup exit: Second Round (0–3 vs Arthurlie)
The regionalised Division 1 East and Division 1 West were restructured to create a Division 1 and a Division 2. Forres Thistle suffered from a poor season, in which they finished ninth. As a result, they were relegated from Division 1 to Division 2.
2017/18 MatchesWinsDrawsLossesGoals scoredGoals concededGoal differencePoints2416266032+2850
Biggest win(s): 5–0 vs Spey Valley United, 5–0 vs Whitehills Biggest defeat: 0–8 vs Auchinleck Talbot Scottish Junior Cup exit: Second Round (0–8 vs Auchinleck Talbot)
Forres Thistle enjoyed a successful campaign, finishing third in Division 1 West. With two teams going up, Thistle narrowly missed out on promotion, as Deveronside pipped them at the death, finishing 2 points ahead.
2016/17 MatchesWinsDrawsLossesGoals scoredGoals concededGoal differencePoints189094340+327
Biggest win: 6–2 vs Burghead Thistle Biggest defeat: 0–10 vs Montrose Roselea Scottish Junior Cup exit: Second Round (1–3 vs East Kilbride Thistle)
Forres Thistle finished fifth in Division 1 West.
2015/16 MatchesWinsDrawsLossesGoals scoredGoals concededGoal differencePoints1610242715+1232
Biggest win: 4–0 vs Burghead Thistle Biggest defeat: 1–8 vs Colony Park Scottish Junior Cup exit: Second Round (0–6 vs St Anthony's)
Forres Thistle had a very successful season under the management of former player Scotty Roy, finishing second in the league, behind Buckie Rovers.
Charlie Beck won the League Player of the Year Award.
Cup double
Forres Thistle also completed a Cup double, defeating Buckie Rovers in both Finals.
Thistle won the Elginshire Cup with a 5–2 win at Borough Briggs, thanks to Charlie Beck's hat-trick.
On June 3, 2016, Thistle won 1–0 in the Archibald Cup Final at Burghead Thistle's Forest Park. A Steven Currie solo effort was enough to clinch the Cup double.
In both Cup Finals, centre-back Chris Ross was sent off for two bookable offences.
2014/15 Biggest win: 5–1 vs Buchanhaven Hearts Biggest defeat: 0–5 vs Grantown Scottish Junior Cup exit: Second Round (2–5 vs East Craigie)
Forres Thistle finished the season in mid-table.
2013/14 MatchesWinsDrawsLossesGoals scoredGoals concededGoal difference27133115147+4
Biggest win: 5–1 vs Fochabers Biggest defeat: 1–5 vs Dufftown Scottish Junior Cup exit: Second Round (2–4 vs Kennoway Star Hearts)
Under Ian McLeod's stewardship, Forres Thistle won the Elginshire Refrigeration Cup. They beat Buckie Rovers 3–1 in the Final, at Borough Briggs. Matty Fraser scored two, and Mark Pennie scored one for Thistle., Thistle win the cup!
Thistle finished sixth in Division 1 West.
Statistics
2021/22
Top scorers
Mattie Davidson: 19 Neil Moir: 15 Brandon Hutcheson: 13 Charlie Beck: 9 Ross Paterson: 7
Most appearances (36 game season)
Neil Moir: 36 Dan McLeod: 34 Brandon Hutcheson: 33 Mattie Davidson: 31 Ross Paterson: 31
2020/21
The 2020/21 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019/20
Top scorers
Matty Fraser: 14 Sean McIntosh: 11 Mattie Davidson: 10 Brandon Hutcheson: 9 Ricky Wardrop: 9
Most appearances (24 game season)
Dan McLeod: 23 Brandon Hutcheson: 22 Matty Fraser: 22 Ross Montgomery: 22 Scott Moore: 22
2018/19
Top scorers Neil Moir: 12 Matty Fraser: 11 Mattie Davidson: 9 Brandon Hutcheson: 6 Charlie Beck: 5
Most appearances (35 game season)
Tony Ross: 32 Dan McLeod: 31 Sean McIntosh: 30 Matty Fraser: 28 Brandon Hutcheson: 27
Player awards
Player of the Year
2020/21: The 2020/21 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2019/20: Brandon Hutcheson 2018/19: Neil Moir 2017/18: Matty Fraser 2016/17: Craig Short 2015/16: Charlie Beck 2014/15: Aaron McLean 2013/14: Aaron McLellan 2012/13: Donnie McCulloch 2011/12: Charlie Beck 2010/11: Chris Ross 2009/10: Simon Bremner 2008/09: Ross ‘Chucky’ Macpherson 2007/08: Mattie Davidson 2006/07: Davie Raeburn
Clubman of the Year The Clubman of the Year Award superseded the Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
2020/21: The 2020/21 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2019/20: The 2019/20 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2018/19: Lee Davidson
Most Improved Player of the Year
The Most Improved Player of the Year Award was superseded by the Clubman of the Year Award.
2017/18: Brandon Hutcheson 2016/17: Dan McLeod 2015/16: Danny Black 2014/15: Aaron Mclean 2013/14: Andrew Taylor 2012/13: Craig Daley 2011/12: John Ross 2010/11: Alan Angus 2009/10: Lee Davidson 2008/09: Matthew Milne 2007/08: Sean Cooke 2006/07: Barry Stables 2005/06: Simon Bremner 2004/05: Gordon Stepien
Honours North Region First Division (West): 2002–03 North Regional (North) League: 1971–72, 1979–80 Morayshire Junior League: 1926–27, 1929–30 Gordon Williamson Trophy: 1966–67, 1967–68, 2002–03, 2004–05 Morayshire Junior Cup: 1925–26, 1930–31, 1953–54, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1991–92, 1999–00 Nicholson Cup: 1926–27, 1972–73 North Drybrough Cup: 1972–73 North of Scotland (Morayshire) Cup: 1952–53, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1968–69, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1985–86 Robbie Nicol Cup: 1992–93, 2000–01 Robertson Cup: 1930–31, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1988–89 Stewart Memorial Cup: 1971–72, 1999–00 Connon Cup: 1952–53, 1953–54, 1957–58, 1979–80, 1984–85, 1999–00 White Horse Cup: 1929–30, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1952–53, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1976–77 Elginshire Cup: 2013–14, 2015–16 Archibald Cup: 2015–16
References