Forfar Farmington Presentation Evening 2015

Clubwoman of the Year Holly Napier ©David Young 

Forfar Farmington midfielder Holly Napier was delighted to be named Clubwoman of the Year at the club’s presentation evening at the Reid Hall on Saturday.

Resilience Award winner Sydney Cairns

The 19 year old ended her season with the award while 16 year old Amy Gallacher was named the Premier League side’s Player of the Year, contributing ten goals and eight assists over the season.

Alongside Napier and Gallacher, captain Nicola Davidson was awarded Player’s Player of the Year with Lindsey Dunbar and Keira Johnstone sharing Young Player of the Year.

Player of the Year    Amy Gallacher

 

 

 

Speaking after the awards ceremony Napier spoke of her admiration for her team mates “It feels great to win this award. This is such an amazing team with so much talent and I am honoured to be a part of Forfar Farmington with this group of girls. It’s like a family instead of a club team and I really believe that’s why we stayed up this season. We all fought so hard for one another and that is why we are going to be successful this season coming as well.”

Players’ Player of the Year Nicola Davidson

There was also an award for Sydney Cairns; the 16 year old had been out with an ACL injury since April and she was given a Resilience Award for her fantastic effort battling back. The under 17’s also awarded one to Erin Thomson who suffered the same injury in the summer.

Napier praised Cairns for the prize in a month where she returned to the training pitch as she steps up her rehabilitation.

“There’s no other award that is more made for Sydney, her determination and fight to come back and get into training has been excellent.” she said. “We were all gutted when we saw her go down during our game against Inverness and knew it didn’t look good. When Sydney took the fall we all did and we are all really happy to have her back at training and getting back to being a very important player for us in seasons to come.”

Young Players of the Year Lindsey Dunbar (left) & Keira Johnstone

The 2015 season ended just under a month ago but the talented midfielder, who had a spell in America in 2013, can’t wait until the new season comes around again next March.

“I cannot wait for next season, waiting for it seems like the longest time. I just want to get back into having lots of training sessions and working hard every week to have the weekend off to play football.”

She continued “This is going to be a tough season next year for us but we are all up for it and ready to get started. We all just need to survive through pre season first!”

 

The full list of prize winners are as follows:

Young Player of the Year: Philippa McCallum

Community Award: Veronica and Garry Caney

 

Forfar Farmington SWPL

Player of the Year: Amy Gallacher

Player’s Player of the Year: Nicola Davidson

Young Player of the Year: Lindsey Dunbar and Keira Johnstone

Clubwoman of the Year: Holly Napier

Resilience Award: Sydney Cairns

 

Forfar Farmington Development

Player of the Year: Beth Shillitto and Erin Cattanach

Player’s Player of the Year: Cheryl Kilcoyne

Clubwoman of the Year: Tami Guilcher

 

Forfar Farmington Ladies

Player of the Year: Chloe Sturrock

Player’s Player of the Year: Emma Percy

Most Improved Player of the Year: Naomi Dunphy

Clubwoman of the Year: Emily Thain

 

Forfar Farmington Under 17’s

Player of the Year: Carrie Hoggan

Player’s Player of the Year: Caitlin Mitchell

Most Improved Player of the Year: Holly Milne

Resilience Award: Erin Thomson

 

Forfar Farmington Eagles U15’s

Player of the Year: Rio Mitchell

Player’s Player of the Year: Cali Roberts

Clubwoman of the Year: Abbie Taylor

 

Forfar Farmington United U15’s

Player of the Year: Ellie Cook

Player’s Player of the Year: Anne Murrie

Clubwoman of the Year: Steffi Simson

 

Forfar Farmington Foxes U13’s

Player of the Year: Beth Mowatt

Most Improved Player of the Year: Abbie Milne

Clubwoman of the Year: Jo Thomson

 

Forfar Farmington Falcons U13’s

Player of the Year: Neve Guthrie

Most Improved Player of the Year: Melissa Coull

Clubwoman of the Year: Nicola Spence

 

Forfar Farmington Flyers U13’s

Player of the Year: Niamh Henderson and Oliwia Gach

Most Improved Player of the Year: Eve Stewart

Clubwoman of the Year: Morven Whyte

 

The U11 Stars, U11 Dynamos, U9 and U7 squads were all presented with medals as well.

Interview with Forfar Farmington’s Jade McLaren

Forfar Farmington defender Jade McLaren was delighted to reach a half century of appearances for the Premier League side at beginning of this month at just seventeen years old.

The defender made her debut in July 2013 when she was fifteen and has impressed since then with other sides keeping tabs on her last season.

McLaren spoke of her pride at being allowed the chance to make her mark on the senior ranks “Reaching fifty appearances in two and a half seasons feels great and I feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to do so at a very young age. I’m hoping I can reach another milestone of some sort by the end of next season.”

The Fife based youngster has been played in different positions in her time in the side, beginning at left back before shifting to centre back followed by right back and has even appeared at right midfield, where she grabbed a goal against Hibernian in front of Scotland manager Anna Signeul.

McLaren is happy at having tested herself in these positions but reckons she’s at home at right back, saying “I feel that right back is my best position as I like to go forward and attack. That being said, I loved getting the opportunity to play in these other positions as it has allowed me to test my ability as a footballer and progress.”

For those that haven’t kept tabs on the side, they pulled off a fantastic escape this year having garnered just four points from their opening ten games, leaving them second bottom; they won ten out of the next eleven with nine games in a row to finish above the relegation places by a impressive twelve points.

McLaren spoke of her joy of achieving safety “I felt great relief that we stayed up; it felt like a great weight lifted off my shoulders, especially as we deserved it and with the new league coming up in March, I can’t wait for that.”

The defender has also stated her intention of staying at Farmington in 2016 in a reconstructed league. The league had 12 sides in 2015 and will be cut down to eight in an attempt to make it ‘better’.

“My plans for next season is to stay at Forfar.” she said. “I want to up my game by improving my fitness and technical ability and then my next aim is to hopefully be in contention for the Scotland Women’s U19’s squads.

Stranraer 0 Forfar Athletic 0 (SPFL League One) 21st November 2015

Forfar Athletic winger Danny Denholm believes the Loons improved once again this week with a 0-0 draw away to Stranraer.

The 26 year old also reckons that next week’s Scottish Cup tie away to Queen’s Park is the ideal game to kickstart their season.

Denholm said “It was a hard fought draw, the conditions weren’t great but I felt it was a good fight and that’s what we needed to show after the last few weeks so we’re getting there, we are getting there.”

“I think it was good to get a clean sheet, the back four was settled, their big guy up front was a handful but they dealt with him really well so a clean sheet is something to build on.”

The winger felt his own performance was ”okay”, disappointed with himself that he didn’t score “I did okay, I didn’t have a lot of end product but I put a shift in and on a better day I might have scored but I’m happy enough with my performance.”

As mentioned, the Loons travel to Hampden next week to face Queen’s Park for the second time this season. The first was a 2-0 win in the League Cup in August with Denholm scoring and he feels the game is perfect to stop the winless run.

“It’s a good omen, I think. It’s a good place to go to and stop the run with a win, I’m feeling positive about it.”

He continued “There’s no better feeling than scoring at Hampden, even if it’s empty. I’m got a few this season so I’m hoping I can continue that next week.”

Despite chances from Denholm, Scott Martin, Bryan Hodge and Derek Young, the Loons couldn’t find their way to the back of the net.

There was two changes from the previous week’s draw against Stenhousemuir with Thomas O’Brien and Young replacing Chris Templeman and Martyn Fotheringham.

Martin hd the first opportunity of the game twelve minutes in after an even start to the game; O’Brien laying the ball off for Swankie to swing in a cross after beating a defender, O’Brien meeting the cross with an overhead kick that Martin connected with but his header flew over the bar.

Two minutes later Stranraer went close when Craig Malcolm’s header from a Paul Cairney corner.

It was the turn of Denholm to head over the bar in the 22^nd minute; Baxter the supplier this time before O’Brien headed wide from an Iain Campbell free kick.

Malcolm went close again on the half hour mark, receiving a Keenan free kick before turning and firing wide.

At the other end Denholm allowed Baxter to swing a cross in for O’Brien, he chipped the ball into the danger area and Young rose to meet the lofted ball but could only head over.

In the 37^th minute the hosts’ Luciano Necquecaur had a shot on target after receiving a low cross from Malcolm but Douglas, unlike a fellow keeper who made the news, found himself in the right place to deny him.

Two minutes before half time Bryan Hodge went close with a long range effort, his shot flying past the post.

Hodge had the first chance of the second half when he tested McGurn with a volley from the edge of the box.

In the 52^nd minute a good passing move ended in Young dragging his effort wide before Necquecaur met a Pettigrew cross, laying off Ryan Thomson but he blasted over from close range.

The game was a midfield battle in the second half, the rain starting to get heavier and in the 72^nd minute Swankie attempted to set up Young but his backheel was held after a Campbell free kick.

With five minutes left Hodge went close again with a long range effort, his shot flying inches past the post before Thomson fired over with a minute to go.

Neither side could conjure up a goal and the point leaves the Loons in seventh place as they break for the Scottish Cup next week. They travel to face a Queen’s Park side that they have already played this season; defeating them 2-0 in August through Young and Denholm in the League Cup.

Interview with Forfar Farmington’s Mark Nisbet

Forfar Farmington’s returning head coach Mark Nisbet is delighted to be returning to the club after two years away.

The 33 year old was named as Damon Neish’s replacement last week with Neish departing after he and the club had a difference of opinions over the direction of the side.

Nisbet was in charge of the Premier League side until 2013 and in the two years since his last stint at Farmington he has had spells at Forfar Athletic coaching their youth team and Aberdeen Ladies; where he helped them reach fourth place this year.

Speaking following his appointment, Nisbet said “I’m very excited to be back. I enjoyed my time away from the club and had a lot of good experiences both in the men’s game and with other female clubs. It gave me the opportunity to work with other coaches and review my own style and thought processes which has been really helpful.”

The Farmington side he has taken on finished their season in eighth place in the Premier League, avoiding relegation by a twelve point margin following an incredible ten wins in eleven games stretching back to June when the side had previously won just once in ten games.

Nisbet says that that run shouldn’t be ignored but added that it will be difficult to achieve that again with the league cutting down from twelve teams to eight next season.

“The group did extremely well to go on that run and that needs to be acknowledged.” he said. “It will be a far tougher task next season and as such we will need to strengthen the group in terms of numbers and SWPL experience which we are working extremely hard just now to achieve.”

Nisbet feels that although it will be difficult it was the right decision to reduce the amount of teams. “I feel it was a big but important step for the league and one I fully support. It will ensure the boundaries are pushed again which can only be a good thing.”

The league will again have 21 games, with Farmington facing their rivals three times. There will also be just one team going down to the newly created SWPL2 which will ease nerves for some but Nisbet already has eyes on the top half.

Joining him at the club are a few familiar faces, with Kev Candy, Ewan Greenhill and Scott Knox all returning with John Diplexcito also linking up with the backroom staff.

Candy said about his return that it was “extremely nice to be back.”

Bryan Middleton of the previous backroom team still remains; the talented performance analyst will working with Greenhill. Goalkeeping coach Robbie Hannan will also still be a part at the club as will Nathan Flight and Lee Smith.

One person that has departed the club recently is Tori Sousa, who returns to America after her three month stay at Forfar. The highly rated midfielder netted an astonishing ten goals in ten games while chipping in with six assists.

Sousa has already stated her intentions of returning to the club next year which will be a massive boost to the side if she does indeed do so.

Stirling University 0 Forfar Farmington 2 (SWPL) 1st November 2015

Stirling University 0

Forfar Farmington 2

Tori Sousa 80, 88

Forfar Farmington finished their 2015 season on a high after the side defeated Stirling University 2-0 with a double from Tori Sousa.

Sousa’s goals in the second half saw the 22 year old American end her first stint at Farmington with a scintillating ten goals in ten games.

Midfielder Holly Napier set up the opener and the 19 year old reckons the side were worth the victory with an impressive performance, speaking after the game “We were great today and there’s no doubt that we deserved the win. Finishing on a high is the best way to end a great second half of the season for us, I am so proud of my team mates. They have done so well and definitely deserved everything that we have achieved this season.”

Napier was also happy with her own season after a tough beginning to 2015 for everyone in the side. “I believe as the season has went on I have got stronger as a player and my performances have improved.” she said.”The start of the season was really quite stressful for everyone because we knew we were better than what we were showing but we definitely deserve to stay up and we deserve to be one of the top eight clubs in Scotland.”

Farmington went into the game missing top scorer Amy Gallacher with Kayleigh Noble also dropping out while Gemma Collier and Megan Burns returning to the side.

Stirling started off the stronger side, Gallon seeing her effort flash wide after just two minutes..

The visitors’ first chance came in the tenth minute, Nicola Davidson’s ball found Tori Sousa who turned before firing towards goal, her shot taking a big deflection off a defender, Chloe Logan doing well to smother the effort.

The game was quite even in the first half hour with no opportunities until the 33rd minute, Burns, Napier, Johnstone combined but Napier’s shot was held.

Four minutes later Farmington had the best chance of the first half; McLaren connected with a free kick and her header was swept over by Johnstone who came steaming in at the back post.

Forfar came out stronger in the second half and Johnstone again forced Logan into a save sixty seconds before Sousa raced clear of a static defence but found the young keeper in good form.

Dunbar was next to test Logan with a floated effort just before the hour mark.

Stirling were dealt a massive blow in the 61st minute, Christie Kerr pulled down Holly Napier as she looked to drive forward and because she was the last line of defence, ref Morag Pirie was left with no option but to show her a red card.

Stirling tried to cope with the building Forfar pressure after that although Farmington captain Nicola Davidson did threaten with a long range free kick that flew just over the bar.

Farmington eventually took the lead with ten minutes to go, Napier swung a cross in from the right and Sousa rose to nod the ball home.

It was the least the side deserved and they delivered the coup de grace in the 88th minute, good work from sub Chelsey Lownie allowed her to get a cross in for Sousa to bundle home, her tenth goal in ten games.

Stirling looked to grab a consolation with their first shot on goal in the second half but the injury time effort from McDonald was wide.

The result means that although Farmington couldn’t climb any higher than eighth, they finished the season on a high with ten wins from eleven games.

Fiona McNicoll, Megan Burns (Kayleigh Noble 44), Gemma Collier, Jade McLaren, Lindsey Dunbar, Tori Sousa, Keira Johnstone (Chelsey Lownie 66), Nicola Davidson, Holly Napier, Alex Russell, Derrian Gollan (Sally Patterson 82)