Orkney FC begin season with Morrison Park trip

Orkney FC begin their 2017/18 North Caledonian League season tomorrow, making the short trip across the Pentland Firth to face Halkirk United at Morrison Park.

With several new additions to the squad, including ex-Highland League ace James Pickles, confidence will be high of getting their league campaign off to a positive start.

Manager Charlie Alway, who has also added the likes of Aiden Drever, Liam Delday and Niall Mackay to his squad, said his side would have to improve, with the club hoping to land a first North Caledonian League title.

He believed it was a “very strong” squad, despite losing goalkeeper Cameron McConnachie and captain DJ Moffat.

Alway said: “Yes we’ve lost a couple of players in terms of DJ [Moffat] and Cammy [McConnachie], but you look around the training ground; you look around the dressing room; the younger players are very talented and getting older, and we haven’t got many players going the wrong way, in terms of age.”

He added: “And what the team has got to do, they have to enjoy the fact that they’re playing in amongst a whole load of really good players, and allow that to take them onto the next level.”

Helmsdale side Bunillidh Thistle are the latest side to join the league set-up this winter, bringing the numbers of team in the league to nine, alongside Alness United, Golspie Sutherland, Halkirk, Invergordon, Inverness Athletic, Orkney, Tain St. Duthus and Thurso.

Saturday’s match is set to kick-off at 2.30pm.