Loch Ness F.C.
 | |
| Full name | Loch Ness Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Ground | King George V Park, Fortrose |
| Capacity | 500 |
| Chairman | Hugh Gardner |
| Manager | Shane Carling |
| 2023–24 | North Caledonian League, 2nd of 12 |
Loch Ness Football Club is a Scottish football club playing in the North Caledonian Football League currently based in the town of Fortrose in the Scottish Highlands.
History
[edit]Loch Ness were formed in 1999 by current manager Shane Carling, and for 20 years played as members of the welfare/amateur recreational leagues of Inverness & District.[1] The club formed a senior team in 2020, and were accepted as members of the North Caledonian Football Association, joining a temporary second tier of the association, known as the Ness Cup League.[2] From 2021–22, they will play in the re-combined North Caledonian League.
During the summer of 2020, the club received widespread acknowledgement via social media after releasing prototypes for their new kits, which featured the Loch Ness Monster in the pattern.[3][4] The designs were subsequently used and made by Lancashire company Zero Negativity Clothing, receiving orders worldwide upon release. As part of a sponsorship deal with WooHa Brewing Company, the sponsor created a limited edition lager named for the club.[5]
Loch Ness played their first game in the Ness Cup League on 17 October. Their debut in the senior ranks resulted in an emphatic 11–1 win over Scourie, another team making their debut in the league, with hat-tricks from DJ MacPhee and Luke Seago.[6]
In November, the club enlisted the help of former Clachnacuddin manager Iain Polworth to assist in coaching the side.[7] The side finished 4th in League 2 when the season was curtailed.
In the 2021–22 season Loch Ness were pipped to the league title by Invergordon, ultimately finishing 2nd.
In the 2022–23 season, Loch Ness won the North Caledonian League title for the first time in their history with a 5–0 win over Fort William, the title also meant they qualified for the Scottish Cup for the first time.
In the 2023–24 season, Loch Ness played their first ever Scottish Cup match, losing 3–1 away to Luncarty, before finishing the season as runners up, 6 points behind champions, Invergordon.
In Early 2024, Loch Ness entered talks with Highland League side, Strathspey Thistle over a potential merger, however these merger talks broke down soon after.
Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Loch Ness went into a period of abeyance for reasons unknown.
Season by season standings
[edit]| Season | Division | Tier | Pos. | Pld. | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Scottish Cup | Other honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer League (1999–2020) | Inverness and District Football League | N/A | Stats unavailable | Ineligible | Stats prior to 2017 unknown 2021 Premier Division winners | ||||||
| 2020–21 | North Caledonian League League 2 | N/A | 4th | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | +13 | 15 | Ineligible | |
| 2021–21 | North Caledonian League | 6 | 2nd | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | +25 | 43 | Ineligible | |
| 2022–23 | North Caledonian League | 6 | 1st | 24 | 20 | 2 | 2 | +73 | 62 | Ineligible | |
| 2023–24 | North Caledonian League | 6 | 2nd | 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | +54 | 51 | Preliminary round one; lost 3–1 to Luncarty | |
| Loch Ness enter abeyance | |||||||||||
Ground
[edit]Although the club has no fixed ground, they played their first season (2020–21) at Canal Park in Inverness, the regular home of Highland Rugby Club.
For the 2021–22 campaign, they are playing their home games at King George V Park in Fortrose.
Honours
[edit]- North Caledonian League
- Champions: 2022–23
References
[edit]- ^ "Loch Ness FC – North Caledonian Football Association". North Caledonian FA Official Website. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ Association, North Caledonian Football. "NCFA AGM – new members and league structure | Latest News – North Caledonian Football Association, Scotland". northcaleyfa.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ Cryle, Ryan (9 July 2020). "Loch Ness FC chairman admits he thought new strips' appearance on national TV was a "wind-up" as orders flood in from around the world". Press and Journal. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ "Loch Ness FC kit goes viral". Inverness Courier. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ New Loch Ness FC lager created by WooHa Brewing Company which is also sponsoring strip of the North Caledonian League team Inverness Courier. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ Eleven is heaven as league debut is monster success for Inverness club Loch Ness Inverness Courier. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ Former Clachnacuddin manager Iain Polworth helps out at Loch Ness ahead of North Caledonian Cup match with St Duthus Inverness Courier. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.