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The Oppositions View

Last updated : 12 July 2004 By Mark O' Haire

The OPPOSITIONS View
Name- John McNeill
Club- Nairn County
Role- Club Secretary
Match- Nairn County v QPR (Friendly, Wednesday 14th July, 2004 7.45pm)
Location- Station Park

  1. Can you tell us a little about Nairn County and their history?
    Nairn County were founded out of the amalgamation of two Nairn sides, Wednesday and Nairn Hawthorns. They were founded in 1914 but never kicked a ball until after the war in 1918. Station Park has been their only ground to date.
  2. What is your best achievement in football?
    Our biggest achievement to date was winning the Highland League title in a playoff against Fraserburgh at Elgin in 1976. Since then we have been in what is commonly known as the doldrums.
  3. What’s your average attendance for home games?
    Attendance’s vary greatly due to distances between clubs and the fact that we now have to compete with Inverness Caley Thistle and Ross County to the West of us and Elgin City to the East. An average gate would be 200-250.
  4. Who is/was your most talented export to leave Nairn County?
    Believe it or not but we have had players who went on to play for Scotland. Goalkeeper Bryan Gunn of Norwich and striker John McGinley of Bolton, but when they left Nairn got little of no money for them. But ask anyone in or around Nairn or the Highland League and they will tell you that local boy Davy Johnston was the best player ever to play in our league. Davy went from Nairn to Hearts in 1963/64 and almost immediately went straight into the first team. He was in line for a Scotland under 23 cap (that’s what it was in the 60’s) when he gave it all up and returned to Nairn. Hearts would not release him for almost a season, but eventually gave up and allowed him to play again for Nairn. He went on to score 72 goals in one season which was and still is a record (current top scorers usually hit 30 goals a season). He then went onto play for Aberdeen and was their top scorer until he again packed it all in and returned to Nairn. Sadly Davy died earlier this year of cancer.
  5. Do you have any future stars who could play at a higher level?
    That’s difficult to say. We have between 80-100 boys signed on development forms with the SFA and we have what looks like a great young goalkeeper coming through. We also have three boys from the youth set-up now in the first team squad.
  6. Who are your biggest rivals?
    The referees and the club’s below us in the league. We never seem to be able to beat them home or away!
  7. Can you tell us a little about your manager?
    We have just appointed a new manager- Les Fridge, an Inverness man (36) who has been playing professional football since he was 16. He has played for Chelsea, St Mirren, Raith Rovers and Caley Thistle to name but a few of his club’s. This is his first managerial post although he has been coaching as well as playing in goal for Ross County so we will have to wait and see, but so far his approach has been very professional.
  8. Was last season’s finish a success or expected?
    No. Having achieved 5th the previous season we were looking for a top three finish at least, hence the change of manager.
  9. What have Nairn got to look forward to?
    We can look forward to what we are calling a new era. We have a very professional businessman as Chairman- Peter Mackintosh and his sons are property developers and our main sponsors. Between the three they have and still are building up Nairn County to be the top club in the Highland League.
  10. What are Nairn’s strengths/ weaknesses?
    Our strengths have been mentioned in the last question, Peter has the support of a very strong committee and his sons are very closely involved with the players taking personnel interest in all players both on and off the park. Our weaknesses are the lack of support from the local’s. I live 7 miles from Nairn and see supporters leaving to go and watch Caley Thistle or Ross County.
  11. What is Nairn’s biggest problem at the moment?
    We need a new stand as you will see but also our lack of support as mentioned in the previous question.
  12. What style of football to Nairn play?
    I don’t know as yet. With a new manager he may look to change the system which was 3-4-3.
  13. What are your aims and ambitions for next season?
    A top three finish, a run in the Scottish cup and hopefully win a cup.
  14. What chant is most likely to be started by your fans?
    What a load of rubbish (joke). We don’t have enough supporters to raise a chant!
  15. What is your "outsiders" view of QPR?
    You may think I am making this up but, I have always liked QPR and the attacking style they use (or at least in the clip’s we see up here it looks attacking) and I like their strip. But I cannot deny I follow Charlton Athletic and have done since I was 6 (I am now 2 months of turning 60).
  16. Which Rangers player stands out as the biggest threat for the fixture?
    I cannot answer that question I am afraid as I am not familiar with your players.
  17. Who are your tips for success in the Coca-Cola Championship next season?
    It’s a very tough league and if QPR establish themselves this season then maybe it could be them next year but this year I believe Leeds and Ipswich.
  18. Where do you realistically think Nairn will finish next season?
    I would like to think we can make a top three spot but no lower than 5th.
  19. How do you think QPR will fair next season?
    I would like to say QPR could challenge for promotion but not in their first year up. If you get in the top half then that would be a success in a tough league.
  20. Your prediction for the game?
    3-1 to Nairn. We will give you a goal as a consolation, but in reality then you should win 5-0.

Look out for our next addition of "The Oppositions View" featuring Inverness Caledonian Thistle, our second and final opposition on our pre-season tour of Scotland.
The Oppositions View is exclusive to QPR MAD.