Fraser’s Field

NEW SHINTY PITCH NAMED AFTER FORMER JUNIOR PLAYER

Iain Ferguson The first new shinty field in the area for many years was officially opened recently by Duncan and Rosemary MacPhee, dedicated to the memory of their late son and Fort William Junior shinty player, Fraser.

Laid out adjoining the main pitch at An Aird, an area of waste ground was turned into a purpose built training pitch which meets requirements for Junior League shinty matches and also boasts floodlight coverage making it one of only a few shinty parks in the Highlands to do so.

In recognising the long-term commitment to the club by the MacPhee family, both on the Board and on the pitch, it was proposed by club members to name the new field after Fraser, who was a highly talented and well respected player, with friends across the shinty world.

Unveiled by Rosemary, the sign carries a message for all using the field and for everyone participating in any sport: “For when the one great scorer comes to mark against your name. It matters not if you won or lost, but how you played the game”.

For several years a North/ South junior tournament, organised by the family has been held in Fraser’s memory and it is hoped that the new field will provide a home for this in the future. The pitch has already found great use by youngsters participating in the Shinty Street League.

Following the opening, a Fort William v Kilmallie U-14 League Match took place and was won by the home side after a hard fought battle. At half time an inscribed black Caman with silver fittings was presented to Sandy Slater by the club for his work in securing the £200,000 funding from various bodies, such as the European Leader Fund which allowed the project to go ahead.