Player of the Year: Three Put Forward For Top HL Award
The nominees for the Highland League Player of the Year award were announced last week with each club putting forward three players who will compete for the coveted prize.
Each of the 15 league clubs have put forward three players for the award. Over the coming weeks, every player in the Highland League will be issued with a voting form and they will select who they think have been the top three players in the league this season. Points will be issued on a first, second and third basis and tallied to find the overall Highland league Player of the Year. The top points scorer from
Macleod joined Nairn County towards the end of the 2002-03 season and made several trialist appearances as the club secured a fifth-placed finish in the league. He did enough to earn himself a contract and became one of previous manager Ronnie Sharp's final signings as manager. Playing primarily in a midfield role, he quickly became a regular in the squad making a number of starts and substitute appearances. Sharp then left the club the following February and Macleod was moved into a full back role by caretaker manager Martin Bell. The following summer saw the appointment of Les Fridge as manager and Macleod continued to excell in a defensive role. He is also capable of making marrauding advances up the wing and providing an accurate supply into the box. His versatility is another advantage and he has appeared on both the left and right sides. So far, Macleod has made 125 appearances for the club scoring 10 goals in almost five years at Station Park.
Martin MacDonald was signed by Nairn from Brora Rangers in the summer of 2005. Originally as a centre forward, he made an explosive start to his career at Station Park netting three goals in his first three games. Injury saw him lose his place in the side and when he returned, he played in central
Fridge said: "Martin MacDonald has done very well for us. he has been exceptional at the back and has also shown versatility when he has played in attack."
Wayne Mackintosh has come through the youth scheme at Station Park and debuted in the first team at the age of 16. The arrival of Les Fridge as manager saw him promoted to the first team squad on a permanent basis but appearances were few and far between in his first year. The following season, he began to break into the team more regularly before becoming a first-pick the following season. So far this season, he has taken that further to become one of the first names on the teamsheet and has only missed out recently because of injury and suspension. His box-to-box running brings energy and drive to the midfield and helps the whole team to
Fridge said: "Young Wayne Mackintosh has come into the side and established himself. He has been playing really well and working really hard for us."
The manager also revealed that is far from being an easy decision selecting who would go forward for the award, which will be presented at the annual Highland League awards dinner on Friday, May 30.
Meanwhile, County return to Highland League action this weekend when they travel to Aberdeen to take on table toppers Cove Rangers. And Fridge does not have his problems to seek against the team who have scored the most goals in the league so far this season. After the three red cards dished out to his players in their last outing, Fridge will have to do without recent signing Gary Black, who was handed a three-match ban, forward Chris Finnigan, who will be banned for two games and first choice goalkeeper John Campbell who will just sit out for one game. That means back-up shotstopper Willie Ridgers will make only his second appearance for the club since joining in September after coming on for the last 11 minutes of the defeat at Wick Academy. Wayne Mackintosh may return from a toe injury while Duncan Jones and Jonathon Holland are doubtful with a pulled chest muscle and a calf strain respectively. But Stephen Skinner and
