1990s
The 1990s dawned with Strathglass hoisting the Division Two Trophy for the very first time in the 1989-90 season. Although they had amassed a fine points tally having completed the season well in advance of some of their rivals, they had to wait until title challengers Glenurquhart completed their programme. In one of their remaining matches Glen were held to a draw at home to Inverness and this loss of a point meant they could not match Strath’s points total. Strath received the silverware at the MacTavish Cup Final at the Bught Park. To be presented with the trophy at the scene of the historic games of 1887 and 1888, and to have also pipped the Glen to the title made it all the sweeter.
The 1990-91 season was obviously a much more challenging season in the club’s first season in the top flight and the Strath went straight down.
North Division Two Champions 1989-90
Back L to R: Ken Thomson, Norman Geddes, Derek Thompson, Donald Fraser, Stewart Geddes, Raymond Fraser, Stuart Aiton, Roddie MacLennan, Calum McArthy, Alasdair Rothe, Robert Geddes, Chris MacLeod, Donnie Stirling and Jimmac MacKintosh
Front: Graham Munro, Ivor MacLeod, Colin Aiton, Colin MacKenzie, Campbell McDonald, George Fraser, Roy MacKenzie, Niall Geddes and Bruce Douglas
Strathglass were to lift the North Division 2 title again in 1991-92 but only after a play off between themselves and Kinlochshiel at Drumnadrochit. The Strath winning 3-1. The same season Strathglass lost the final of the Qualifying Cup 6-1 to Glenurquhart at the Bught Park.
The club then went straight back down the following season though much more narrowly this, but there was great joy as at the 13th time of asking claimed the MacDonald Cup back from the Glen with a 4-2 win (retaining it the following year with a 2-2 draw) and the club celebrated the opening of new changing rooms at Cannich Park.
North Division Two Champions 1991-92
Back L to R: Raymond Fraser, George Fraser, Murdo MacLennan, Alasdair Rothe, Roy MacKenzie, Chris MacLeod, Donald MacLean, Graham Black and Stuart Aiton
Front: David Rothe, Robert Geddes, Niall Geddes, Stewart Geddes, Colin Aiton and Ivor MacLeod
1994-95 saw the club win North Division Two again, and were yet again made to wait for their trophy, which they would receive after being defeated in the Valerie Fraser Cup by Lochcarron at Beauly losing 2 – 0 after extra time. There was MacDonald Cup success however with a fine 3-2 win over the Glen to keep it for the third year in a row.
The team was promoted but into a new North Division One which was no longer the top tier, due to the invention of a National Premier Division.
North Division Two Champions 1994-95
Back L to R: George Fraser, Robert Geddes, David Rothe, Roy MacKenzie, Allan MacKintosh, Gordon Fraser, Alan Tinney, Colin MacKenzie, Ian McCallum and Stuart Aiton.
Front: Andrew Fraser, Peter Tinney, Les Fraser, Raymond Fraser, Stewart Geddes, Graham Black and Colin Aiton
MacDonald Cup Winners 1995
Back L to R: Roddie MacLennan, Colin MacKenzie, Robert Geddes, Roy MacKenzie, Alan Tinney, Donald MacLean, Raymond Fraser, Gordon Fraser and Ian McCallum
Front: Les Fraser, Andrew Fraser, Ivor MacLeod, Peter Tinney, Colin Aiton and Allan MacKintosh
The next few years saw Strath hold its own in North Division One, beating Glenurquhart to win the Helmsdale Sixes, winning the Aviemore Trophy at the Mòd Cup at the Inverness Mòd in 1997, and the second team finish a strong second in North Division Three in 1998. It was around this time that the Strath began to run a women’s team.
In the 1998-99 season, the club failed to be promoted to the new National Division One, but reclaimed the MacDonald Cup in fine style with a 5-1 win at Drumnadrochit.
They retained the Helmsdale Sixes that year and the next. The Cannich Bridge Primary School team also won the Aird League with a 100 per cent record, which augered well for the future. The club also established the annual Lairds v Stalkers match repurposing the Baron Stackelberg Challenge Cup.
Mod Cup Winners 1997
Back L to R: Allan MacLeod, Graham Black, Stuart Aiton, Robert Geddes, Peter Tinney, Les Fraser, Ian McCallum, Roy MacKenzie, Raymond Fraser and Roddie MacLennan
Front: Iain MacLeod, Donald Fraser, Ivor MacLeod, Simon Owen, Niall Geddes and Colin Aiton