New Clachnacuddin striker Andy Macrae hoping to emulate uncle John Douglas by bringing silverware back to Highland capital after signing from Brora Rangers
New Clachnacuddin striker Andy Macrae is revelling the idea of following in his uncle’s footsteps and bringing silverware to Grant Street Park.
The 26-year-old attacker has returned to the Highland capital after spending time in Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s youth set-up.
He is a former Highland League player of the year, and is the nephew of John Douglas, the long-serving Lilywhites defender who helped Clach to the 2003-24 Highland League title.
While part of Macrae will just be happy to play regularly again after struggling for minutes at Brora, he is also conscious of how special it would be to emulate Douglas and bring a trophy back to Merkinch.
“I want to get back playing every week and scoring, but winning a trophy with Clach would probably be the biggest achievement of my career,” Macrae explained.
“Clach get 400 or 500 fans at every game, and it would mean so much to them.
“Being from Inverness, I think it will get more out of me playing for my local team.
“It’s not that I didn’t give my all at the other clubs I’ve been at, but playing for my local team means I will probably go that extra mile. I’ve got a kid on the way as well, so it makes sense to be back home.
“My uncle, John Douglas, was part of the league winning side and got a testimonial, he was there for years.
“He was the complete opposite to me as a player – he was the kind who would go and smash the boys who were more like me!
“He still goes to the games, so speaking to him he’s delighted I’ll be playing for Clach because he used to find it awkward when Brora played Clach – he wanted Clach to win, but still wanted me to do well.
“He didn’t enjoy the cup final, but he will be buzzing now. For him to be at Clach years ago, and me to be here now, it is a bit of an honour.”
Macrae’s move was the second deal of the day to be confirmed between Clach and Brora Rangers, with Connor Bunce going in the opposite direction for sign for the Dudgeon Park outfit.
That helped open the door for Macrae to return to the Highland capital, with the forward over the moon to have finally put pen-to-paper after months of discussions.
“I was frustrated at not playing much at Brora, so the option came up and it made sense to do the deal,” he added.
“It was probably just the change of formation.
“Sid (Mackay) obviously had Jordan MacRae up top, and he got injured but Shane Sutherland came in, so it was more of a big number nine he was after than a small number 10.
“Sometimes that’s just what you get in football, so it is what it is.
“Obviously last year I was frozen out for a while, so this was just the right move.
“It’s been going on in the background since around August anyway, but we were waiting for the chance to make it happen, and now it has come. I’m delighted.
“I would say I’m quite an easy guy to get on with, and the likes of Joe Malin and Josh Meekings are there from Brora, and I know guys like Harry Nicolson and Allan Macphee too, so it was a no-brainer.”
