Alan MacRae Takes Over As Beauly Boss | |
13 November 2016 Beauly Shinty Club has announced the appointment of Scotland U21 Head Coach Alan MacRae as their first team manager for the 2017 and 2018 shinty seasons. Alan MacRae previously managed neighbours Lovat. He took charge of the Balgate side in 2012, replacing co-managers John MacRitchie and James Gallagher, and he guided them to RBS MacTavish Cup successes in 2013 and 2014 whilst also finishing runners up to Newtonmore in the Marine Harvest Premiership over the same period. After leaving Lovat at the end of the 2014 season, MacRae had a spell at Inverness as co-manager with Drew McNeil and he was of course Scotland U21 Head Coach for the recent Marine Harvest Shinty / Hurling encounter with Ireland U21. Alan MacRae will be responsible for developing the playing side of the club with the intention that Beauly secure promotion to the Marine Harvest Premiership by season 2019. Alan MacRae’s first match in charge at Beauly will be the annual Lovat Cup meeting with rivals Lovat which takes place at Braeview Park on Monday 2 January 2017. MacRae, who is expected to continue in his role as Scotland U21 Head Coach, takes over from Stephen MacLean who had noted an interest in continuing his 12 month tenure. The Beauly club policy is to ensure all senior coaching appointments are available and advertised on a two-year cycle, with a review held at the end of the first season, and the Beauly committee invited applications for the role last month. It was MacLean’s second stint in charge of the senior team at Braeview Park and he coped with the loss of senior players such as Conor Cormack and Sean Stewart to put together a promising young side which finished fourth in the Marine Harvest National Division last season, two points behind third placed Inveraray. Beauly also ran Kinlochshiel close in the Camanachd Cup, only losing out after a quarter final replay. They also reached the RBS MacTavish Cup quarter-finals and the Balliemore Cup semi-finals. Beauly took time to acknowledge their gratitude to Stephen MacLean for assembling the current squad and for his unstinting efforts over many years. Beauly also confirmed that Neil Brindle will remain as their second team manager for seasons 2017 and 2018. Brindle, who has also enjoyed success coaching at the U17 age group at both club and area level, took over the Beauly colts at the start of the 2016 season and he will be looking to improve on the team’s seventh place finish in Marine Harvest North Division 1 last season and whilst also hoping to have extended cup runs in both the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup and Strathdearn Cup competitions. |