The players, board members and supporters of Skye Camanachd were shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of former player Angus Nicolson on Tuesday 19 May 2020.
After progressing through the Portree High School shinty ranks, under the watchful eye of DR MacDonald, Angus Nicolson quickly established himself as a defender in the Skye Camanachd second team. He was a key part of Skye’s Sutherland Cup winning side which came from two goals down to beat Strachur 7-2 in the 1988 final at Castle Leod. Angus Murchison (2), Ally “Digg” MacDonald, Ally Grant, Willie Cowie (pen) and John MacRae (2) scored the goals that day before skipper Ross Cowie stepped forward to raise the trophy. Angus also went on to enjoy Strathdearn Cup success with the Skye seconds.
His brother Calum “Columbo” Nicolson also played for the Islanders and was a very good goalkeeper who also featured in the 1988 Sutherland Cup winning side.
Although the majority of Angus’s playing career was with the Skye Camanachd second team, he did also play for the senior team on occasion. Angus is remembered as a dependable defender who was full of enthusiasm for the game and, importantly, a good influence on the younger players who broke into the side.
Angus never lost his love of shinty and he played in the John MacKinnon Memorial Sixes in 2016.
The sympathies from everyone at Skye Camanachd go out to Angus Nicolson’s wife Philippa, his mother Nancy, brother Calum and the extended family and friends at this difficult time.
(The photograph, taken by Willie Urquhart, is a copy from a match between the Skye Camanachd second team and Aberdeen University at Pairc nan Laoch, Portree which featured on the back page of the West Highland Free Press in around November 2004. It shows Angus Nicolson challenging his former Skye Camanachd teammate Allan MacPherson who was by this time turning out for the Students)