Quick History of the Sharks Team

Summer 1988
The Newmarkett team enter the Thurso pub league under the managment of David Terrace.
They suffer a horrific 12-0 first defeat at the hands of the Marine Inn in their first official league match.
For the boys it's a very hard season and they finish second bottom.

Summer 1989
The Newmarket lose most of their defence including Hernry Hawthorn, Brian Durrand and David Kemp, but return for a second season of footie complete with new back four including the 28 year old relative newcomer to football- Davie Hobbs.
Hobbs would go on to become a Shark legend, playing until 2004 before hanging up his boots.

Summer 1990
The lads capture several matches onto video - complete with ZX Spectrum created TV Titles!
It's a football first for Thurso - A video camera cost over £1000.00 at this point in time.
The boys have small but loyal support and a reputation for being capable of anything. One players writes a comic strip about the teams heroic exploits on AND off the field.

Summer 1991
Several key players leave and the Newmarket team has to reorganish itself dramatically in order to survive.
There are financial problems looming, and rumours that the club treasurer has been drinking important club funds!
It's the end for the Newmarket team.

Summer 1992
No team

Summer 1993
Amidst allegations of being "The Newmarket in Sheeps Clothing", the Pub League AGM finally allow us back into the league with the all-new Ormlie Motors Squad.
They had been unhappy over a unpaid Newmarket Bill and not a McGillivray.
Some casual lying followed and we were eventually welcomed back in the league.
The Ormlie Motors squad included half of the Newmarket players and would go on to sensational opening season, finishing third in the league and WINNING their first ever trophy, the Royal Bank of Scotland Cup.

Summer 1994
Ormlie's second season see's them still performing well.
But they never quite reach the same high standard of the previous year.

Summer 1995
Ormlie Motors lose several key players and find the going tough.
Men like Neil Stronach and Mark Alexander prove tough to replace, provoking unhappiness among the men.
Several stars led by Ally "The Hawk" Manson, leave the side and plan their own one, including several other Newmarket stars from the past.

Summer 1996
The boys are back in town under the new title of Coral Lounge FC.
The team features 11 original Newmarket players.
Returning stars include Kevin Mcgillivray, Ian Mackay and the veteran Davie Hobbs.
The pub league ends in a disapointing knock-out tournament with the Coral losing out in a rather shadey draw!

Summer 1997
The Coral Lounge still have a side, but it is the end of local Pub League Football.
For many of the men this will herald the end of their footballing careers.
But others (even men considered veterans) would return...

Winter 1999
Graham and Daffy are flying the football flag for the boys.
In the Safeway 7s side they lead their young platoon into a cup final and a victory!
But they will be losing players soon and need some new men.
Slowly but surely, retired Sharks men take an interest.
David Terrace, Ally Manson, Bobby MacRoberts, Davie Hobbs.
The side has some good promising young players too and many work in the Co-op....

Summer 2001
Graham and Steele and new man Danny have Co-op sponsorship in place.
The men are now known as the Co-op and they commence training.
Derek Brown is invited to become the new manager and early trainnig sessions show promise.
When the league begins there is chaos.
The manager doesn't seem to know who his best players are and he is chopping and changing at all the wrong times.
After weeks of frustration it all comes to a head with several players threatening to walk out.
Clearly it would be better for the manager to go and in February 2002 at the end of the season Derek left..
Another man bits the dust!

February 2002
Rumours circulate the town the the Pathetic Sharks are to appear on TV.
And it is true!
Thanks to this very web site the BBC decided to come north to Thurso to film the final episode of the Inside Scotland documentary.
The lads get a few minutes of tv fame and stage a special cup match against the Ashes for the occasion.
On the 13th of March 2002 the two sides meet up at Naver and with a respetable wee crowd watching they commence battle.
Sharks go on to lose 7-1.
Terrace was interviewed the day before the game and challenged TV presenter Gerry McCulloch to playin the secnod half of the match and its him who scores our solitary goal off a fine ball from young David McGillivray.
A good night out follows the event and most of the lads end up kippered!
We lose Danny, Scotty Shearer and Steven Gray.
The team is officially renamed the Sharks after the Co-op fail to come up with promised strip money.
Caring Sharing?
Aye - My Arse!

Winter 2002
The Sharks begin their first league campaign under their new name.
From Pathetic Sharks they will become known in the league as simply Sharks.
They manage to acquire 10 points throughout the season -10 times better than under Derek.
The boys achieve victories and get to the semi-final of one of the all-day cups.
.They would have been IN the final were it not for a moment of madness from keeper Davie Terrace - with one of the poorest throwouts ever to grace the 7s football park.
Honestly - I could have pished further!

July 2003
Sharks have lost several players including Ally Manson and Derek Johnston and things are looking bleak.
Suddenly from no where we get the news we have been dreaming of - a new manager!
And it's former legend Billy McGillivray.
Then the following week he's joined by his brother another former favourite.
Suddenly training becomes interesting again and Sharks are once again moving forward.
There are several new players including Hendy and Stix and several others in the pipeline.
New strips are also being promised and finally the team is looking proud once again!

September 2003
Long time friend of the Sharks Graeme Beckem Robertson makes his long-awaited official debut for Sharks.
Its the clubs biggest ever signing.

February 2004
Bill decides he's had enough and leaves.
Kevin moves up to manager position until the end of the season and hopefully he will get some assistance and continue in the role throughout 2004.

24th April 2004
Sharks big night out.
The now-annual event took place from the Janet Street Club, and the lads were delighted to see former manager Bill McGillivray make an appearance. Plus we had Chris Sinclair make a special effort to get there and Hendy who traveled from Edinburgh just for the event.

August 2004
Kev's first game in charge is a friendly match against new side Shadwell Town, a squad of players featuring two former Newmarket men, Mark McDouggall and Sid Potter.
It's a cracking game which ends in a 4-4 draw. Terrace wins the game for Sharks when the game goes to penalties, with two successive saves.

May 2004
Manager Kevin McGillivray's footwork during a dammies kickabout session sees Stix proclaim him Lord of the Dance!

July 2004
Hendy's 21st Birthday sees a special training session at Naver park and an ever better DRINKING SESSION later!

October 7th 2004
Sharks 9 Rolls Royce Reds 2
One of Sharks biggest victories.
The Starting Lineup:
David T, Darren Smith, Kris Smith, Daffy, Graeme Robertson, Willie Miller and Chris Sinclair.

October 14th 2004
Antarctic Thistle 2 Sharks 10
It doesn't get any better!
Kev leads men to best victory in recent memory in a thriller that featured ten great Shark goals, sublime touches, a REAL lightsabre duel between Sharks CHRIS SINCLAIR and cheekie rogue veteran FOXY and for the cat that got the cream, we had video camerawork and commentary by Roddy Farmer, his last official contribution to the team, talk about going out in style!

October 28th 2004
SHARKS GO TOP OF THE TABLE!
It does get better as the team lead the table for the first time ever and at the halfway point of the season.

January 31st 2005
SHARKS in FHM CUP!
Chris Sinclair leads the Sharks into battle down in Glasgow under the watchful eye of 7s top of the table manager Kev McGillivray.
The side battle proudly and qualify out of their group and into the final stages.
The banter afterward is the stuff of legend.

February 3rd 2005
SHARKS WIN THE LEAGUE
The Sharks (formerly known as Pathetic Sharks) clinch their first ever league title with TWO rounds remaining!
Best of times, best of times!

February 17th 2005
LEAGUE WINNERS CUP CHAMPIONS!
How do you top appearing in FHM magazine?
Or how do you top winning the league?
Well you don't but for a second division outfit the closest thing in Caithness is winning the 7s Champions cup, where the two division winners battle for glory.
Sharks faced the Comm and it was a 3-3 thriller with some sublime performances.
The lads won the penalty shoot-out to be crowned Champion of Champions!

September 15th 2005
SORE ONE!
It's a sore opening lesson for Sharks debut in division two when they lose their opening game 5-0 to SHADWELL TOWN the team they just pipped to title!
Shark have lost key players and it shows. Shadwell go on to challenge for the title, Sharks most certainly do NOT!

September 22nd 2005
WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD!
Sharks gets some much needed bite when Craig Hollywood joins the setup. Other new players include Darren XXXXX and Jamie.

February 2006
RELEGATED!!!!
Even with the addition of several new players Sharks can't handle the top division. To rub salt in, several players reckon they ARE first division matieral and leave the team soon after. Others move to Ashes.

MORE SOON!
I'm off to dry ma eyes!