 | |
| Full name | Loch Ness Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Capacity | 500 |
| Chairman | Hugh Gardner |
| Manager | Shane Carling |
| 2023–24 | North Caledonian League, 2nd of 12 |
Loch Ness Football Club is aScottishfootball club who are currently a non-playing member of theNorth Caledonian Football League, who are based in the town ofFortrose in theScottish Highlands.
Loch Ness were formed in 1999 by current manager Shane Carling, and for 20 years played as members of the welfare/amateur recreational leagues of Inverness & District.[1] The club formed a senior team in 2020, and were accepted as members of theNorth Caledonian Football Association, joining a temporary second tier of the association, known as the Ness Cup League.[2] From 2021 to 2022, they will play in the re-combined North Caledonian League.
During the summer of 2020, the club received widespread acknowledgement via social media after releasing prototypes for their new kits, which featured theLoch Ness Monster in the pattern.[3][4] The designs were subsequently used and made byLancashire company Zero Negativity Clothing, receiving orders worldwide upon release. As part of a sponsorship deal with WooHa Brewing Company, the sponsor created a limited edition lager named for the club.[5]
Loch Ness played their first game in theNess Cup League on 17 October. Their debut in the senior ranks resulted in an emphatic 11–1 win overScourie, another team making their debut in the league, with hat-tricks from DJ MacPhee and Luke Seago.[6]
In November, the club enlisted the help of formerClachnacuddin manager Iain Polworth to assist in coaching the side.[7] The side finished 4th in League 2 when the season was curtailed.
In the2021–22 season Loch Ness were pipped to the league title byInvergordon, ultimately finishing 2nd.
In the 2022–23 season, Loch Ness won the North Caledonian League title for the first time in their history with a 5–0 win overFort William, the title also meant they qualified for theScottish Cup for the first time, where they drew, and lost 3–1 to,Luncarty of theEast of Scotland Premier Division.
The following season, they narrowly missed out on defending their North Caledonian title, finishing the season as runners up, 6 points behind champions, Invergordon.
In Early 2024, Loch Ness entered talks with Highland League side, Strathspey Thistle over a potential merger,[8] however these merger talks broke down soon after.
Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Loch Ness went into a period of abeyance for reasons unknown.[9]
| Season | Division | Tier | Pos. | Pld. | W | D | L | GD | Pts | Scottish Cup | Other honours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer League (1999–2020) | Inverness and District Football League | N/A | Stats unavailable | Ineligible | Stats prior to 2017 unknown 2021 Premier Division winners | ||||||
| 2020–21 | North Caledonian League League 2 | N/A | 4th | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | +13 | 15 | Ineligible | |
| 2021–21 | North Caledonian League | 6 | 2nd | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | +25 | 43 | Ineligible | |
| 2022–23 | North Caledonian League | 6 | 1st | 24 | 20 | 2 | 2 | +73 | 62 | Ineligible | |
| 2023–24 | North Caledonian League | 6 | 2nd | 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | +54 | 51 | Preliminary round one; lost 3–1 to Luncarty | |
| Loch Ness enter abeyance | |||||||||||
Although the club has no fixed ground, they played their first season (2020–21) at Canal Park inInverness, the regular home ofHighland Rugby Club.
Between2021–22 and their final season in 2023–24, they played their home games at King George V Park inFortrose.