Forres Mechanics
Wikipedia - Forres Mechanics F.C.
Forres Mechanics Football Club are a senior Scottish association football club from the town of Forres, Moray, currently playing in the Highland Football League. They play at the town's Mosset Park. Forres Mechanics are the oldest association football club in the North of Scotland and are one of only two original teams to play in the Highland League since its first season in 1893, the other being Clachnacuddin.
History
Their unusual name is variously stated to come from the town's Mechanics Institute or most likely when a group of craftsmen or mechanics split from an earlier Forres team to form their own club. Forres Mechanics have won the Highland league twice: in the 1985–86 season and in the 2011–12 season.
On 26 November 2016, Forres Mechanics played their most high-profile match in recent years when they held League One side Stenhousemuir to a 2–2 draw in 2016–17 Scottish Cup, however they lost 3–1 in the replay. During the 2020–21 season, which was greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Forres withdrew from the Highland League before returning the following season.
De meest succesvolle periode van de club was in de jaren 1950 en 1960, toen ze de Highland League vijf keer wonnen. Forres Mechanics heeft ook een aantal grote wedstrijden gespeeld tegen clubs uit hogere divisies, waaronder een overwinning op Celtic in 1954.
In de afgelopen jaren heeft Forres Mechanics geprobeerd om terug te keren naar de Highland League, maar het is hen tot nu toe niet gelukt. De club blijft echter een belangrijke rol spelen in de lokale gemeenschap en heeft een trouwe aanhang.