Lochaber Camanachd will once again remember shinty stalwart Billy MacLachlan when they meet neighbours Fort William at Spean Bridge on New Year’s Day.
As well as being a former Lochaber Camanachd player, Billy MacLachlan was also a
committee member, Grade One referee and a match assessor.
Billy’s shinty playing days stretch back to the days of Brae Lochaber and he will be remembered as part of the dominant Lochaber side of 1965 which swept the boards.
Lochaber played 21 games that season, winning nineteen whilst only drawing once and losing once.
Their haul included the Scottish Junior Championship, the Sir William Sutherland Cup, the Strathdearn Cup and the MacGillivray Junior Cup.
He also previously played for Glenorchy and Tayforth during a time in the central
belt.
Billy was also a much-respected referee and, after just three years officiating at the top grade. He was given the honour of refereeing the 1985 Camanachd Cup Final between great rivals Kingussie and Newtonmore at The Dell.
It was the 78th Scottish Cup Final and Newtonmore eventually won 4-2.
He went on to be a member of the Camanachd Association Referees Association and latterly, Billy shared his refereeing experience with the younger generation of
officials as he assumed the role of match assessor.
Throw up is at 1pm and Lochaber have invited all shinty supporters to come along to celebrate Billy’s memory, bring in the New Year, and experience shinty’s camaraderie
and competition.
There will be soup, burgers, tea, coffee and beer on sale.
Fort William were 3-0 winners in the inaugural Billy MacLachlan Memorial Trophy
match last year with Mark Fraser scoring once and Bryan Simpson netting twice.
Billy’s wife Sheila, along with his daughters and granddaughters, were all present to
hand over the Billy MacLachlan Memorial Trophy to Fort William captain Jack Fraser
and the medals to the rest of the players.
Photograph (January 2018): Billy MacLachlan in action as a Camanachd Association Match Assessor. NO F04 Billy MacLachlan 02