I stayed in Fort William a few years ago and wanted to find their football ground to say that I'd seen the stadium of the 'worst football team ever'. I got lost and ended up in a whiskey distillery. True story.
@AKXU Perhaps he looked at the thumbnail on a mobile device without holding it as close as humanly possible to his face? It's not rocket science mate...
In the early 80s I played for a team Flixton (Manchester) and we were crap. Our manager got banned for punching a referee so our "physio" took over managerial duties. He then tripped over his bucket and sponge during a game and dislocated his knee so my dad among others took over. We went the whole season losing all our games and getting knocked out of the cup in Round 1. We would drive around on a Sunday morning looking for "mates" who could make up the 11 and when we found someone they would have to use the name of one of our registered players. However the next season we improved slightly, drawing 2 and losing 18. The best is yet to come as we won our Round 1 cup game 2-1 and we celebrated like nothing else. In the next round I scored a 25 yard screamer only for the referee to disallow it and we lost 4 or 5 nil. Calling the referee a c&#t for doing so earned me an early bath and along with the 3 quid fine I got from the league, I decided to retire from football at the grand old age of 23. Unfortunately there are no records of how crap we were so no UA-cam video to follow. C'mon Fort William.
Why was the goal disallowed? If there was nothing wrong with it then I totally understand your reaction. Also, its funny and ironic that the physio who took over as manager got injured.
@@areebsiddiqui758 it was an out swinging corner and the linesman, who was from the other team, said the kick had swung out of play before it came to me
@@jacktainsh3733 those were the days when you could kick people and not even have a foul against you. I remember one referee telling me "I am only interested if I see blood or bones sticking out". Too soft nowadays.
That's similar to my story although we inexplicably beat the league leaders. He made their whole squad do laps around the pitch for losing. The guy who ran the team lost interest so we turned up the following week only for our team to be suspended due to unpaid and overdue fees. My name was in the local newspaper for scoring an own goal.
Fort William might be one of the worst teams around, but they play in possibly the most picturesque backdrop to a football ground that I have ever seen. I'd be too busy enjoying the scenery to bother paying attention to the match.
Reminds me of Dorset Recreation Reserve, home of Croydon City Arrows FC, in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The gorgeous backdrop of the Dandenong Ranges tends to distract from the football a bit, especially on a lovely clear autumn day... FYI City plays in the 7th tier of Victoria's State Football League.
My grandad used to work around there a lot back in the 70s and 80s, he's always had a soft spot for them and gone to a few games. Shame to see them like this.
Guiness World Records acknowledge that the worst run of form ever was Ibis Sport Club in Brazil They spent 4 years without a win between 1980-1984 And in the late 1970s the also had a horrendous record Though since there fortunes have turned around, getting promoted last season, I think it would be cool to do a video on them
Yes, I'm Brazilian and Ibis is a very popular team here, the supporters even celebrate when the team looses, because is part of the tradition now, is very strange to see Ibis winning games.
I watched the Fort at Brechin City a few weeks ago (online, mind, I'm in England...) - they lost 4-0, but Brechin looked absolutely nothing like a team who were trying to reclaim their SPFL place, and Fort William were a match for them for most of the game. There was something different, they were competing for the aerial balls, they were genuinely threatening when they went forward, and they did get the ball into dangerous positions very often. Then they lost 4-1 at home to Buckie Thistle - that might not seem like anything, but Buckie Thistle have been one of the best sides in the Highland League for a number of years, and not long ago that would have been another 10-0 or 12-1. It wasn't. On Saturday, a similar story, but this time, a 1-1 draw with Huntly, who aren't terrible but never pull up any trees either. OK, they're at Brora next, even a goal from that one would be a bonus, and probably similar the week after at Wick Academy, but after that, if they can keep up their current form, the end of season run-in looks very promising: Keith at home, Strathspey Thistle at home, Lossiemouth away, Turriff at home, four of the teams around them in the league. You watch them get destroyed in all four of those now I've written that - but somehow, I doubt it...I think they might just have turned the corner, you know.
I kind of want to support them for their resilience. I'm in Wales so will never get a chance to see a game but may consider getting merchandise if possible.
@@TMcCarrick same here. I'm in Victoria, Australia, so I have absolutely ZERO chance of seeing them play in person. So I'm hoping that, like Daniel above did, I can watch them online, and perhaps even buy some of their merch. After all, us Aussies love to support an underdog :)
@@bury_the_elite65294 I just checked their official website and their store is currently down due to maintenance but definitely buying something when possible.
@@bobbyshafto3259 Yeah, seems like it took them a while to really get going, but hopefully they can take this form into the playoffs v Banks O'Dee. They'll need to, because I think Banks O'Dee are more than capable of holding their own in the fifth tier!
These kinds of videos are why I love this channel so much. Learning stories about small clubs most people are not aware exist and the interesting back stories behind them. I've been to Fort William before and it's a lovely part of the world.
Probably worth mentioning that as of the 21/22 season, Fort William can now actually be relegated via a play off vs the champion of either the North Caledonian League, North Superleague or the Midlands League. So I'd be tipping them to no longer be in the Highland League next season.
I'm sure an FM UA-camr did a save with Fort William back in 2018/2019. I know he got the club involved and went to watch a match. I think he might have done some fund raising for them as well.
Yup Loki Doki. He did similar for Basingstoke last year and is currently looking for a new club alongside his regular journeyman. Had hoped he would get a mention.
I can relate to their situation, having played football for Venus Bucharest, in the 4th league and losing all games of the season. Most notably, a 26-1 defeat against Rapid Bucharest, a demoted Romanian giant team. Fun times in the lower leagues :))
I stayed at a youth hostel in Fort William in the fall of 1993. It's a truly beautiful place, and if I'd known the first thing about football back then, I would have tried to find the team's home ground. Can't help loving FWFC. C'mon the Fort!
Excellent I must say. Thank you for putting in the time to shed light on this stuff. Noticed those mad results in the Highland League and always wondered what was behind that. This really gives some context to it. Great stuff.
I heard that story of a club appointing an FM player as their manager, didn't know it was this very Fort William. Full props to the lads for soldiering on with their heads held high despite the constant barrage of heavy defeats. Must take a lot of resilience and passion, wish them the best.
Thanks Alfie. I've been following Fort William's results for a few years now, always waiting for that rare point or win. I'd look out for Vale of Leithen in the Lowland League, too - they may have already amassed 5 points from 27 games, but with a goal difference of -134, they are pretty awful. I'd also be pedantic and point out that within the Scottish system, they're a Junior club rather than a Senior one.
My junior football team 1984/85 .... Played: 18 Won: 0, Drawn 1, Lost 17. Goals For: 11 Goals Against: 397 I was the goalkeeper; I won Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year. I'd love to visit Fort William F.C.
Speaking of bad football teams, as a Hull lad, I thought you were going to mention FC Humber United - who finished with one point, and a -118 goal difference the season before last, but didn't get relegated due to the league being null and voided. And have already amassed a -59 goal difference halfway through this season.
Passed it to/from Ft.William for the St.Duthus game recently.... can't believe Keir Stoma turned a blind eye to Saville's dastardly deeds when he was DPP.
After watching, I had a look at their current season out of curiosity. 15 wins and 9 losses in 24 games, no draws. Third in the league with a +33 goal differential. That guy is working magic.
after watching forest and actually thinking there might be a chance, i was thinking this too. I can break down 2 teams in England, Millwall in UEFA CUP 2004/2005, and Wigan in the early 10's, lost an FA Cup final but got relegated in the prem that say year.
Hey there mate! I have an ideea. For the next episode of what on earth is going on, you should take a look at Romanian first Divison, particularly at Dinamo Bucharest. They are one of the most decorated teams and their recent form and club problems are getting them slowly to second division for the first time in their history. I really want to see your view of them. Keep up the good work!
Their last game (5th Feb) was a draw against Huntly (1-1). However their completely changed their team this season, with nearly no local or even scot being left in the team.
Yep, according to Transfermarkt 20/26 players are not Scottish. Most are English but Albania, Guinea and the Ivory Coast, for example, are now represented. No other club in the league has more than 2 foreigners.
@@Daffz They always struggled to get locals because of the more successful shinty team. I don’t know why they decided to focus on foreign players though.
@@simpsonsandchase It does sound like pure FM strategy. I'd hoped he'd focus, if he could, on keeping local lads and not turn the team into an English 8th tier team.
Hey Alfie, I can’t believe you used a picture of my teammates that didn’t include me in it at 10:18. Anyways I find it awesome you used us and I think I’ll pitch the idea of us heading to Fort Williams tomorrow
Fascinating to see how many SPFL clubs were in the Highland League when Fort William joined. Elgin City have never climbed higher than League Two, with Peterhead jumping between League One and Two. Inverness Caledonian and Inverness Thistle merged to form Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who now compete in the Championship, with Ross County having established themselves as a side who regularly compete in the Premiership.
I remember Fort William going on a highly impressive run of 4 games unbeaten a few years back. My local team Billingham Town (Northern League, English tier 9) managed a -181 goal difference a few years back with 8 points on the board. That season included a 14-0 cup defeat to a team 2 tiers lower, where we only fielded 7 players with an injured outfielder in goal.
I was on holiday in Fort William back in the nineties and decided to take in a game. Typically it rained, and also typically, they lost (albeit only 1-0). I have to say though it is the most scenic setting for a football ground I have ever seen.
Bet you enjoyed it,a narrow defeat is quite tolerable. The scenery is magnificent and Fort William is a lovely place (especially if you're going to/fro The Hebrides).
I would like to see a video about Bordeaux. They are struggling near the foot of the French league. What's going on with them？Or Galatasaray maybe，struggling in the Turkish league.
Should be possible with mods I think. The Scottish league is a pyramid now so taking them up to the football leagues would be possible. Just look at Cove Rangers
I'm sure there will be. Check FM Scout. They usually do lots of FM mods. I know a UA-camr called Loki Doki did a save with fort William back in 2019. I'm sure he got interviewed by the BBC as he went to visit the club and worked with them to raise money.
Ok I'm from Fort William and have been attending Claggan since the 80's. I'm not affliated with the club and these views are my own. Firstly in the Lochaber catchment area there are not just two Shinty teams but.... Fort William, Kilmallie, Lochaber , Ballachulish, Ardnamurchan, and Glengarry. so thats 6 teams and 3 second teams fielding teams every Saturday There is a thought that we could get footballers from Oban (as they don't have a senior team) but there is about another 6 Shinty teams in that area too anybody young and fit generally plays shinty. The club has tried many different things to improve over the years To my knowledge no one is coming from Edinburgh though, but even in the early 90's we tried to get some Glasweigans involved which led to a couple of decent seasons but the money ran out and reverted to the locals. in the mid 2010s they found players in Portree in Skye, inverness and Oban but it was expensive even getting the team to the ground before heading off to highland league games (our closest is an hour and a half away) but results did improve but anyone showing any class was picked up by other teams. A couple of years ago we did a deal with Caley thistle (who have been wanting a development side in the highland league ) and took in a load of players on loan and again results improved greatly (that was the side that picked up a win after 2 years. Then Covid hit the season got cancelled and it all fell apart. There is another team in Lochaber called South Lochaber Thistle which is mainly ex Fort William players playing amateur football and doing very well actually. So a new chairman comes in (at least the 5th in about 10 years ) and halfway through this season he hatches a plan. new manager , players from England (there are only about 2 locals now) in a massive effort not to finish last and survive in the Highland League. The HL itself has the ridiculous ruling that we have to play all games away this season ( so I haven't seen them) but by all accounts they are getting better and a win is sure to come. Problem is we need at least 4 in the last 9 games and though we have picked up a couple of draws the great escape is not looking likely. There are still four winnable games though. keith twice Strathspey and Turriff So why do they want rid of the Fort, well its a long way from anywhere and the Highland league has steadily been heading eastwards Since Fort joined , Cove replaced by Brechin, Formartine, Turriff, Inverurie, Strathspey and admittedly another remote one in Wick have joined There is literally nothing on the west coast no Oban or Kyle etc. They want Banks of Dee or another strong junior club to bolster the league with a massive reduction in travelling costs. This season there is promotion and relegation to/from HL if we go down there is no coming back as we would end up in the North Caley and to get out of that we would have to win then beat an Aberdeen or Dundee club and whoever was bottom in the HL to go up. I can see The Highland League in about 10 years being solely Aberdeen and Dundee clubs - Neither of which are in the Highlands and that is a real shame.
Superb video with a great deal of information. Thank you. I'd love to see the Fort start to improve under their new manager. Just FYI towards the end of the video you stated that Scotland fans attend more games per capita than any other nation on earth. That's not quite true unfortunately. The Faroe Islands beats that and they beat it by quite a decent margain. I know the Faroes isn't strictly a country but neither is Scotland and they're both part of FIFA so if Scotland counts in that statistic then the Faroes should count as well.
Not quite as bad as Fort William, but my Scottish team, Brechin City, suffered 3 relegations in 4 seasons. The season we weren't relegated was when covid cut it short and saved us, and during those relegations we had a season where we won no league matches, a first in the British football leagues.
A very friendly club. I visited in 2019. When I told the chairman how far I had come he bought me a beer. Sadly Fort lost the game 4-1 to Wick Academy.
Do a video on FS Micronesia, the worst national team in the world and their performance at the 2015 Pacific Games where they lost their three group games by an aggregate of 114-0, no joke. Lost 30-0 to Tahiti, 38-0 to Fiji and 46-0 to Vanuatu. They aren’t FIFA members but are looking to become one. Would be interesting to see a video on them and why they fared so badly then and what, if/any, progress has been made there.
The lowest position in UK football, and sitting at the bottom of the UK's highest peak. That's a Gandhi level journey right there. Hinduism, Buddhism and Zen would find the connections and use the power of Ben Nevis I'm sure. I don't mean with rockfalls either. Let Fort William FC be a lesson in 'never giving up' to us all. A bit of communities returning, would do us all good.
Thanks. Now added to my Bucket List of teams to see and hope this video inspires others. The you tube algorithm would confuse all of the mighty unconfused
Sadly from someone who frequently have watched them due to the team I support being in the league they have just come into a very good amount of money but will most likely to be the first team to ever be relegated from the highland league through the new relegation playoff system.
Always felt sorry for them at the bottom of the Scottish Highland league. However, good that you understand that football is not the main game, its Cammanachd, or in English Shinty. An Gearasdan is the original name, and the British troops werent defending it, they were occupying it! Now thats out of the road, thank you for the video, much appreciated
Alfie, did you ever heard of Íbis FC in Brazil? they are autoclaimed "the worst team in the world", they also went years without winning back in the 80's
hey alfie, i think an interesting video would be one on another scottish team, gretna. their rise and fall would make for a gripping video. thanks for constantly entertaining us!
If you like football manager and want to see a series on fort William a UA-camr named Loki doki did an excellent long series of it and got them all the way to the Scottish premiership. He also did a go fund me so the club could stay afloat.
After watching this video, I googled the club and found out they had their first away win in 20 years yesterday, I'm super happy. Also, didn't see any losses with more than the difference of 4. The new manager to that club is good it seems. More power to them
Im so sorry but this made me laugh a lot and I'm a Carlisle United fan. Everyone who has stuck with the club are true legends and a credit to the game.
I recognized that manager of theirs from another football video... I think it might've been FNG. From everything I've heard he seems to be a great guy and I wish him and Fort Williams all the luck in the world.
His brother did, (one of them, Finlay), Duncan didn't as he was at Clach before Fort William really picked up in the 80's. Dave Shearer is a third older brother that also played in England for Middlesbrough and Gillingham mainly. Duncan played for Chelsea then Swindon and Blackburn before heading to Aberdeen.
If I remember rightly Duncan Shearer was from Caol or Corpach (one of the 2 villages nearby) and when he played for the Mighty Terriers (Huddersfield Town) he was living with a landlady,Mrs.Shaw,100 yards down the road from me in Golcar.
The real danger of being forced into the North Caledonian in the summer with the addition of the new 6th tier. Could see Banks o' Dee taking a few off them in a playoff.
7 biggest near miss upsets of all time e.g. Kidderminster vs West Ham Got the idea cus I recently found out the student football team of the college I go to (University College Dublin) hit the crossbar at Goodison Park in 1984 in the last minute of a European cup winners cup tie and had it gone in UCD would've progressed on away goals having held Everton 0-0 in Ireland. For those who don't know, that Everton side went on to win the 84/85 first division 13 pts ahead of Liverpool
Hi Alfie, there is a documentary on BBC Scotland it's called the fort it's all about fort William football club if you can find it and watch it it's a great insight to what it was like when they was getting smacked 10 - Nill most weeks
Alfie Can you do a documentary on the afc Wimbledon on the nine promotions in eleven years, how they’re a fan own club and how they have a stadium in plough lane now. The story of they lost the club, how the F A allowed that and won’t allow that anymore. How they were very close to moving to ireland How they went up the English football leagues. It would be a good documentary video if you can do this. #thepeopleschannel
Mon the Fort! They drew their last game 1-1 vs Huntly and recently got a few loanees from Inverness and have a new manager so things are looking up. Just think how good victory will taste when it does come! Top of my football bucket list is to visit Fort William and to see a game. I would live in the area just to see them every week and support the team whatever way I could
No way! Currently binge watching Loki Doki's Fort William save and this pops up. Alfie with the big dub again 👏 They picked up a big point at home to Huntly at the weekend ⚽️
How do teams get promoted from the north calendonian league that's the question do they apply and if so would they replace the bottom team like Fort William
They sound like a good community hub even if they don't win, they play and enjoy it. I used to play for a cricket team and we would get beat every week then one season, we started to win and actually won promotion. We had a lot of us young (at the time) ones come through and start playing which meant we were not half bad. Maybe one day if a few local kids at the Fort may break through and have a few years of better results. Good luck to them.
I stayed in Fort William a few years ago and wanted to find their football ground to say that I'd seen the stadium of the 'worst football team ever'. I got lost and ended up in a whiskey distillery. True story.
Was the whiskey atleast any good Rhys? 😂
I’ve been through 3-4 times and always wanted to get to a game. Every time it’s been rained off
Just Scotland thingz
@@bp3366 it was worth it 😂😂
I don't see how that is getting lost
Not gonna lie after seeing the thumbnail from a far I thought Alfie had finally had enough of Hull City.
@AKXU Perhaps he looked at the thumbnail on a mobile device without holding it as close as humanly possible to his face? It's not rocket science mate...
@AKXU No thanks mate, I've got the mathematical skill of a brain damaged hamster 👍🏼
Just a word of appreciation for Alfie's researching skills. This was throughout entertaining to watch.
Even things I’m not interested about I watch. He’s absolutely amazing 👌🏻
@@troywithers3971 Absolutely... we learn interesting football stories and facts we never knew we needed.
Excellent video and beautiful researched story. The is where I subscribed for👍🏻
In the early 80s I played for a team Flixton (Manchester) and we were crap. Our manager got banned for punching a referee so our "physio" took over managerial duties. He then tripped over his bucket and sponge during a game and dislocated his knee so my dad among others took over. We went the whole season losing all our games and getting knocked out of the cup in Round 1. We would drive around on a Sunday morning looking for "mates" who could make up the 11 and when we found someone they would have to use the name of one of our registered players. However the next season we improved slightly, drawing 2 and losing 18. The best is yet to come as we won our Round 1 cup game 2-1 and we celebrated like nothing else. In the next round I scored a 25 yard screamer only for the referee to disallow it and we lost 4 or 5 nil. Calling the referee a c&#t for doing so earned me an early bath and along with the 3 quid fine I got from the league, I decided to retire from football at the grand old age of 23. Unfortunately there are no records of how crap we were so no UA-cam video to follow. C'mon Fort William.
Why was the goal disallowed? If there was nothing wrong with it then I totally understand your reaction. Also, its funny and ironic that the physio who took over as manager got injured.
@@areebsiddiqui758 it was an out swinging corner and the linesman, who was from the other team, said the kick had swung out of play before it came to me
Now that's real football. Love the story, thanks for sharing
@@jacktainsh3733 those were the days when you could kick people and not even have a foul against you. I remember one referee telling me "I am only interested if I see blood or bones sticking out". Too soft nowadays.
That's similar to my story although we inexplicably beat the league leaders. He made their whole squad do laps around the pitch for losing. The guy who ran the team lost interest so we turned up the following week only for our team to be suspended due to unpaid and overdue fees. My name was in the local newspaper for scoring an own goal.
Fort William might be one of the worst teams around, but they play in possibly the most picturesque backdrop to a football ground that I have ever seen.
I'd be too busy enjoying the scenery to bother paying attention to the match.
Stunning view of Ben Nevis
If anyone wants to describe the beauty of football in a single picture then I'll just show them a picture of a Fort William FC home match
Yeah on the 5 clear days of the year but most of the time all you can see is impenetrable mist!
Reminds me of Dorset Recreation Reserve, home of Croydon City Arrows FC, in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The gorgeous backdrop of the Dandenong Ranges tends to distract from the football a bit, especially on a lovely clear autumn day... FYI City plays in the 7th tier of Victoria's State Football League.
As a regular at claggan , sometimes you have to!
Arent we gonna ignore how beautiful the Fort William's home stadium
its the scottish highlands, the most beautiful part of earth
I'd be too distracted by the scenery
@@alleypez8555 A bit like I was when I went to watch Harrogate Town and there were Red Kites soaring around overhead several times during the game,
Just incase anyone is wondering Fort William drew their most recent game on the 5th of February 1-1 so clearly the manager is doing something right
How is that team worse than a team in Asia or Africa?
@@jamestome7788 maybe because they haven’t won a game this season and have a -100 goal difference
@@Steviereidbookies They have now. Can't remember the opponent's or scoreline but Fort William have a victory.
@@TMcCarrick they beat strathspey thistle 4-2
My grandad used to work around there a lot back in the 70s and 80s, he's always had a soft spot for them and gone to a few games. Shame to see them like this.
Guiness World Records acknowledge that the worst run of form ever was Ibis Sport Club in Brazil
They spent 4 years without a win between 1980-1984
And in the late 1970s the also had a horrendous record
Though since there fortunes have turned around, getting promoted last season, I think it would be cool to do a video on them
Yep I saw this on Copa90
Yes, I'm Brazilian and Ibis is a very popular team here, the supporters even celebrate when the team looses, because is part of the tradition now, is very strange to see Ibis winning games.
Also in brazil there is a team that stayed more than 4 years without winning
And other that is not winning gor like 5 years
@@AdamMiligan retro too
Had to look at the Highland League table for 2018-2019, jesus christ that goal difference is true
I watched it 'developing' as the season progressed....it was alarming.
But go look at it now. Sholy hit, 15W 0D 9L, 45pts, +33GD.
Speaking of Football Manager ties to this club: FM UA-cam creator Loki Doki raised £5K for the club over a few months a couple years ago. :)
Playing as Fort William is a great challenge in FM...
I watched the Fort at Brechin City a few weeks ago (online, mind, I'm in England...) - they lost 4-0, but Brechin looked absolutely nothing like a team who were trying to reclaim their SPFL place, and Fort William were a match for them for most of the game. There was something different, they were competing for the aerial balls, they were genuinely threatening when they went forward, and they did get the ball into dangerous positions very often. Then they lost 4-1 at home to Buckie Thistle - that might not seem like anything, but Buckie Thistle have been one of the best sides in the Highland League for a number of years, and not long ago that would have been another 10-0 or 12-1. It wasn't. On Saturday, a similar story, but this time, a 1-1 draw with Huntly, who aren't terrible but never pull up any trees either. OK, they're at Brora next, even a goal from that one would be a bonus, and probably similar the week after at Wick Academy, but after that, if they can keep up their current form, the end of season run-in looks very promising: Keith at home, Strathspey Thistle at home, Lossiemouth away, Turriff at home, four of the teams around them in the league. You watch them get destroyed in all four of those now I've written that - but somehow, I doubt it...I think they might just have turned the corner, you know.
I kind of want to support them for their resilience. I'm in Wales so will never get a chance to see a game but may consider getting merchandise if possible.
@@TMcCarrick same here. I'm in Victoria, Australia, so I have absolutely ZERO chance of seeing them play in person. So I'm hoping that, like Daniel above did, I can watch them online, and perhaps even buy some of their merch. After all, us Aussies love to support an underdog :)
@@bury_the_elite65294 I just checked their official website and their store is currently down due to maintenance but definitely buying something when possible.
I hope they have because it's very satisfying seeing a narrow defeat/a draw or better still a 4-2 win against Strathspey Thistle (13.04.2022).
@@bobbyshafto3259 Yeah, seems like it took them a while to really get going, but hopefully they can take this form into the playoffs v Banks O'Dee. They'll need to, because I think Banks O'Dee are more than capable of holding their own in the fifth tier!
These kinds of videos are why I love this channel so much. Learning stories about small clubs most people are not aware exist and the interesting back stories behind them.
I've been to Fort William before and it's a lovely part of the world.
Probably worth mentioning that as of the 21/22 season, Fort William can now actually be relegated via a play off vs the champion of either the North Caledonian League, North Superleague or the Midlands League. So I'd be tipping them to no longer be in the Highland League next season.
I'm sure an FM UA-camr did a save with Fort William back in 2018/2019. I know he got the club involved and went to watch a match. I think he might have done some fund raising for them as well.
Loki doki yup
He raised over 10 grand I think
Yes, the save is still on UA-cam and it’s a really fun watch, the man’s name is LokiDoki
Yup Loki Doki. He did similar for Basingstoke last year and is currently looking for a new club alongside his regular journeyman. Had hoped he would get a mention.
I can relate to their situation, having played football for Venus Bucharest, in the 4th league and losing all games of the season. Most notably, a 26-1 defeat against Rapid Bucharest, a demoted Romanian giant team. Fun times in the lower leagues :))
First heard about Fort William a few years ago when 'Loki Doki' a Football Manager UA-camr did a save with them and raised some money for the club.
I stayed at a youth hostel in Fort William in the fall of 1993. It's a truly beautiful place, and if I'd known the first thing about football back then, I would have tried to find the team's home ground. Can't help loving FWFC. C'mon the Fort!
Football is all about enjoying the game. If they are happy, they're on the right track!
The top guy when it comes to scripting in football videos. Well done Alfie ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽
Excellent I must say. Thank you for putting in the time to shed light on this stuff. Noticed those mad results in the Highland League and always wondered what was behind that. This really gives some context to it. Great stuff.
I heard that story of a club appointing an FM player as their manager, didn't know it was this very Fort William. Full props to the lads for soldiering on with their heads held high despite the constant barrage of heavy defeats. Must take a lot of resilience and passion, wish them the best.
Thanks Alfie. I've been following Fort William's results for a few years now, always waiting for that rare point or win. I'd look out for Vale of Leithen in the Lowland League, too - they may have already amassed 5 points from 27 games, but with a goal difference of -134, they are pretty awful. I'd also be pedantic and point out that within the Scottish system, they're a Junior club rather than a Senior one.
My junior football team 1984/85 ....
Played: 18
Won: 0,
Drawn 1,
Lost 17.
Goals For: 11
Goals Against: 397
I was the goalkeeper; I won Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year.
I'd love to visit Fort William F.C.
Speaking of bad football teams, as a Hull lad, I thought you were going to mention FC Humber United - who finished with one point, and a -118 goal difference the season before last, but didn't get relegated due to the league being null and voided. And have already amassed a -59 goal difference halfway through this season.
The house at 8:19 & 8:34 belonged to Jimmy Saville and it’s been boarded up for quite a few years now.
Soon as I saw it I was like "maybe not the best image to use" haha
Passed it to/from Ft.William for the St.Duthus game recently.... can't believe Keir Stoma turned a blind eye to Saville's dastardly deeds when he was DPP.
After watching, I had a look at their current season out of curiosity.
15 wins and 9 losses in 24 games, no draws. Third in the league with a +33 goal differential. That guy is working magic.
How about 7 teams in Europe (Champions League/Europa League) that weren’t in their domestic top flight division at that time
@Princes hot💗👇 This is all about football
Shotout to Real Madrid's B team, that played the Qualifiers of Europe, after losing against the first team in the Cup
after watching forest and actually thinking there might be a chance, i was thinking this too. I can break down 2 teams in England, Millwall in UEFA CUP 2004/2005, and Wigan in the early 10's, lost an FA Cup final but got relegated in the prem that say year.
Wigan, Union Berlin, Atalanta (in UEFA Winners Cup though) comes to mind
Zurich some years ago
Hey there mate! I have an ideea. For the next episode of what on earth is going on, you should take a look at Romanian first Divison, particularly at Dinamo Bucharest. They are one of the most decorated teams and their recent form and club problems are getting them slowly to second division for the first time in their history. I really want to see your view of them. Keep up the good work!
Their last game (5th Feb) was a draw against Huntly (1-1). However their completely changed their team this season, with nearly no local or even scot being left in the team.
Yep, according to Transfermarkt 20/26 players are not Scottish. Most are English but Albania, Guinea and the Ivory Coast, for example, are now represented. No other club in the league has more than 2 foreigners.
@@simpsonsandchase damn how'd that happen?
@@Daffz They always struggled to get locals because of the more successful shinty team. I don’t know why they decided to focus on foreign players though.
@@simpsonsandchase It does sound like pure FM strategy. I'd hoped he'd focus, if he could, on keeping local lads and not turn the team into an English 8th tier team.
Oof
always a pleasure seeing alfie posting a new vid especially if its these longer documentary types
Hey Alfie, I can’t believe you used a picture of my teammates that didn’t include me in it at 10:18. Anyways I find it awesome you used us and I think I’ll pitch the idea of us heading to Fort Williams tomorrow
What is going on in Turkey please 🙂 (Galatasaray are currently only 3 points off the relegation zone)
Great idea, and wasn't besiktas in the same situation last season as well?
@@Zorto___1 besiktas won the league last season…
@@chriswoodtoarsenal sorry, meant basaksehir, kinda got confused there 😅.
Good Hope they go bust the scum bastards
Haha small club
Fascinating to see how many SPFL clubs were in the Highland League when Fort William joined. Elgin City have never climbed higher than League Two, with Peterhead jumping between League One and Two. Inverness Caledonian and Inverness Thistle merged to form Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who now compete in the Championship, with Ross County having established themselves as a side who regularly compete in the Premiership.
I remember Fort William going on a highly impressive run of 4 games unbeaten a few years back. My local team Billingham Town (Northern League, English tier 9) managed a -181 goal difference a few years back with 8 points on the board. That season included a 14-0 cup defeat to a team 2 tiers lower, where we only fielded 7 players with an injured outfielder in goal.
"Fort William is really remote. A 3 hour drive from Edinburgh..."
*laughs in Canadian*
Best football channel on yt in my opinion, really enjoy these types of videos!
Alfie's the goat, I've legit never seen anyone that loves the world of football (not just a particular team or handful of players) like he does
Judging by the team picture they don't have any goalkeepers. Is that part of their problem 🤔. Great video Alfie 👍
I was on holiday in Fort William back in the nineties and decided to take in a game. Typically it rained, and also typically, they lost (albeit only 1-0). I have to say though it is the most scenic setting for a football ground I have ever seen.
Bet you enjoyed it,a narrow defeat is quite tolerable. The scenery is magnificent and Fort William is a lovely place (especially if you're going to/fro The Hebrides).
This is the best video you have made in a while. Incredible!
Calm down
I cant wait to visit Fort William, for the outdoors activity and of course, the football!
I would like to see a video about Bordeaux. They are struggling near the foot of the French league. What's going on with them？Or Galatasaray maybe，struggling in the Turkish league.
Shame you can’t get the highland league on FM, a fort William save would be great fun
Should be possible with mods I think. The Scottish league is a pyramid now so taking them up to the football leagues would be possible. Just look at Cove Rangers
I'm sure there will be. Check FM Scout. They usually do lots of FM mods. I know a UA-camr called Loki Doki did a save with fort William back in 2019. I'm sure he got interviewed by the BBC as he went to visit the club and worked with them to raise money.
Then why am I losing to them in Football Manager 😭
That ground is absolutely stunning
The players enjoy the view of Fort William so much they forget they are playing a football match
Ok I'm from Fort William and have been attending Claggan since the 80's. I'm not affliated with the club and these views are my own. Firstly in the Lochaber catchment area there are not just two Shinty teams but.... Fort William, Kilmallie, Lochaber , Ballachulish, Ardnamurchan, and Glengarry. so thats 6 teams and 3 second teams fielding teams every Saturday There is a thought that we could get footballers from Oban (as they don't have a senior team) but there is about another 6 Shinty teams in that area too anybody young and fit generally plays shinty.
The club has tried many different things to improve over the years To my knowledge no one is coming from Edinburgh though, but even in the early 90's we tried to get some Glasweigans involved which led to a couple of decent seasons but the money ran out and reverted to the locals. in the mid 2010s they found players in Portree in Skye, inverness and Oban but it was expensive even getting the team to the ground before heading off to highland league games (our closest is an hour and a half away) but results did improve but anyone showing any class was picked up by other teams. A couple of years ago we did a deal with Caley thistle (who have been wanting a development side in the highland league ) and took in a load of players on loan and again results improved greatly (that was the side that picked up a win after 2 years. Then Covid hit the season got cancelled and it all fell apart. There is another team in Lochaber called South Lochaber Thistle which is mainly ex Fort William players playing amateur football and doing very well actually.
So a new chairman comes in (at least the 5th in about 10 years ) and halfway through this season he hatches a plan. new manager , players from England (there are only about 2 locals now) in a massive effort not to finish last and survive in the Highland League. The HL itself has the ridiculous ruling that we have to play all games away this season ( so I haven't seen them) but by all accounts they are getting better and a win is sure to come. Problem is we need at least 4 in the last 9 games and though we have picked up a couple of draws the great escape is not looking likely. There are still four winnable games though. keith twice Strathspey and Turriff
So why do they want rid of the Fort, well its a long way from anywhere and the Highland league has steadily been heading eastwards Since Fort joined , Cove replaced by Brechin, Formartine, Turriff, Inverurie, Strathspey and admittedly another remote one in Wick have joined There is literally nothing on the west coast no Oban or Kyle etc. They want Banks of Dee or another strong junior club to bolster the league with a massive reduction in travelling costs. This season there is promotion and relegation to/from HL if we go down there is no coming back as we would end up in the North Caley and to get out of that we would have to win then beat an Aberdeen or Dundee club and whoever was bottom in the HL to go up.
I can see The Highland League in about 10 years being solely Aberdeen and Dundee clubs - Neither of which are in the Highlands and that is a real shame.
Superb video with a great deal of information. Thank you. I'd love to see the Fort start to improve under their new manager.
Just FYI towards the end of the video you stated that Scotland fans attend more games per capita than any other nation on earth. That's not quite true unfortunately. The Faroe Islands beats that and they beat it by quite a decent margain. I know the Faroes isn't strictly a country but neither is Scotland and they're both part of FIFA so if Scotland counts in that statistic then the Faroes should count as well.
Not quite as bad as Fort William, but my Scottish team, Brechin City, suffered 3 relegations in 4 seasons. The season we weren't relegated was when covid cut it short and saved us, and during those relegations we had a season where we won no league matches, a first in the British football leagues.
A very friendly club. I visited in 2019. When I told the chairman how far I had come he bought me a beer. Sadly Fort lost the game 4-1 to Wick Academy.
Do a video on FS Micronesia, the worst national team in the world and their performance at the 2015 Pacific Games where they lost their three group games by an aggregate of 114-0, no joke. Lost 30-0 to Tahiti, 38-0 to Fiji and 46-0 to Vanuatu. They aren’t FIFA members but are looking to become one. Would be interesting to see a video on them and why they fared so badly then and what, if/any, progress has been made there.
I think this could be counted as your best work yet, which is saying something considering how often you put out top quality content and documentaries
Sometimes I forget that I went to school with some of these players and that this was my local team
Can you do a video on Arbroath FC? My home town and they're doing fantastic for a part-time football club.
As a proud Spurs fan let me Say this
Pretty sure we would manage to lose against this lot
love the scottish football videos, would love one on St. Johnstone
The reality tv show ting with Americans from the college game coming over sounds like it’d be really interesting to see
Man said the manager has an FM degree. I love that. There's hope for all of us.
The butcher isn't a nick name it's a derogatory name due to his brutal control of the area.
The lowest position in UK football, and sitting at the bottom of the UK's highest peak. That's a Gandhi level journey right there. Hinduism, Buddhism and Zen would find the connections and use the power of Ben Nevis I'm sure. I don't mean with rockfalls either. Let Fort William FC be a lesson in 'never giving up' to us all. A bit of communities returning, would do us all good.
Thanks. Now added to my Bucket List of teams to see and hope this video inspires others. The you tube algorithm would confuse all of the mighty unconfused
Sadly from someone who frequently have watched them due to the team I support being in the league they have just come into a very good amount of money but will most likely to be the first team to ever be relegated from the highland league through the new relegation playoff system.
When I looked at the thumbnail I thought it was Hull City at first
😂😂😂
Always felt sorry for them at the bottom of the Scottish Highland league. However, good that you understand that football is not the main game, its Cammanachd, or in English Shinty. An Gearasdan is the original name, and the British troops werent defending it, they were occupying it! Now thats out of the road, thank you for the video, much appreciated
Anyone else watched Loki Doki's FM series on Fort William?
Check out Ibis from Brazil, it used to be the worst team as far as i know
Still are
Alfie, did you ever heard of Íbis FC in Brazil? they are autoclaimed "the worst team in the world", they also went years without winning back in the 80's
hey alfie, i think an interesting video would be one on another scottish team, gretna. their rise and fall would make for a gripping video. thanks for constantly entertaining us!
If you like football manager and want to see a series on fort William a UA-camr named Loki doki did an excellent long series of it and got them all the way to the Scottish premiership. He also did a go fund me so the club could stay afloat.
This is a very interesting one, we will have to remind you to check in on the team in a few years time
Possibly one of the best openings to a video I've seen in a long time!
How could you not mention Loki Doki ?
What an absolute banger Alfie 🔥🔥🔥
After watching this video, I googled the club and found out they had their first away win in 20 years yesterday, I'm super happy. Also, didn't see any losses with more than the difference of 4. The new manager to that club is good it seems. More power to them
Im so sorry but this made me laugh a lot and I'm a Carlisle United fan. Everyone who has stuck with the club are true legends and a credit to the game.
I recognized that manager of theirs from another football video... I think it might've been FNG. From everything I've heard he seems to be a great guy and I wish him and Fort Williams all the luck in the world.
Duncan Shearer of Aberdeen and Scotland fame also played for the mighty Fort. Think his brother did too.
His brother did, (one of them, Finlay), Duncan didn't as he was at Clach before Fort William really picked up in the 80's. Dave Shearer is a third older brother that also played in England for Middlesbrough and Gillingham mainly. Duncan played for Chelsea then Swindon and Blackburn before heading to Aberdeen.
If I remember rightly Duncan Shearer was from Caol or Corpach (one of the 2 villages nearby) and when he played for the Mighty Terriers (Huddersfield Town) he was living with a landlady,Mrs.Shaw,100 yards down the road from me in Golcar.
@@bobbyshafto3259 Caol, as was John Macginlay
@@LB1973 That's brilliant for such a small place.
The real danger of being forced into the North Caledonian in the summer with the addition of the new 6th tier. Could see Banks o' Dee taking a few off them in a playoff.
Unless I missed it, I don't remember hearing it in the video - why do they consistently finish bottom of the league but aren't relegated?
There where no relegations back then but this season theirs relegation play-offs.
7 biggest near miss upsets of all time
e.g. Kidderminster vs West Ham
Got the idea cus I recently found out the student football team of the college I go to (University College Dublin) hit the crossbar at Goodison Park in 1984 in the last minute of a European cup winners cup tie and had it gone in UCD would've progressed on away goals having held Everton 0-0 in Ireland. For those who don't know, that Everton side went on to win the 84/85 first division 13 pts ahead of Liverpool
Hi Alfie, there is a documentary on BBC Scotland it's called the fort it's all about fort William football club if you can find it and watch it it's a great insight to what it was like when they was getting smacked 10 - Nill most weeks
Alfie Can you do a documentary on the afc Wimbledon on the nine promotions in eleven years, how they’re a fan own club and how they have a stadium in plough lane now.
The story of they lost the club, how the F A allowed that and won’t allow that anymore.
How they were very close to moving to ireland
How they went up the English football leagues.
It would be a good documentary video if you can do this. #thepeopleschannel
Mon the Fort! They drew their last game 1-1 vs Huntly and recently got a few loanees from Inverness and have a new manager so things are looking up. Just think how good victory will taste when it does come! Top of my football bucket list is to visit Fort William and to see a game. I would live in the area just to see them every week and support the team whatever way I could
No way! Currently binge watching Loki Doki's Fort William save and this pops up. Alfie with the big dub again 👏
They picked up a big point at home to Huntly at the weekend ⚽️
How about 7 sides that play "beautiful" football but with not much succes and 7 sides who play "ugly" football with lot of succes
I am sure Getafe will appear in the ugly football.
Hi Alfie, would really like to see you make a video about another Scottish football team - Vale of Leithen.
The manager sounds like someone who does it for the love. So much respect for him.
Can you make a video on the 7 nations most likely to become 1st time World Cup winners by the end of the 21st century
I always listen to your videos as podcasts lol but I think you would actually make a really good football podcast
Great film, really entertaining. Can I ask why no one has replaced them from tier 6, or they do not go to tier 6? Location?
How do teams get promoted from the north calendonian league that's the question do they apply and if so would they replace the bottom team like Fort William
I've lived in fort William for 20 years and I've still never went to claggan park to watch a game
Alfie, you're a real One!
With the opening up of the Highland League I expect Fort William to be relegated at the end of this season, via the play off system.
Wow! I can't believe you've made a video about (insert rival football club)!
C'MON THE FORT..............keep going lads!! It looks like you will never give up. Well done to all of you involved!
Title: the worst football team in the world
My brain: Tottenham hotspurs
not as many trophies =/= bad team
Fort William 🆚 San Marino
Who will win?
They sound like a good community hub even if they don't win, they play and enjoy it. I used to play for a cricket team and we would get beat every week then one season, we started to win and actually won promotion. We had a lot of us young (at the time) ones come through and start playing which meant we were not half bad. Maybe one day if a few local kids at the Fort may break through and have a few years of better results. Good luck to them.