Lossiemouth’s James Leslie heads to Japan for work, missing key matches

Lossiemouth faces challenges as key player James Leslie departs for Japan.

Lossiemouth’s James Leslie heads to Japan for work, missing key matches
Lossiemouth FC is set to face a challenging period as their center-back, James Leslie, prepares to leave for Japan. The 23-year-old electrician, who plays for the Coasters, will be absent from the team until the festive season due to a work assignment in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Leslie’s departure comes after the Highland League Cup first-round tie against Deveronvale, leaving the team without one of their key defenders for the next five weekends.

Leslie’s unique opportunity

Leslie expressed his excitement about the opportunity, stating, “On Monday I’m off to Japan to help build a new distillery. It’s a good opportunity to go over.” He was offered multiple trips but chose to take at least one, recognizing the significance of the project. Despite his enthusiasm for the job, he admitted it was disappointing to miss out on playing football during this time. Leslie’s employer, Grants of Dufftown, specializes in constructing distilleries, having previously worked on projects in Japan, Thailand, and Jamaica.

Staying connected to football

While Leslie will be focused on his work in Japan, he is determined to maintain his fitness and connection to football. He revealed that colleagues already in Japan have been playing five-a-side matches twice a week. “I’ll miss a few games so it isn’t ideal from a football perspective, but hopefully the team does well,” he said. With a significant time difference of nine hours, Leslie plans to keep track of Lossiemouth’s matches, waking up in the middle of the night to check scores and updates.

Lossiemouth’s current struggles

As Leslie prepares for his departure, Lossiemouth is struggling in the league, having gone winless in their last six matches. The team currently sits 16th in the table, just two points above the bottom-placed Strathspey Thistle. Leslie remains optimistic about the team’s potential for improvement, stating, “We’re needing a couple of good results to get us going again and hopefully we can get that.” He believes the squad is capable of better performances, despite recent setbacks.

Wick Academy’s Ross Gunn moves to Australia

In a related development, Wick Academy’s midfielder Ross Gunn has also made headlines by moving to Australia. The 23-year-old, who recently featured in a loss against Nairn County, has decided to explore life in Melbourne. Wick’s manager, Gary Manson, acknowledged the impact of Gunn’s departure, noting that it leaves a significant gap in the team. Manson expressed hope that Gunn’s experience in Australia could be life-changing, while also emphasizing the need for other players to step up in his absence.

Mark Macadie returns from injury

Amidst these changes, Wick Academy has welcomed back winger Mark Macadie, who has recovered from a knee injury. After a loan spell at Halkirk United, Macadie made his return as a substitute against Nairn County. Manson highlighted Macadie’s potential to make a significant impact on the team, describing him as a player who can “hurt teams” with his pace and power.