Forres Mechanics FC through the years – 40 of the best images of the Can-Cans
The Highland League club was founded in 1884 are one of only two original teams to play in the Highland League since its first season in 1893.
Dec 13, 2025 - 08:40
Forres Mechanics celebrate following their win in the 2004 North of Scotland Cup Final over Clach. Image: Sandy McCook.
Forres Mechanics are the latest Highland League team to feature in our ‘through the years’ series.
The Can-Cans were founded in 1884 are one of only two original teams to play in the Highland League since its first season in 1893 along with Clachnacuddin.
Forres play their home games at Mosset Park and have won the Highland League title on two occasions – in 1985-86 and 2011-12.
They have won the Highland League Cup on seven occasions, most recently in 2009-10.
The Cans won the North of Scotland Cup for the ninth time this season by beating Clach 3-2 in October.
We have trawled through the DC Thomson archives to bring you some of the best images of Forres from through the years.
The Forres Mechanics side which won the North of Scotland Cup in 1967. Back row (left to right) – Jamieson, Watson, Macdonald, McCall, Main, McIntosh. Front – Porter, Whyte, Thom, Duncan, Stephen.
Jubilant team members and supporters chair Forres keeper Ian McDonald after his team’s victory over Ross County in the North of Scotland Cup final on 1 April 1967. This was the keeper’s last game for his side, as he left after soon to take up a new post in Stornoway.
The Forres Mechanics side pictured on 1 August 1968. Back row – Porter, Duncan, Mackie, Taylor, Main, Crawford, and coach Jack Dingwall. Front – Allan, Ross, Slater, Munro, Roy, Mackenzie.
The Forres Mechanics team pictured on 22 November 1969 men who were gearing up for Scottish Cup action the following month. Back (left to right) – Hazel, Porter, Strachan, Archibald, Crawford, Meldrum, McHardy. Front – McLean, Fraser, Stuart, Miller, Buchan.
Forres Mechanics’ new-look team who were unbeaten in the Highland League, pictured on 24 August 1970. Back row – left to right – Hazel, Fraser, Porter, Strachan, Archibald, Meldrum, Crawford. Front row – Munro, Craig, McHardy, Wright, Buchan.
Forres Mechanics pictured on August 1972. Back row (left to right) – Anderson, MacGregor, Soutar, Stuart, Macdonald, W. Fraser, Collie. Front – D. Fraser, Slater, Mackay, N. Fraser, Munro, Crawford.
Forres Mechanics pictured in 1974. Back row (left to right) – Young, MacGregor, Crawford, Ross, Bruce, Fraser, Hughes, Cuthbert. Front – Munro, Soutar, McKay, Morrison, Monaghan.
Ready to rise to the occasion…Forres manager Bryan Thomson and players Jim Crawford, Doug Will, Jim Guyan and John Law at a training session in Aberdeen in 1976.
Forres Mechanics line up for a team picture in 1982. Back row (left to right) – Thain, Thomson, Winton, Hall, Cameron, Cardno, Mackintosh, Taylor. Front – Roger, Douglas, Gordon, McCulloch, Fraser.
1984 Highland League Cup winners Forres Mechanics: Back row (left to right) – Harry McFadden (coach), Renwick, Walker, Winton, Clark, Mackintosh, Valentine, Cardno, Minty, Alex Gordon (assistant manager). Front – Rodger, Lee, Dunbar, McCulloch, Cameron.
Forres Mechanics player Gordon Winton receives the man of the match award from Mr Campbell Ward, Tennents Caledonian Brewers Personnel Director, on 23 September 1984.
And it’s Bobby Clark to the rescue again for Forres as he thwarts this Buckie Thistle attack. A picture from the 1-0 win for Forres against Buckie Thistle in the Highland League Cup final on 23 September 1984.
That winning feeling…Celebrations for the Forres Mechanics players and officials after their Tennent’s Highland League Cup final triumph in September 1984.
Forres captain Raymond Cardno receives the Tennents Highland League Cup from Mr Campbell Ward, TCB Personnel Director after Forres had beaten Buckie Thistle in the final at Elgin.
The Forres Mechanics squad pictured on 28 July 1992.
The Forres Mechanics team pictured on 5 August 1993.
The Forres Mechanics team in 1998. Back row from left- Craig Reid, Steven MacDonald, David Munro, Martin Murphy, Gary Watt, Kevin Walker, Paul MacKenzie, Michael Sanderson, Scott MacKenzie, Colin Mitchell.<br />Front from left-Willie Watt, Assistant Manager, Sammy Leonce, Gary Watt, Gary Robertson, David Milroy, manager, Kevin Craig, Brian Minty, Charlie Brown, Chris MacRae, and Willie McLean, Physio.
Forres Mechanics celebrate their 1-0 Highland League Cup final victory over Keith. Image: Duncan Brown.
Forres Mechanics celebrate another Highland League Cup final victory. Image: Duncan Brown.
Forres’ outgoing secretary, Campbell ‘Cherry’ Fraser (L) hands over to David Macdonald at Mosset Park in 2001.
Forres Mechanics’ new signing Mike Noble, left, with manager Fraser Kellas in 2001.
Baker Lewis Maclean, with his special edition, Forres Mechanics cakes in 2002.
Celebration time for Forres Mechanics score their opening goal against Deveronvale in the 2002 Highland League Cup final.
Forres Mechanics celebrate after triumphing over Deveronvale and retaining the Highland League Cup in 2002. Image: Bobby Nelson.
Forres Mechanics celebrate their 2002 Highland League Cup success. Image: Bobby Nelson.
Forres Mechanics striker Charlie Brown at work at Moray Coast Producers in 2004.
Goal scorers Neil Whyte (left) and Scott Matheson of Forres Mechanics celebrate following their win in the North of Scotland Cup final over Clach on 30 October 2004. Image: Sandy McCook.
Forres Mechanics celebrate following their win in the 2004 North of Scotland Cup final over Clach. Image: Sandy McCook.
Forres player Graeme Grant clears the ball against Huntly in 2005. Image: Kami Thomson.
Forres manager Steve Paterson in the dugout at Huntly’s Christie Park in 2005. Image: Kami Thomson.
Forres Mechanics new signings, left to right; Craig MacMillan, Justin Rogers, Lewis MacKinnon, Mike Sanderson, Marco De Barros, Hamish Munro and Dave McGinlay. Far right manager Steve Paterson. Picture by Anna Hellberg, August 2 2005.
Forres players celebrate with captain Neil Whyte after he scored against Cove Rangers in the Scottish Qualifying Cup match in 2005. Image: Colin Rennie.
The Forres team celebrate a Charlie Brown goal against Cove Rangers in 2005. Image: Colin Rennie.
Forres Mechanics goalkeeper Stuart Knight who was studying at Inverness College in 2008. Image: Sandy McCook.
Matthew Fraser celebrates his goal for Forres against Rothes in the Highland Leagaue Cup final in 2010. Image: David Whittaker-Smith.
The Forres players celebrate their Highland League Cup success with their fans in 2010. Image: David Whittaker-Smith.
Charlie Rowley, manager of Forres Mechanics, in 2011.
Substitute Gary Tweedie of Forres celebrates his goal against Irvine Meadow in the first round of the Scottish Cup in 2011. Image: Sandy McCook.
Garry Tweedie celebrates his hat-trick for Forres Mechanics against Cove Rangers.
Neil Whyte celebrates scoring for Forres Mechanics in 2012. Image: Kenny Elrick.
