Archives – 1994-95

1st August More than 1200 people come to see Academy play a young St. Johnstone team who were quite impressive in a friendly match, result 2-0 to St. Johnstone. The floodlights were switched on at the end of the game. – very impressive.

6th August First game of a debut Highland League season for Academy. Home game against Cove Rangers, another four-figure crowd attended the game. Both teams received Caithness Glass trophies to mark the occasion. Academy lose an early goal but they manage to create a few chances to equalise but to no avail. Cove Rangers win including to 2 late goals bringing the final score to 3-0. Academy hold a buffet after the match in the Seaforth Club, handing out awards to workers who helped with the ground improvements and to Mrs Margaret Mulraine who laid on the beautiful buffet. Odds of 2000 to 1 for the Academy to win the League.

17th August Away game to Clach in Inverness. Lose 4-2. Goal scorer Tichie Hughes(2). Bus breaks down on the way home, manage to get home courtesy of the Brora Rangers team bus. Arrive back in Wick at 01:30pm.

27th August Away game at Peterhead. A delayed departure due to Club Secretary sleeping in. On arrival in Peterhead the Fire Brigade pass the ground, Committee member Drewie Farquahar comments “Academy are too hot for Peterhead”. Graham Stewart makes his debut in goal for Academy. Result 4-0 for Peterhead.

10th September Home game to Buckie Thistle, lost 3-0.

17th September Home game against Forres Mechanics. The boys bounce back to beat table topping Forres, thanks to a 42nd minute goal from Stewart Sutherland. The Academy records their first win in the Highland League. Result 1-0. The crowd goes wild at the end of the match, partied all night long!

28th September Home game to Brora Rangers. A large crowd sees the first floodlit game at the Harmsworth. After Academy leading 1-0, goal by Alan Murray, Brora gain the upper hand and score 5 goals in the last 5 minutes. Result 5-1 for Brora.

1st October Away game at Lossiemouth. Home team are shocked at our 3-1 away win. Academy goal scorers Alan Murray (2) and Tichie Hughes. What a day for the travelling fans, Academy catering manageress Mrs Patty Miller discovers the delights of “Hot Bovril”.

News 6th October “The Scotsman” newspaper reports that Wick Academy have made a bid of £9,500 for Wick born Gary Farquahar. Brora Rangers reject the bid and Gary joins St. Johnstone for £15,000.

8th October Away to Rothes, Academy aim to keep up the good work. Result 2-0 win for Academy. Goal scorer Alan Murray(2).

12th October Away game against Clach. Win 3-1. Goal scorer Alan Murray (2) and an own goal.

19th October Home game against Keith. Lose 3-0, back down to earth.

22nd October Goalkeeper Graham Stewart signs for Academy after his trial period.

29th October Home match against Fraserburgh. Lose 3-0.

News Collection at half time for the Highland Handicapped Children Centre raised £230. The ladies were decked out in football gear doing the collection.

5th November Away game against Fort William. Lose 2-1. Goal scorer Stewart Sutherland.

12th November Home game against Forres Mechanics. Orcadian Cullen Burns makes his debut. Lose 2-1. Goal Scorer Alan Murray.

19th November Home game against Elgin City. Academy win 2-1. Goal scorer Alan Murray (2).

26th November Away game in Banff against Deveronvale. Mrs Patty Miller is invited to make the boardroom raffle draw, after 3rd attempt she drew her own ticket! Lose match 5-2. Goal scorer Alan Murray and an own goal. Bus breaks down on the home journey, Coach Alan Bremner sings the praises of “Thunderbird” – it’s what all us young guys drink.

Club News The Academy are hoping to bring North a Celtic team to open the new ground facilities. Vice-chairman Malcolm Mackay has been trying to persuade Celtic to take up the invitation. Mrs Pat Grant, as Academy’s main sponsor is also invited to do the honours. A BBC Radio Reporter is to accompany Kirkwall striker Cullen Burns on a flight over the Pentland Firth to take in the action at the next Academy game, for Orkney Radio.

2nd December Home game against Huntly. Academy lose 7-2. Goal scorers Alan Murray and Cullen Burns.

10th December Academy line up second Orkney player Colin Kirkpatrick.

17th December Home game against Deveronvale. Academy win 3-0. Goal Scorers Alan Murray (2) and Stewart Sutherland.

Club News Academy secretary publishes letter in the “Groat” thanking fans for their tremendous support at home and away, with home games average being 700 Academy is the best supported team in the Highland League. English 3rd Division side Preston North End have added their best wishes to Wick Academy in their 1st season at Highland League level. The goodwill message was handed over by exiled Wicker Alan MacLeod and it took the form of the Preston N.E. club pennant signed by the President and also soccer legend Tom Finney. The pennant was accepted by committee member Derek Bremner.

24th December Away game against Nairn County. Academy win 4-2, Academy came back from Nairn with a hard earned victory, but the “scorries” were not “flying high” and indeed struggled to make any impact for much of the game. The 3 points were won courtesy of 4 stunning goals by Tichie Hughes (2), Stewart Sutherland, Alan Murray and 2 amazing penalty saves within a minute by 2 different takers by keeper Stewart for Academy.

31st December Home game against Nairn County attendance 800. Result 2-2 draw, Goals scored by Alan Murray and Tichie Hughes. Game played in blizzard conditions more suited to the artic region. Large crowd attended a great feat of endurance and it showed the impact that the Academy have made. Floodlights went out at half time. Co-manager Pat Miller gives some advice to his goalkeeper Graham Stewart on his way back home to Tain. “Ye’d better bring a gansey wi ye for –e-Fort William game” Graham replied “If I knew what it was I would”.

7th January Away game against Fort William. Academy beaten 4-0.

News Wick Academy Fanzine starts, a brainchild of Stuart Crowther. Celtic unable to accept invitation to come north, manager Tommy Burns writes and apologises to the club. Alan Murray away to Aberdeen for trials. Ross County manager Bobby Wilson also keeping tabs on the Academy striker.

21st January Home game against Clach. Result 4-0 to Clach, Academy pitch liner Derek Bremner had to do the lines on Friday Night by torchlight as there was a problem with the power supply. Hydro Electric men (Trevor’s mob) were working non-stop to trace the fault, the fault was resolved but the men stayed in attendance during the match in case of any problems.

28th January No game.

4th February N.O.S. Cup Away match against Forres Mechanics. Academy beaten 1-0.

News “Scorries” it’s official. The fans at the club have adopted the scorrie symbol, after retired solicitor Alistair Cleary suggested the name “The Scorries” in a letter to the local paper.

11th February No Game.

18th February Away game against Elgin City. Academy get a drubbing, beaten 5-0.

News Richard Clarkson and Stewart Sutherland have joined keeper Graham Stewart and Darren Pullen in signing club contracts. Aberdeen express interest in playing a friendly match in Wick before the end of the season.

25th February Away at Keith. Beaten 2-0 by the Kyrroch Park side.

3rd March News Academy clinch transfer deal with Glasgow Rangers. Background – Committee member Colin Campbell, a Ranger season ticket holder, got wind that Rangers were replacing their seats. Phone call to Ibrox confirms that seats are available as they are surplus to requirements. Academy deputation consisting of Vice-Chairman Malcolm Mackay and committee members Colin Campbell and Derek Bremner sped south by car on the Monday morning. On arrival they were given the guided tour of the stadium and they managed to purchase 400 seats. Seats were to be transported North and be at the Harmsworth Park that night – transport via Norfrost Ltd of Castletown. Falkirk coming to Wick on Wednesday March 22nd.

News Martin Gunn has appendix operation and is out of remainder of the season.

8th March Academy play Wick Thistle in a charity match under floodlights with Thistle Centenary Cup up for grabs. Thistle win 1-0, goal scorer Alec Reid, attendance at game 300. Young Lung Wong played for Academy, collection raised £282 for the Julie Wheatcroft fund.

11th March Away match against Fraserburgh. Result a 0-0 draw.

19th March Home game against Peterhead. Peterhead win 3-2, scorers for Academy are Alan Murray and Cullen Burns.

News Striker Alan Murray turns down Academy signing offer. Wick postman, former Academy goalkeeper and ground improvements helper Ian Sutherland wins Award of “Personality of the Year” in the Highlands and Islands area.

25th March Home game against Lossiemouth. Last home game of the season, Academy aiming for a final fling. Result Academy beaten 6-0. After the match ended the supporters player of the year award was presented to Richard Clarkson.

1st April Away game against Huntly. Huntly are the reigning Highland League Champions and they are chasing the title again. Academy beaten 3-0. Local businessman Ronnie Fraser runs a free bus to Huntly for Academy supporters.

15th April Home game against Lossiemouth. Lose 6-0.

News Rumours abound around Harmsworth Park that changes are to be made at the head of team matters at Academy. Co-manager John MacDonald dismisses any talk of changes.