We
made our best ever start to this year's league campaign winning our first two
games against Strathspey and Buckie. We secured a memorable win in the Scottish
Cup first round when we visited Cup specialists Spartans and we beat them 2-0
on their own patch. The second round set up a mammoth journey to the boarders
to play Berwick Rangers. We missed a penalty in that game and as it looked as
if a nil each draw was on the cards Berwick scored with a really soft penalty
of their own in injury time to break our hearts.
Shortly
afterwards manager Davie Kirkwood resigned and joined Brora Rangers, so Tichie
picked up the reigns as caretaker manager.
In
the North of Scotland Cup wins against Halkirk, Clachnacuddin and Brora fired
us into our second North of Scotland Cup final, this time against Nairn County.
That game was a cracker. Played at Grant Park, where another massive Academy
support turned out to support the boys. The match was evenly contested with
Academy having several chances in the final 10 minutes to win the game, but it
ended 1-1, and Nairn scored the winner in the first period of extra time to
lift the silver-ware.
We were delighted that Barry Wilson joined us shortly
afterwards and Tichie agreed to stay on as his assistant. We hope that they form
a partnership that will last for many years to come and they bring us the
success that this Club and its supporters thoroughly deserve.
Great
league form continued, including the fantastic 7-0 win away to Buckie Thistle two
weeks ago, and we find ourselves second top of the table going into the double
header derby games with Brora Rangers. I hope that Academy fans that attend
both games enjoy the occasion and I'd like to ask that you please direct your
energies into supporting ‘e Scorries and help the boys focus on doing their
best in both matches.
This has been our best sustained run in the top half of
the table since we joined the league in 1994, and we boast a current unbeaten
home record to be proud of, having gone over a year and 17 games unbeaten in
the league at Harmsworth Park. An amazing achievement I am sure you will all
agree.
Our
youth setup through Caithness United who run our Under 15's, and our Under 17's
managed by James Robertson have gone from strength to strength, and all of the
coaches who have been involved in bringing through our current batch of first
team players should pat themselves on the back for a job well done.
The
running of the Club and work on and around the Harmsworth Park is never-ending,
and our loyal band of committee members and helpers deserve massive credit, as
without them the Club could not continue to prosper.
The
support we have had from our sponsors has also been over-whelming, and as you
know we are delighted to have recently announced a 2 1\2 year main sponsorship deal
with Scotty Youngson of the Comm Bar Thurso. Our new tops with the Comm Bar
logo are home, and new signage around the park will go up within the
next few weeks. We'd not be the force we are today without our sponsors' support, so thank
you to everyone involved.
Finally
to our supporters. What can I say!! You guys amaze me as no matter where we
play you turn up in great numbers. We have one of the biggest gates in the SHFL
and the support you give to the team is first class. The numbers that turn out
week-on-week to our league games, and to our Cup matches is superb, and your
support really does make a difference to the boys.
I
personally wish to thank everyone at the Club; the Committee, ground-staff, the
girls in the tea-hut, as well as the Management Team, all of our coaches,
players, sponsors and supporters, for your support and hard work during 2012 to
make my life as chairman a lot easier. From all at Wick Academy we wish you a
very prosperous and happy New Year and look forward to your continued support
in 2013.
Colin
Stewart
Chairman, Wick Academy FC
