500 Games and Still Counting
Gary Manson took the field wearing the captain's armband
last Wednesday night for the Forres Mechanics match and referee David Watt's
whistle for the kick off signalled the start of Gary's 500th competitive game
for Wick Academy. Substituted half way through the second half, Gary left the
field to a standing ovation.
After the game team manager Gordon Connelly presented Gary
with a bottle of Old Pulteney (see photo). Gary's father, long-serving committee
man Dennis Manson was standing just out of camera range ready to ‘take care' of
the bottle and its precious contents.
Fast forward six days and Gary was on the bench against
Inverness Caley Thistle and came on in the 84th minute for game number 501.
Gary's debut at Harmsworth Park on 5th August 2000 was a
memorable one. With caretaker manager Ian Munro in charge for the first time,
Academy beat Cove Rangers 1-0. The value of this win became clear as Cove
Rangers recovered to win the Highland League championship. Now today we may see
Gary-Gaz or Gazza to his team mates- make appearance 502.
Congratulations from everyone at Wick Academy, Gary.
We look forward to seeing you stretch the record game by
game and hopefully you'll even get to taste the whisky one day!
