Manson Clocks Up 600 Appearances For Wick Academy
Gary Manson took to the field in last Saturday's game against
visitors Deveronvale and clocked up his 600th competitive appearance
for Wick Academy. His 600 games includes 545 starts and 55 appearances as a
substitute, and he has chipped in with 43 goals. He is pictured following a
presentation made to him after the game, photograph courtesy of Alan Hendry.
This is Gary's 19th season at the club. He made
his debut on the 5th August 2000 in a game at Harmsworth Park
against Cove Rangers, which the Scorries won 1-0. He was chosen as the supporters'
player of the year at the end of last season. Interviewed by Alan Hendry after
Saturday's game Gary looked back at his time with the club and said:
"In the main it has been enjoyable.
"At the start of my career we weren't as good a side as we
are now so it was a bit of a struggle in the early days. We were generally
finishing about fifth bottom or sixth bottom, but now we're pushing for top six
if we can.
"There's a bit of a difference and I've seen a lot of
changes – it's night and day from what it was when I started.
"I'm up to 43 goals now. If I can get to 50 before I finish
I'll be happy."
Manson, an assistant project manager at Dounreay, may be
edging towards the twilight of his Highland League career but he is as fit as
ever and is not looking to call it a day quite yet.
"We'll see," he said. "I just take it year by year. I'll see
if I'm still enjoying it and have still got the desire. I still think I'm fit
enough and still think I'm contributing enough to the team every week.
"It's not just what the fans see on a Saturday. It's the
training twice a week in all weathers, coming through from Thurso every Tuesday
and Thursday, dodging hailstones and snow, and it'll be blowing a gale.
"I'll see if the motivation and enjoyment is still there at
the end of the season and we'll see what happens."
Congratulations Gary on reaching this magnificent
milestone in your career.
