Wick Academy boss Gary Manson calls for players to aim for Scottish Cup run
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Manager Gary Manson is challenging his Wick Academy players to go out and create new Scottish Cup memories as they begin the road to Hampden against Bo’ness United at Harmsworth Park on Saturday.
In a playing career which spanned over 600 appearances, Manson has played in a number of memorable Scottish Cup runs over 20 years playing service to the club.
Now he is looking for his players to create their own memorable moments in the competition starting with victory against their Lowland League opponents.
Looking back at his playing career, Manson says there were three Scottish Cup matches which stood out for him.
They included the 2–0 first round victory at Spartans in 2012, the 3–1 first round win at Lowland League outfit Dalbeattie Star in 2016 and the 4–4 draw against Brechin City in the third round in 2009.
Manson says the Scottish Cup is a special tournament for Wick Academy, who have not recently gone on to achieve the runs they have in previous years.
However, he says it is their objective tomorrow to progress to the next round and see where it takes them in the tournament.
“We have had some good trips in the past and hopefully we can make Saturday another memorable game in the Scottish Cup,“ said Manson.
It will be a tough ask but we are aiming to get the result that we are looking for.
“I have had a few good memories in the Scottish Cup, but out of them all, the three that stand out are Spartans, Dalbeattie Star and Brechin City.
“A lot of our squad at the moment have not experienced a proper Scottish Cup run or a proper result in the Scottish Cup.
“We beat Musselburgh United last season, but that was to be expected, but we are coming up against a team that play in the Lowland League.
“They are probably a similar standard to us and it will be a good one to win if we do win it.
“If we do win, it will be some players’ first memory of winning in the Scottish Cup, so we are looking for a positive result.”
Sean Campbell and Joe Anderson have both been rated as extremely doubtful for tomorrow’s game. But Manson expects to have one of his strongest squads available in some time for the cup clash.
“The last two weeks have been extreme for our squad,” he said.
“We were nine players short against Rothes and eight players short against Fraserburgh.
“But it is looking better squad wise for the game on Saturday.
“Hopefully all the boys come through and there is no late Covid or injury scares.
“There will be more options on the bench for Saturday’s match.
“Bo’ness United will be a tough game and it will be rated as 50/50, but it is a match, like all matches we play, that we will go into thinking that we can win.”
