Author of From Barcelona to Buckie Thistle impressed with close-knit Wick Academy
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AN author who travelled all the way from the south coast of England to scour the length and breadth of the Highland League said that Wick Academy fans are among the most dedicated he has met.
Southampton-based Mat Guy has released a book entitled From Barcelona to Buckie Thistle which takes a look at Scotland's leading non-SPFL division as well as other "roads less travelled" in the world of football.
In the Highland League he found a set-up that is very competitive, with passionate supporters and an environment that has helped a number of players move on to a higher level.
His research trip to Wick near the end of last season saw the Scorries involved in a 2-2 draw against Keith.
Goals from Michael Selfridge and Craig MacAskill had given Keith a 2-0 lead after only five minutes before Marc Macgregor came off the bench to pull one back with 15 minutes left and then fire in a superb long-range effort with the last kick of the game.
Of his Harmsworth Park experience, Mat said: "Wick Academy were possibly the closest-knit club I've come across.
"The fans and volunteers at the club are very dedicated and very supportive of their team.
"They are also very appreciative of the players who they know take time off work and are away from their families to play away fixtures that always involve long return-trip journeys.
"A case in point is the game I attended against Keith where the main striker was on the bench and not starting because he went off with some friends to Belfast the week before to watch a big darts tournament.
"If someone playing in the top end of club football had done that, he'd be pilloried by the supporters.
"Because of the players here playing on a part-time basis and giving up so much time beforehand to play away fixtures, the fans were more tolerant of him having a week off and cheered him when he came on as a substitute. He duly scored two goals.
"Regarding Wick itself, I found the trip to be my favourite when researching the book – a lovely town with friendly people who were very welcoming to this random stranger. Also the strong sense of community within the town was lovely."
My wife was fine with what I was doing. She would say 'as long as you don't drag me along, then off you go'.
Mat admitted that for someone based in the south of England to haul himself on a regular basis to the north of Scotland did raise a few eyebrows.
He added: "I work in an independent cinema in Southampton and my colleagues would often shake their heads in disbelief at my plans for the weekend.
"My wife was fine with what I was doing. She would say 'as long as you don't drag me along, then off you go'.
"I've always had an interest in non-league football and the Highland League appealed to me as my nan was from the north of Scotland.
"Before settling down in Wiltshire, she lived in Nairn, Forres, Aberdeen and Banchory so I felt that exploring the Highland League would be a nice tie-in with my family."
Mat made it to all but a few of the Highland League grounds, while the book also covers his experiences in some of Europe's "minnow" football nations. He says in his introduction: "The mini premier leagues of San Marino and Andorra, and the absence of any league at all in Liechtenstein due to insufficient numbers, will assist the Highland League in proving a point that the beautiful game instils just as much magic and passion among the lesser lights as it does at the very top."
- Barcelona to Buckie Thistle: Exploring Football's Roads Less Travelled, by Mat Guy, is published by Edinburgh-based Luath Press (£12.99, softback).
