‘I am wrecked’: The day a 48-year-old goalie became a cup final hero
Highland Amateur Cup final, August 17
When 17-year-old goalkeeper Michael Gray played his part in Pentland United’s Highland Amateur Cup triumph in 1993, little did he know that he’d be between the sticks again more than three decades later as the Stabbies secured the trophy for a record ninth time.
By now 48 and in the role of co-manager, Gray didn’t particularly want to play in the 2024 final against Avoch at Harmsworth Park. However, he was forced to put himself in the starting line-up as regular keeper Owen Gordon was ruled out with a foot injury and it had proved impossible to bring in an emergency replacement.
Gray not only played but turned out to be the hero of the day, saving a penalty in the second half when the Stabbies were a goal down and in need of inspiration. Suddenly the game was transformed, United’s tails were up, and goals by Sean Campbell and James Murray put them ahead.
Then, in stoppage time, Gray produced a flying fingertip save to keep the score at 2-1 and ensure the trophy would again be going back to Dunnet.
Michael’s post-match quotes were almost as memorable as his exploits between the sticks that day. After the trophy presentation, I asked him how he felt and he replied: “I am wrecked.”
He added: “The save at the end, my calf started seizing up and I wasn’t sure if I’d get up again. My back’s sore… I’m an old man, officially!”
Gray was painfully aware that 31 years had passed since his first appearance in a Highland Amateur Cup final.
“The gap is bigger than the age of most of the players in the team,” he said. “It’s quite scary when you think of that!”
I’ve chosen that as the most memorable local football moment I witnessed during 2024. And, at the risk of alienating readers of a non-Stabbies disposition, Pentland United are also responsible for the second entry on my list.
County league title decider, August 6
Requiring a point away to your closest rivals to make sure of the league title… then doing just that with an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time, despite being down to 10 men... It doesn’t get much more dramatic than that.
The Stabbies were 2-1 down to Wick Groats at the Upper Bignold Park, with the full-time whistle imminent and the first division title race looking set to continue until the last round of fixtures. Then man-in-the-mask Sean Campbell accepted a pass from Cameron Montgomery and fired a first-time shot high into the net to tie it up at 2-2.
It was Campbell’s second of the night and, as I noted at the time, having a broken nose hadn’t affected his ability to sniff out opportunities in front of goal.
“It feels good to finally get over the line,” Sean told me after the final whistle, as he took off his protective face covering and headed off to join his jubilant team-mates.
Steven Cup final, August 3
Being restricted to clubs in the second tier of the Caithness amateur league, the Steven Cup doesn’t quite have the prestige of the other county knockout competitions. But it offers a chance of silverware to teams that are not in the limelight as much as others and may not even be in the hunt for promotion.
And the 2024 final turned out to be a classic, one that will be remembered for a remarkable fightback culminating in an extra-time winner – with a wonder strike and a red card along the way. Acks took the glory that day in Lybster, beating Keiss 4-3.
Acks scored first but Keiss looked to have one hand on the trophy when a shot by Tony Miller from inside the centre circle put them 3-1 up early in the second half.
The Thurso side refused to give up, though, and took the game to extra time before sealing victory with Harvey Labor’s header four minutes from the end. Keiss were down to 10 men by then.
Player/manager Kyle Innes praised the “fantastic attitude” of his Acks team-mates. “It’s always great when you manage to fight back,” he said after the trophy presentation.
Keiss would go on to become second division champions and secure a return to the top flight.
Academy too good for title-chasing Buckie, March 23
Wick Academy’s best form of 2023/24 came in the closing three months of the season, when they won more than twice as many games as they had done in the rest of the campaign.
The 3-1 victory over title-chasing Buckie Thistle on a blustery day in March was the standout performance, one that extended the Scorries’ unbeaten run at Harmsworth Park to six matches.
Marc Macgregor and Kyle Henderson scored in the first half, the latter direct from a corner (and yes, he meant it). When Macgregor added another with four minutes to go, the points were well and truly safe – and it didn’t really matter that the Jags promptly pulled a goal back.
Buckie went on to win seven of their remaining eight games, drawing the other, to clinch the title on goal difference from Brechin City – which underlined just how good Academy had been that day.
Anglers show their togetherness, December 14
The fifth and final memorable moment comes from the second-last game I attended in 2024, Halkirk United against Bonar Bridge in the North Caledonian League.
When the league leaders (at any level of the game) come from behind to go comfortably 4-1 up at home to a team in the bottom half of the table, then add a fifth for good measure with a few minutes left, you don’t expect the goal celebrations to amount to much – maybe a fleeting handshake or two, or a cursory high-five.
However, when substitute Ally Mackintosh lashed in his unstoppable free kick to round off the scoring, there was such an outpouring of joy that you’d think the Anglers had just won the World Cup. Young Ally, grinning from ear to ear, was held aloft by his delighted team-mates like Pelé or Maradona. In a photo I took, you could even see the linesman smiling as he ran back to the halfway line.
For me, the reaction to Mackintosh’s goal that day said a lot about the team spirit created by Ewan McElroy and his coaches. “He has trained as well as anyone,” the manager said afterwards as we chatted outside the pavilion. “If anyone in this club deserves a goal, it is certainly him.”
Halkirk United go into 2025 very much in title contention. That kind of togetherness will stand them in good stead for the challenges ahead.
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