Sad week for Halkirk ends with victory over Watten
Billy Manson was at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts as Halkirk turned out for their first match since the death of their widely respected former player and manager.
A minute’s silence was observed before the second division fixture against Watten at Recreation Park in honour of Mr Manson, who passed away at the age of 76. Halkirk went on to win the game 2-1.
Michael Bremner, player/co-manager of the Halkirk summer team, enjoyed success in winter football with Halkirk United as a player and manager. Mr Manson was a stalwart of both clubs.
“When I played for Halkirk United, Billy was always there and then he asked me to be manager for a while,” Bremner said.
“It has not been a great week. It has been quite sad. I’d known he was unwell, but it was still a bit of a shock when it happened.

“He was great for Halkirk United. He kind of kicked it off and started it, and he was the main force behind the new pitch. He did a lot for Halkirk.
“And with Halkirk summer team I didn’t realise he had won so much back in the day.”
Mr Manson was manager when Halkirk twice won the Highland Amateur Cup, in 1982 and 1985, and they were runners-up on two other occasions. Their multiple trophies included four county league titles between 1979 and 1987.
Halkirk are back in the county league this year for the first time since before the pandemic. They have won three and lost three of their six games so far in Caithness AFA Division Two and are through to the second round of the Highland Amateur Cup after a stunning 8-3 success at Lochinver earlier this month.
“We said at the start we had no expectations,” Bremner said. “We wanted to get a team, and it turned out that we got quite a decent team.
“We’ve got quite a good squad but some nights we’re short, like everybody – missing boys. That has happened on the nights when we’ve been beaten, unfortunately.
“On the nights when we’re winning, we’re looking good. And obviously we were boosted by our great win in the Highland Amateur Cup.
“We had a full-strength squad that day and everybody was at it from the start.
“We’d heard a lot about Lochinver. I know a few of their players from the North Caley but they’ve got a few other guys that have come in, so we didn’t know what to expect at all.
“We hit them hard and hit them early and it was good.”
Halkirk’s second-round opponents next weekend are Stornoway Athletic. Technically it is a home tie for Halkirk, but it will be played in neutral Ullapool.
Thursday night’s match against Watten kicked off half an hour late as the teams waited for a referee to arrive.
Halkirk went two up in the first half thanks to a 30-yard free kick by Ryan Forbes and a goal from Shaun MacDonald after a good build-up. Watten’s Shane Honeyman reduced the deficit in the second period.
Bremner has been impressed by Keiss, who went eight points clear at the top of the second division after beating Swifts 6-0.
“We’ve played them twice and they’ve beaten us twice and it was well deserved,” he said. “They’re a good young team and they’ve got a lot of pace up front.”
Results – CAFA Division Two: Acks 2, Pentland 1; Halkirk 2, Watten 1; Keiss 6, Swifts 0.
Fixtures – Friday, May 24 – Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Thistle; John O’Groats v Wick Groats; Staxigoe United v Pentland United (all 7.15pm).
Tuesday, May 28 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, first round: Castletown v Pentland United; High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Groats; Keiss v Lybster; Swifts v John O’Groats; Wick Thistle v Staxigoe United (all 7.15pm).
Wednesday, May 29 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, first round: Top Joe’s v Halkirk; Watten v Pentland (both 7.15pm). Acks have a bye.
Friday, May 31 – Division One: John O’Groats v Staxigoe United. Division Two: Keiss v Acks (both 7.30pm).