Scorries get ready for season lift off
THE 2012/13 Highland League gets under way tomorrow and Wick Academy manager Davie Kirkwood is quietly confident that this season fans will see the Scorries take flight.
The first match takes Academy to Seafield Park in Grantown-on-Spey to take on Strathspey Thistle.
Academy finished eighth last year compared to the Strathspey’s second-bottom finishing but, on more than one occasion, Wick have failed to take the scalp of a lower-placed side.
However, a successful pre-season campaign will stand Wick in good stead, said Kirkwood. "I think we’ve set a new benchmark with pre-season by taking on Aberdeen, Inverness Caley Thistle and Raith Rovers," he said.
"You want to improve every year that you go on and you want your players to improve week by week and learn little things that they’ve never learned before – and we’ve done that.
"Not taking your foot off the pedal is part of the learning curve from last season and we’ve knocked it on the head."
The Scorries skipper added: "I think that people will see the right Wick Academy this year."
A few knocks ahead of Academy’s North of Scotland Cup game on Tuesday night against Halkirk United gave Kirkwood reason for concern. Throw into the mix a heavy tackle from Michael Steven, which resulted in a red card and a ban for the defender, and there’s potential for any manager to get worried.
However, Kirkwood is calm with Polish striker Lukasz Geruzel, keeper Michael Gray and new-kid-on-the-block James Pickles up for selection.
"We’ll be at full strength," Kirkwood assured the Groat.
"You have to pick your 11 best players for that one game.
"There’s always going to be casualties but every player always has to be match fit and ready to go."
Both times the teams met last year Academy came away with victory but Kirkwood will be making no heavy bets ahead of the 3pm kick-off.
"I know it’s going to be difficult as they are well organised, especially at home," he said. "Strathspey is a hard place to go and come away with a victory."
Jags boss Brian Ritchie is ready for the challenge but admits he rates the current Wick side very highly.
"We are looking forward to playing Wick, especially as we have no injury worries and have 20 players battling for a jersey," he said.
"It’s a really tough opening game for us, as they are the benchmark for us and are the team that we have set our stall out to eventually emulate."