Teenage pair deserve their chance, says Wick Academy manager Manson
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Grant Aitkenhead and Mark Macadie have signed their first contracts at Wick Academy – and manager Gary Manson says the teenage duo fully deserve their chance at Highland League level.
Aitkenhead (18) and Macadie (17) have agreed one-year deals as Manson continues to build his squad for next season and beyond.
The midfield pair both came through the Academy youth system and have already featured in the first team, with Aitkenhead having made 14 appearances and Macadie – younger brother of the club's record scorer Richard – having played 15 times.
“It's good for the boys," Manson said. "They've been in and around the club for a season or maybe two and they've shown up really well.
“They thoroughly deserve their contracts, there's no doubt about that. They're not getting it just because they're young lads and they're from Wick.
“They deserve their chance at Highland League level and I'm sure they'll kick on.
"They've both come through the under-17 set-up as well, so they know all about the travelling and what have you. It's part and parcel of being a Highland League player – if you want to play at that level, you need to be willing to travel.
"It's what we need as well, we need young guys coming through and pushing the more established players.”
The Scorries have already announced contract extensions for goalkeeper Gordon Clark, midfielders Ryan Campbell, Jack Halliday, Ross Allan and Jack Henry and forwards Craig Gunn, Jonah Martens and Alan Hughes, with more signing news expected soon.
We need young guys coming through and pushing the more established players.
Meanwhile, Manson and the rest of the Wick squad are preparing for their three-day fundraising fitness challenge this weekend.
Over three days, from Friday to Sunday, the players will be running, cycling or walking a set number of kilometres – depending on how much has been pledged via an online fundraising platform.
Every £1 donated will have added another kilometre to the overall target, with the money to be divided equally between the club and its chosen charity, Caithness Rural Transport.
The service, part of Wick-based Caithness Voluntary Group, has continued to operate during the coronavirus crisis, taking people for appointments, shopping and prescriptions while adapting to comply with government guidance.
A GoFundMe page opened last week and is due to close at midnight tonight (Thursday). It has already raised well over £1000.
Manson said: "I've spoken to all the boys and they're looking forward to the challenge."
He says he is pleased to be supporting an organisation that provides an important county-wide service.
“We are quite a Caithness-wide squad, covering nearly every corner of the county," Manson pointed out. "Caithness Rural Transport does a great job for the elderly and disabled so I think it's a very worthwhile cause.”
Caithness Rural Transport co-ordinator Coreen Campbell said: "We were delighted to be chosen as the charity receiving the funding and wish to thank the players and committee for selecting us. Good luck to the boys when they undertake the challenge, which may not be an easy task with the amount of donations that have flooded in."
She added: "We have continued to provide our service throughout the pandemic, although the majority of our regular users were in the shielding category. This contribution will help us to continue to serve the people of Caithness.
"Our drivers have all the necessary PPE, and we have a dividing screen fitted to one of our smaller vehicles and are planning fitting these to all vehicles. This may ease the worry for some of the folk that have been shielding and have to get out for medical appointments or for other needs."
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