Wick Academy set for three friendlies in eight days ahead of Highland League season
Wick Academy’s final preparations for the new Highland League campaign will involve three friendlies in eight days, all at Harmsworth Park.
The Scorries take on North Caledonian League champions Invergordon this Saturday (1pm), then they have a rearranged match against a young Inverness Caledonian Thistle side on Wednesday (7pm) before welcoming a Ross County XI on Saturday, July 19 (1pm).
Academy are away to Deveronvale on the opening day of the league season on Saturday, July 26.
Manager Gary Manson says pre-season has been going well.
“We’ve got three games coming up in a week which will get the boys right up to speed for the first game of the season,” he said.
“They know what pre-season is all about now. It’s hard work but they’ll feel the benefits of it come the start of the season.
“The only downside was we took a very inexperienced young squad over to Orkney and the weather conditions spoiled that game completely, so it was almost a wasted friendly for us. It was ridiculously windy.”
Academy won that game 2-1 in Dounby.
Meanwhile, Ross Suttar is returning to the Scorries’ coaching team.
Academy have been drawn away to Ross County in the second round of this season’s North of Scotland Cup. The tie is scheduled for Wednesday, August 20.
Wick eased past Invergordon in last season’s North of Scotland Cup before being edged out by Brora Rangers, who grabbed a stoppage-time goal to win 1-0 at Dudgeon Park.
The last two winners will meet in the first round of this year’s competition with holders Brora away to Nairn County, who lifted the trophy in 2023/24.
Lossiemouth visit Caley Thistle in the other first-round match, with the winners at home to Strathspey Thistle.
No clubs from the North Caledonian League are taking part.
North of Scotland Cup draw – Round one (Wednesday, August 6): Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Lossiemouth; Nairn County v Brora Rangers.
Second round (Wednesday, August 20): Clachnacuddin v Nairn or Brora; Forres Mechanics v Rothes; Caley Thistle or Lossiemouth v Strathspey Thistle; Ross County v Wick Academy.