Wick manager Manson tells of 'mixed emotions' over past encounters with Highland League newcomers Brechin
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Wick Academy manager Gary Manson says he has "mixed emotions" over his previous encounters with Highland League newcomers Brechin City.
The Angus side became the 18th Highland League club after dropping down from the Scottish Professional Football League at the end of last season. It will mean another long trip for the Scorries, but Manson has no problems with that and says it will be a new experience for most of his players.
Wick's league fixtures against Brechin will bring back memories of the two Scottish Cup third-round ties between the teams in November and December 2009. After a dramatic 4-4 draw at Harmsworth Park in front of 1217 fans, Brechin – then in Scotland's third tier and managed by Jim Duffy – won 4-2 in a delayed replay.
“I like going to different grounds and playing different teams, like in the Scottish Cup, so I'm happy enough with them joining," Manson said.
“There are a few still in the squad that played against Brechin in 2009 but it'll be a new experience for most of them. It is a long journey for us, but we're used to long journeys.
“I heard that Brechin were angling to get into the Lowland League. Someone told me there are four or five teams closer to them in the Highland League than the closest team in the Lowland League.
“It'll be a complete unknown how they're going to shape up for their first game. I know a lot of their players are central belt based, so I'm guessing that's why they wanted to go into the Lowland League.
“I would imagine there will be a lot of new faces in their squad.”
As for those Scottish Cup ties 12 years ago, Manson recalled: “Certainly the first game was a cracker. My lasting memory of that was disappointment at the end because we were so close to beating a team who in nowadays' terms would have been League One, so it would have been a big scalp for us at home to beat them.
“We were 4-2 up with about a quarter of an hour to play. I have mixed emotions from that game because we played so well and we took a good team the distance and then just had a bit of a late collapse.
“It was a heavy, heavy pitch that day, I remember. It must have sapped our energy and they managed to take advantage with a couple of late goals.”
The replay at Glebe Park was scheduled for the following Saturday but was postponed at a late stage because of a waterlogged pitch. The game went ahead the following midweek, with Brechin winning 4-2.
“Again we gave a really good account of ourselves," Manson said. "They were a good team – they had Rory McAllister in his pomp back then, a top striker, and Charlie King was a good player. We still ran them really close."
Brechin, who were defeated by Lowland League champions Kelty in the pyramid play-offs, this week appointed former Northern Ireland international Andy Kirk as manager. He had been in charge of the women's team at Hearts.
That came after former Scotland and Hearts manager Craig Levein joined the club as an adviser to the board.
Related stories:
- Wick Academy to kick off new Highland League season with trip to Forres
- It's all about quality rather than quantity for Wick manager ahead of Highland League campaign
