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Wick striker Gunn tips former club Elgin City to step up


By Alan Hendry

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Goal celebrations after Craig Gunn (left) tucked away his second penalty in Wick's 3-1 extra-time win against Musselburgh Athletic in a Scottish Cup tie in December. Picture: Mel Roger
Goal celebrations after Craig Gunn (left) tucked away his second penalty in Wick's 3-1 extra-time win against Musselburgh Athletic in a Scottish Cup tie in December. Picture: Mel Roger

Former Elgin City hitman Craig Gunn is tipping his old club to secure their first promotion in 21 years of Scottish League football.

The Black and Whites had got themselves handily placed in the League Two play-off places before all football below Championship level was suspended in January.

And Gunn reckons this could finally be their year to make the step up – assuming the season can be played to a conclusion after restrictions are eased.

“It's a good club,” said Gunn (33), who spent eight years as a prolific scorer at Borough Briggs under managers Ross Jack, Barry Wilson and Jim Weir. “They've got a good chairman and directors.

"The managers that came in seemed to like what I was doing, so that made it more enjoyable. It was a good time I had at Elgin.

“They're in a good position just now and they've strengthened again. They've got a few boys signed to long-term contracts, so I'm sure if they keep performing the way they are they'll be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.”

Craig Gunn in action during his time at Elgin. He scored 128 goals in 316 appearances for the club.
Craig Gunn in action during his time at Elgin. He scored 128 goals in 316 appearances for the club.

Gunn scored 128 times in 316 appearances for Elgin between 2009 and 2017, becoming the first player to achieve more than a century of goals for the club since they secured Scottish League status in 2000.

Now back for a second spell at Wick Academy, Gunn is hoping his home-town club can become a force in the Highland League again under manager Gary Manson.

Gunn netted three of Wick's six goals in the four competitive matches they managed to fit in before the shortened 2020/21 season was brought to a halt.

"I got myself quite fit pre-season," he said. "Once you get a couple of goals the confidence comes.

"It was a good start for me. We got the cup win and we grew in confidence from there, but then we were back to lockdown again.

"Boxing Day was the last game we played [the 2-0 Scottish Cup defeat at Cowdenbeath], so it has been kind of frustrating. We don't know when it's going to be back, or even if it's going to be back.

“Now we've started the season it would be good to get it finished but there are games to fit in with not many Saturdays left, so there could be a few midweeks thrown in. It's a pity it has just been stop-start."


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