Portknockie boy Innes McKay watched boyhood heroes Buckie Thistle beat Deveronvale in 2011 Highland League title decider and 13 years on has now signed for the current champions from their Banff neighbours
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When a 10-year-old Innes McKay watched the 2011 Highland League title decider between Buckie Thistle and Deveronvale, he had no idea that he would one day play for both clubs.
Thirteen years on, the lifelong Jags fan has signed for his boyhood heroes having made himself one of north football’s top centre backs over the past three years at Vale.
Portknockie boy McKay can’t wait to pull on the green and white shirt and play for a Buckie side now managed by fellow stopper Lewis MacKinnon.
He is grateful for the chance given to him by ex-Deveronvale boss Craig Stewart to play Highland League, but says it was always his ambition to be a Jags man one day.
His great grandfather and uncle both played for Buckie in the past, and he is thrilled to be carrying on the family tradition.
“I always went to Buckie games to support them,” he said. “I was there on the final day of the season against Vale for the title decider (of the 2010-11 season) and saw them win the league.
“I have always been a fan so it’s a huge thing for me. There’s a lot of Buckie Thistle history in the family as well.
“My uncle Alec Innes played for them for ten years as their goalkeeper, and my great granda (Edmund Duthie) did as well so it’s good to keep it in the family.”
McKay did play football in Buckie before, as after being given his initiation in the Moray welfare league as a teenager with Cullen, he signed for Buckie Rovers juniors and had a brief spell at Deveronside before being snapped up by Stewart at Vale.
“I was three seasons at Vale and they were brilliant to me,” he said. “They gave me a chance at the Highland League and opened the door for me to go and try it out so I owe every thanks to them for that.
“Craig Stewart gave me that chance and he was my only manager there until he left near the end of last season and Grant Noble took over for a few matches.
“Buckie were interested in me last season but I had two years left on my contract so it wasn’t going to happen then.
“This season I expressed my wishes to Vale that I was looking to move on and try and start winning stuff, and they understood that and just wanted to get the right deal for me.
“They said they would let me go. They could have been awkward about that but they were spot on about it, so I’m grateful they allowed me to make the move.”
McKay penned a three-year deal for the league champions and his target is to land his first honours in Highland League football.
“I’m very keen to win things. It’s always been a dream for me to lift a trophy in the Highland League.
“I would love to be a league winner but just to get some silverware is the aim and I’m looking forward to helping them try to do that.”
He knows next season’s derby fixtures against Vale in particular will be interesting as he faces up to his old club for the first time.
McKay is well aware of his new team-mates from encounters between the teams over the past three years, and fellow local boy Marcus Goodall is his closest friend in the camp.
“I know a few of the boys from playing against them but Marcus is a guy I speak to quite a lot, so it will be fine to actually play alongside him instead of trying to kick him!”
He is relishing the opportunity to play for new boss MacKinnon, who replaced Graeme Stewart in the summer having served as his assistant over the decade where Stewart was at the helm.
“Lewis has been a great defender for Buckie for so many years and I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from him and I wish him all the best as being a new manager. I’m sure he will be perfect for the team.”
Buckie’s announcement of McKay’s signing last week was met with a 100 per cent positive reaction from the Jags supporters and the local community on social media.
“I thought I would get good comments being a local loon and I know a lot of folks from Buckie but I didn’t expect that much.
“Everybody seems to be really chuffed so I’m just looking forward to doing it on the pitch now and hopefully make a difference.
“We begin pre-season on Saturday and I can’t wait to meet the squad. I know them all from playing against them for the Vale but I’ve already been welcomed in on the group chat so I’m sure we’ll get along just fine, and I look forward to playing with them.”
McKay is Buckie’s second close season capture, having brought in former Rothes midfielder Fraser Robertson.
Going in the opposite direction, Max Barry has joined League 2 side Peterhead and Scott Adams signed for Formartine United.
