‘I might ditch football and pick up the mic’ - Buckie Thistle player’s spine-tingling rendition of Adele song ‘Make You Feel My Love’ for club initiation on team bus goes viral
“When you see a big centre half, the last thing you expect is for him to be able to hold a tune together - so they were all shocked.”
The words of Buckie Thistle centre back Innes McKay, whose version of Adele classic ‘Make You Feel My Love’ for a club initiation song has captured nationwide attention.
When a video of McKay’s impressive vocal performance on the team bus was posted on the club’s Facebook page, it went viral.
It was heard across the UK and beyond when it was featured on Sky Sports News TV channel, and the Portknockie boy admits he has been overwhelmed by the public reaction.
“It’s just escalated and escalated,” said the 23-year-old. “I didn't think much of it. I’ve always known how to sing so I just kind of went for it, one thing led to the next and now it’s on Sky Sports.
“I think we had had a few beers by the point that happened so I wasn’t lacking confidence when I did it.”
McKay, from Portknockie, joined Buckie from Highland League neighbours Deveronvale during the close season, and was put in the spotlight on the long journey back from a Premier Sports Cup match at Ayr United.
“As soon as you join a new team you have to sing a song, so I did it on the bus on the way home,” he explained.
“I don’t think a lot of them expected it.
“When you see a big centre half, the last thing you expect is for you to be able to hold a tune together so they were all shocked.
“They were all loving it as well, so it was good.”
It wasn’t the first time McKay has sung in public, as he remembered belting out the high notes while he was at Buckie High - and even at a wedding.
“I’ve always been able to hold a tune. I did music and stuff in school so that helped.
“I got my advanced higher in music at school, and I did the talent shows if there were any at high school, some of them anyway.
“But I didn’t win any of them, it was quite a competitive group.
“I’ve sung at a charity event, and at a wedding once for one of my friend’s auntie. It went down quite well, I was a bit nervous.
“I can be on the karaokes, quite a lot, once the beers are going down I’m not shy to grab the mic.”
Chances are it won’t be the last time that Buckie Thistle’s squad and committee members here the dulcet tones of their tuneful central defender.
“I’ve got a few more songs but we will just have to wait and see if they want another song on another away trip, maybe.
“It could become a regular thing but I hope not, because I'll have a sore throat by the time we get back from places like Wick and that.
“If football doesn’t work out for me, I can always ditch it and pick up the mic instead.”
