Huntly Football Club stalwart feels emotional after playing his final Highland League match after 14 years at Christie Park club
The final match of Alex Thoirs’ 14-year Huntly playing career brought out all of the emotions in the Christie Park legend.
On the same Saturday that Huntly unveiled the naming of their main stand after club stalwarts Forbes Shand and Jim McGregor, Thoirs pulled on the black and gold shirt for the final time.
After more than 250 appearances since he scored on his Huntly debut at Fort William in 2011, the 36-year-old kicked his last ball for a club that will always be close to his heart.
It wasn’t quite the perfect finale, as party poopers Inverurie Locos won 2-0 but nothing could really spoil the gala occasion.
The retiring Huntly hero walked out on the park with his son Connor and daughter Chloe to a roaring reception from a big home crowd, and admitted the occasion had him close to tears.
“It was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster,” he said. “I think I experienced every sort of emotional feeling on the day.
“I kind of thought about it the whole week, to be brutally honest with you.
“That feeling was in the back of my head all week - but it was great. The result didn't go the way that we would have liked but fair play to Inverurie because the best team won on the day.”
The Aberdonian may be hanging up his boots but it’s only the beginning of the next chapter in his Huntly career, as he now takes up his post as joint-assistant manager to boss Colin Charlesworth.
It’s a challenge he is relishing now, and Thoirs was happy to look back on a memorable time on the pitch for a club he had remained loyal to.
“To walk out with my kids one last time onto the pitch, that feeling will never get old. Things like that will never leave me.
“It’s those things that you will really miss. That's what I said to everyone at the end of the game.
“The support I've had from Huntly since the day I arrived has been absolutely incredible. I've had a great relationship with the fans.
“The club, the way they made me feel, that's the thing that I'm most thankful for. It's not only that, it’s the way my family have been received up there - my kids and the way they run around, everyone knows them.
“I had a wee few words with the lads in the dressing room, just thanking them for everything they've done for me and the support they've provided to me. They've been absolutely brilliant.
“It's an absolutely great group of players. It's not only team-mates, but it's friends for life that I've made there - a real good group of guys there.
“Now I'm going to be trying to share my experiences throughout the years.
“I've touched on things that I've been through, the good, the bad and the ugly.
“I've kind of experienced it all at Huntly. We were a good side when I first joined, then we went through a real difficult period for a while.
“Then the last few years we've managed to pick up again. We've become quite a strong side again, and been involved in cup finals.
“I've been on the side where we've had heavy defeats and some good wins. Now it's just time for me to share that sort of experience with the guys.”
