Local Huntly hero Glenn Murison is back in Highland League football after a spell with Australian club Shepparton South which was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic
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A CHANCE to play in the Australian sunshine became a frustrating lockdown experience for Huntly footballer Glenn Murison.
Now the 22-year-old is back in chilly Scotland and ready to pick up his career with his local Highland League club.
Murison headed down under in February to start a career with Shepparton South in Victoria state, having consulted former Huntly team-mate Gary McGowan who played for the club in the past.
The club was managed by Scotsman Shaun Kane who messaged Murison to say he wanted him over immediately, and within a fortnight he was over on the other side of the world.
The dream move turned sour though when all sport in Victoria was shut down due to Covid-19, meaning he managed to play just one match before returning home in August.
“I was constantly training right through with the hope to start a season over there,” he said. “But just like the Highland League, delays kept being put in place.
“Then Melbourne city had a real bad outbreak so that shut down all competitive sport in Victoria.
“I was looking forward to playing in the sun for once, unlike here in the Highlands. It was in a team of good lads but instead of playing football, it was substituted with nights out.
"I wanted to make a real impression there and continue the success of Highland players when going over there.
"But even with the football not going ahead, the club looked after me well and it’s still an experience I don’t regret.”
By August, Murison realised it was time to head home and resume his career back in Aberdeenshire.
His previous Huntly manager Martin Skinner had departed and been replaced by Allan Hale, who made the call to Australia to find out what Murison’s plans were.
“He phoned me on several occasions to just introduce himself and his plans, ambitions and where he wants to take me as a player and where he wants the team to be.
“Obviously that was very encouraging for me and I was happy to have the form of contact so I was kept in the loop and know what I was in for when I returned.
"Going from living life like it was, normal for months in Australia and seeing home being in lockdown made it easy being away as was missing nothing.
"But it's funny how it totally flipped, to Australia in lockdown and home back to some sort of normality.
"With new managers coming in when I was away it gave me an extra push to do a bit more when I was away so I was fit and ready to go when I was back.
"With me training right through when I was away it’s been real beneficial in terms of being match ready. If I was six months not kicking a ball it would take a bit to get back into it."
Murison is only just getting to know new boss Hale and his assistant Stefan Laird.
"I find both of them very good. They demand high standards, training is intense but with intensity comes enjoyment.
"Everyone seems to be on a positive vibe and happy with the change around. Everyone knows what is expected.
"Discipline has to be there and the drive from everyone to match the ambitions of the management team.
"Obviously it's been a hard time for them to come in with months of not actually meeting players and not being able to, just to get straight into it."
Since his return to Huntly, Murison was anticipating an October 17 season start but the kick off has been delayed until at least November 28, in the hope that supporters will be able to attend games by then.
The Christie Park club will continue their weekly sessions to stay in shape for the eventual return to competitive action.
"It was gutting for everyone that we were in middle of season prep when there was a delay put in place due to the restrictions," Murison said.
"A lot of Highland League teams have stopped training but we are still doing three times a week to hopefully be that step ahead when we get the go ahead.
"A lot of people would lose motivation with a delay of the season but everyone’s pulled together and getting the work done."
Signed by Gregg Carrol for Huntly in 2015, Murison has ample experience for someone so young and is very much the local hero in the squad.
"Being my sixth season it’s a weird one because I have a lot of Highland League experience playing about 180 games already. So I’m looked upon as an experienced player but still only being 22.
"Also being from Huntly, there’s that bit more drive to do well for the club and feel it worse than most players will due to it being my home town club.
"But there’s a positive feel just now and I look forward to kicking on and hopefully push us up the league."
