PICTURES: Huntly Football Club testimonial for Alex Thoirs becomes a family affair as Christie Park defender is replaced by his father during victory over Elgin City
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"It's a day I will remember forever" - Huntly stalwart Alex Thoirs has summed up his testimonial match.
The Christie Park men fielded some Black and Golds' legends in Saturday's 2-0 win over Elgin City for a game celebrating Thoirs' 12 years with the club.
Walking out on the pitch with his children Chloe (6) and Connor (3) to a guard of honour and a standing ovation was one special moment for the 34-year-old stalwart.
Equally memorable was Thoirs' departure from the field to be replaced by his father, also Alex (55) to complete a unique family occasion.
"It was absolutely brilliant - a complete honour if I’m being honest," said the Aberdonian.
"To have such an experience with my family on a day like that - it’s a day I will remember forever."
Signed from Dyce Juniors in 2011, the player has made over 200 appearance for Huntly. The total would have been far greater but for the fact that he has combined his time at the club with working on the North Sea rigs for the past decade.
"Dave McGinlay and Jim Cheyne first signed me and I got off to a great start, I loved the club as soon as I got there," he recalled.
"Not long after I joined, I got the opportunity to get a job offshore which put a halt to a lot of my career. Initially I said to Dave McGinlay that I would be quite happy if he wanted to let me go but he talked me out of it and assured me he wanted me to stay and be part of his plans, which I was surprised about at the time. I thought that was going to stop my football career.
"In a way it kind of worked for me. When you pick up niggles here and there, I’ve managed to go offshore and get the rest I’ve needed and I’ve managed to keep myself fit for a number of years."
Recently Thoirs' job changed, meaning he will be no longer be away for two weeks of the month and instead can be available every week for Huntly for training and matches.
A series of events were held in the past year to mark his long service, culminating in Saturday's testimonial game and a wonderful occasion for the Thoirs family.
"I got a great crowd, a lot of fans turned out along with my family and my friends so it couldn’t have gone any better," he said.
"I never knew what to expect, you don’t know how it’s going to go on the day but I was absolutely delighted.
"A special moment for me was when they managed to sort it so that my dad came on for me as sub.
"It was brilliant, we were all delighted to share that moment. My dad loves his football as well and I knew he was maybe going to get a couple of minutes
"When the substitution happened, I turned around and saw him standing there and they called my name so I was able to go over to him and share a little moment. That was brilliant for me and my family."
Thoirs persuaded former Huntly favourites like Russell Guild, Mark Gray and Neil Reid to play in his benefit along with old pals like Gary and Adam McNamee, and Blair Johnston, all of whom wore the black and gold stripes in the past.
His battling performances in defence or midfield for Huntly made him a firm favourites with the Black and Golds' faithful.
He plans to play for at least two more years, with a burning ambition to win some silverware with the club.
The player senses that Huntly's gradual progression in recent seasons could lead to success. He has played in one cup final and sffered the agony of a penalty shoot-out defeat to Banks O' Dee in the Aberdeenshire Shield showpiece match at Inverurie 18 months ago.
"We are getting closer and closer. Under the current management team we have been in two semi-finals and we managed to get in that cup final against Banks O’ Dee - and that was a sore one to lose.
"That’s the closest we’ve come to silverware. For me personally that is one hurdle I would really like to overcome. To do that with Huntly would just finish it off perfectly for me.
"I played in that final and scored the equaliser to take it into penalties. At 2-0 up I thought that was it and it was a sore one to then go 3-2 down. When we managed to get it back to 3-3 I thought it was written for us to go on and win the cup but Banks O’ Dee are a great outfit and it was always going to be tough.
"We are a really young team but a great bunch of boys who are really driven, you see it in training and games how hungry, young and fit they are. We are getting there, I really feel that."
