Team of the Decade: 2000 - 2009

We started in late December the search for the best eleven players to turn out for the club during the last decade and here are the players who have made the final team.

Goalkeeper: Ross Bremner
In his second spell at Christie Park after a couple of seasons with Deveronvale this local lad is an excellent shot stopper, Brems brings a lot of experience and vocal influence to the team. It has been said on a number of occasions he is one of the leagues best on his day.

Speaking on his selection Bremner said: "A Big Thanks to the supporters for voting. Its great to know the efforts over the years have been noticed. There have been ups and downs over the past ten years for sure, The amount of managers we've went through has never been easy to deal with, some more successful than others. I think the biggest buzz might have been saving the penalty in the Challenge Cup final versus Deveronvale. Hopefully the fans wont have to wait too much longer to shout/sing about"

The Supporters said: "Bowman was superb for the championship winning team but Brems has to be the pick .Although he can make mistakes, his performances are usually solid and at times he has been the main reason Huntly have won games" - Martin Stewart

Right Back: Neil Reid

Neil originally debuted for the club as a striker under Doug Rougvie in 1997 before departing to Formartine Untied shortly after Phil Bonnyman's departure. Reid returned to the Highland league in 2002 with Inverurie Loco Works and made a return to Christie Park in the summer of 2004 when Billy Anderson signed him up at right back following long term injury to Alan Redford. He showed his versatility under Dave Cormie in 2006/07 playing in a number of roles before departing for a season in the juniors at Sunnybank. In July 2008, Dave McGinlay brought his former championship winning team-mate back for a third spell at the club, Neil was appointed club captain for 2009/10 and has shown his versatility over the last year playing in every position except goalkeeper.

Neil gave an interview click here for audio

The Supporters Say: "I would give the nod to Neil Reid who in the championship winning side was excellent." - Martin Stewart

Centre Half's: Ross Campbell and Dave McGinlay

With over eighty votes cast in this poll it was two championship winners who beat out the late Don McVicar and current Deveronvale Co-Manager Scott Anderson to be voted into the team.

Ross Campbell came to the club in the summer of 1999 and started out at right back but made his name playing at centre half. After departing for a soccer scholarship in the states with Binghamton he returned at the end of 2003 to the club. Ross has been regular in the defensive line since debuting at the age of 17.When fit, defends solidly and can be a real danger when attacking set pieces and was a big part of the defence that helped the club to the championship on 2005.

Campbell also thanked the fans for their votes: "Firstly i'd like to thank everyone who voted for me, I'm surprised anyone can actually remember me being in a black and gold shirt it's been so long!

There's been a few highs and lows on a personal note over the last 10 years since I made my debut back in 1999.
The lows being injuries in recent seasons, but the obvious highlight would be winning the league and the way we won it with the last minute goal, it will probably be the highlight of my career. As Si has previously touched on we were written off but had a brilliant start to the season and a great result in the Scottish beating Peterhead 3-1 when they were flying in the 3rd division with the whole squad playing a part in the success throughout the season.

It wouldn't surprise me if more of the team from that year take up some more places in the 'team of the decade'.

Hopefully I can get back playing soon and help the team push for some more trophies."

Dave McGinlay was a former hero of the 1990's under Steve Paterson and was part of the 1993/94 treble winning side, McGinlay returned to Christie Park for the second time in February 2004 after an absence of 10 years. The defender added a wealth of experience and was a big influence to the whole team during the title run in 2004/05. Dave came back to Christie Park in December 2007 when he was appointed Manager following Dave Cormie's resignation and is currently assembling a squad for a title challenge of his own.

McGinlay was pleased his efforts in his second spell had been recognised:

"I am delighted to be involved in this team and grateful to those who decided I was worthy, I only had a couple of seasons during that period, but winning the league in 20004/5 was really special to me particularly as Martin Stewart was there along with Marco De Barros as we basically started making names for ourselves through the great success the club had in the nineties and to do this again at the end of our careers was really special.

Should also be said that there was a great team spirit that year and that all the squad made huge contributions when required to help win the title."

Left Back: Simon Scott

The consistent left back returned for a third spell in December 2007 after spells with Ellon United, Peterhead (loan) and Inverurie Loco Works. A big favourite with the Huntly support, Scott won a number of medals in his first two spells at the club including three championships. Has looked like a fresh signing since coming back from injury problems to become a regular at the back.

Simon was pleased that supporters have recognised his contributions since he returned to the Highland League in 2003: " A big "Thank You" to all supporters who voted for me and considered me worthy of a place in Huntly's 'Team of the Decade'.

Obviously the highlight of the past decade was winning the championship back in 2004/2005. It was made sweeter by the fact that we were written off as genuine title contenders (14/1 - great price, enjoyed rare good win from bookies! Ha ha) but I can remember we had an excellent pre-season and I think we all thought we had a very good chance.
The team spirit was brilliant and there were no ego's in the dressing room, we started the season well, came through some hard games and doggedly held on for a deserved title win.

Of all the championships I have won with Huntly (and Formartine) this one tops the lot, it was special because we were written off as a team, mainly a jumble of players assembled the previous season who had few 'big names' and would struggle even to break into the top 6...... very much like this season - fingers crossed a sense of déjà vu happens this May !?"

The Supporters say: " Simon Scott is a cert for the left back slot as he is the best in that position that i have seen at Huntly." - Martin Stewart

Central Midfield

Russell Guild: The local lad debuted under John Gardiner as a substitute in December 1998 while still at school and eventually signed for the first team the following summer until returning Manager Phil Bonnyman. Guild picked up his first piece of silverware in November 1999 in a Qualifying Cup Final win over Fraser at Borough Briggs where he played in part in Huntly's second goal in that win.

Gradually he started making a name for himself as one of the best midfielder in the league and in 2004/05 came his finest moment when, as captain he helped the club to their seventh championship win. More silverware followed for the player in 2007/08 when he was part of the team to win the inaugural SFA Challenge Cup.

Russell was pleased with his inclusion: "I am absolutely delighted and I would like to thank the supporters for voting me into the team of the decade.

There have been several highlights over the course of the decade - some of the Scottish cup runs, the Challenge Cup win back in 2007/08 however, the biggest highlight has to when we lifted the title back in 2004/05. We were classed as the underdogs for the majority of the season and to come out on top ahead of quality sides who were on the go at that time such as Deveronvale, Fraserburgh, Cove, Buckie and the Loco's made it extra special"

Joining Guild in the middle of the park is Mark Gray. Gray originally joined under Doug Rougvie in 96 as a winger but since returning in 2003, his hard-working and tough tackling displays in both midfield and at sweeper have made Gray a firm favourite with the home support. His regular partnership with Russell Guild has helped Huntly to league and cup honours. Mark was appointed vice-captain for this season.

Gray said: "Would like to thank all the fans who voted for me, its always nice to be recognised by the fans.To make team of the decade is very pleasing as i have played with a few good players over the years at Huntly and their was a few who played in the early part of the decade that i know well and are very good players as well.

The biggest highlight this time round for me was winning the league followed by winning the challenge cup and some of the Scottish cup runs like beating Peterhead and have a really exciting game at East Fife in the replay that we should have won only to go out on Penalties. Some good memories but hopefully more to come with more trophies as i think we have a very strong squad now."

Wingers: Although he was one of the best wingers to represent the club in the 1990s in a wide partnership with Steve Gray, Marco showed in his spell back at the club from 2002 - 2005 he still had something to offer. Marco was brought back into the Highland League by Fraser Kellas in the summer of 2002 and in his time back under Kellas and latterly Billy Anderson he could still produce moments of magic to change games.

Upon clinching the title in April 2005, De Barros summed it up saying: "I can't think of a better way to bring down the curtain on my Huntly career."

On the other wing is another local player in Gary McGowan. Gary originally joined up with the club under Fraser Kellas back in 2002 on Inverness Caledonian Thistle but his loan was up after sixteen squad appearances and one goal he returned north before turning out for Brora Rangers for the remainder of the season.

Newly-appointed Huntly Boss Billy Anderson brought him back the following summer after his release from Caley and in his second spell he picked up a championship medal (2004/05), turned out for his country in the semi-pro four nations tournament and became the first Huntly player since Martin Stewart to be named Highland League Player of the Year.

His early season form of 2006/07 saw him move to second division Peterhead on loan before it was made permanent in January 2007. Gary made 13 appearances scoring once under Steve Paterson but things didn't work out for McGowan in the Blue Toon prompting a return to his home town in March of that year. He made the last of 177 squad appearances when he was subbed off in Huntly's 3-0 home defeat to Nairn County in May 2008.

Strikers:

The first striker to make the team is probably the greatest player ever to pull on a black and gold shirt!

Martin Stewart signed for the Club the weekend of his 18th birthday from local team Huntly Amateurs and made his debut in a 1 - 0 win against Buckie Thistle at Christie Park on Wednesday 10th April, 1991 with his first goal for the Club came three days later at Kynoch Park helping Huntly win 3 - 0.

Appearing over 400 times for the club, martin scoring over 300 goals ,despite the injury setbacks over the years has not lost his appetite for the game. While some may say his best days were in the 1990s, the local striker did play a big part for the club in the first half of the noughties netting 76 goals this decade and was top scorer from 1999/00 to the end of the 2002/03 season and was a big influence on the side which clinched the 2004/05 championship.

Former a strike force with Martin is Richie Taylor. Taylor was signed in the summer of 2004 and netted 31 goals in 66 squad appearances in his previous spell with the black and golds before departing to Banks O' Dee in September 2006. Richie was brought back to the club in October of last year and has shown signs of his former self as he currently is helping the club on another title push.