Wednesday 4 May
Championship Reaction - Part 4: Tribute to Three Legends
by Grant Turner and Steven Rattray
The latest instalment of our championship reaction hails three players who have amassed a total of 15 highland League winner's medals between the three of them.

Boss Billy Anderson was quick to raise a glass or three of bubbly in honour of Huntly's vintage trio last Saturday. An action-packed 2-2 draw with closest rivals Fraserburgh handed the Strathbogie outfit the title and Anderson was quick to single out Dave McGinlay, Marco De Barros and Martin Stewart for praise afterwards.

All three players were members of the legendary Huntly side of the 1990s that swept all before them and 'the legends' were reunited for a glorious swansong - with Stewart now set to retire.

Anderson said: "The title is a reward for all my players. They have been superb this season but I'm particularly pleased for Martin Stewart.
He has been a stalwart for the club, turning down opportunities to play at a higher level to give his all for Huntly over the years, and it is a fitting finale to a fantastic career.'When I arrived at Huntly two years ago I knew Martin still had plenty to offer and convinced him to stay on and now here he is picking up another medal alongside Dave and Marco.
All three of them are legends and all three have contributed greatly to our title success.
They may not play every week like they used to but there was one game against Keith where all three scored in a 5-3 victory in January. 'Keith is never an easy place to visit and the three of them lifted the whole team that day. I couldn't have asked for any more."

Way back in April 1991, local lad Martin Stewart pulled on the black and gold stripes in a 1-0 win over Buckie Thistle. After 14 years of loyal service, this Saturday sees martin goes up against the same opposition in what will be the final appearance for one of the Highland League's finest strikers.

Speaking after clinching his sixth championship on Saturday in the 2-2 draw with Fraserburgh, the Legend said: "I'm absolutely delighted and we thoroughly deserved it.

We couldn't have left it any later and I thought we'd blown it. I said to (Ritchie) Taylor that two goals and that'll win us the league and he came up with the goods"

Things certainly picked up for Huntly in the last third of the game following the introduction of the experienced pairing of Stewart and De Barros: "we did look a bit nervous today and anyone who says they weren't would be lying but we done it"

Martin's career has been hampered by injuries but it certainly hasn't stopped in netting over 310 times during his tenure at the club and with medal after medal throughout the 90s he paid tribute to Management duo Billy Anderson and Mike Cormack amongst others: "I'm pleased for Billy and Mike. When they took over we hardly had any players left. The players may have done the job on the pitch but those two have done a lot for us."
This championship win means slightly more as we've only bought one player and got the rest for nothing.
We've worked so hard over the course of the season and every one of those deserves it. I'm delighted for Bowman - he's been around the Highland League for years and won absolutely nothing and make one mistake and went on to help us win the league today and we'll all enjoy the celebrations to come"

One player who is still undecided about his plans for next year is wing wizard Marco De Barros: "I can't think of a better way to bring down the curtain on my career. I'm actually under contract for another season but promised myself last summer that this would be by final campaign but you can never say never and Billy Anderson can be a very persuasive person."

With three consecutive winners medals from 1994-1996, Marco departed for Inverness to help Caley gain promotion to Division two but returned to Huntly following a loan spell in 97 for another two years before returning for a further two spells in 99/00 and from 2002-present. "It was so long ago now since I won those championships but the first one was really special and we won it in such convincing style when you still had Caley, Inverness Thistle and Ross County in a league of 18.
It was extremely competitive that season but after such a drought for 7 years it's especially satisfying to win the championship again and there is a lot going for this club at the moment which they can only build on."

Finally we turn our attention to one player who has won titles in the 80s, 90s and two in the 00s. Veteran Dave McGinlay was a winner under Steve Paterson in 1994 before departing to Hong Kong and coming back to the North-East for spells in the juniors and Cove Rangers and finally a return to Huntly in February of last year.
Having not been a regular in the side, the 36 year old reflected on the season gone by: "it's not been my choice not playing each week and it's made it difficult for me because at my age had it not been going so good it wouldn't have been fair me being here for the future of some of boys at the club as there so many promising youngsters coming through."

Dave faced an uncertain time at the start of the season when he almost left just weeks in: "At the start of the season it looked as if we'd be playing a certain system and it looked like things weren't going to happen for me. It was going to be my first season in about 20-odd season in the Highland League where I hadn't been number one choice and to be playing every week and to be honest I went away and thought about it was going to ask for a free and go."

September saw a U-turn for the reliable defender who made a shock return to force himself back into the squad: "I came back at Wick because Scotty (Anderson) was on holiday and unfortunately Scott's been injured which for me has given me the chance again and I've not let anyone down."

Despite not starting every game, his determination and performances has certainly been crucial when playing: "it take comfort in the fact that's it's mostly been away games and when we've played all the top teams. I haven't played every game but I've made a contribution. Guy like McGowan, big Cooms and Bo at the back have all been instrumental this season."

The dedication and influence from such players as McGinlay, Stewart and De Barros has been one of the key factors when the three have featured: "with Martin, you can't help but respect the guy.
Marco as well when he's played - he went through a spell when he netted five times in the space of six games. Even when he played in his heyday which is many years ago he never did anything like that and at the time it helped the team immensely going into a big game against East Fife when he came in and did really well.
To have that it must've been good for Billy and Mike. But to bring on someone with the threat that Martin Stewart carries it must still put the fear into opposing defences. For myself I'm just so happy and delighted to have won the league again."

Supporters and everyone connected with Huntly FC have all had some great memories of all three players during their time at the club and it is only fitting that their service and contributions will deservedly be awarded with another medal to their collections after the Buckie Thistle game.