Mackay backs Brora for their Highland fling
THEY laughed when I nverness Cal e y Thistle dared to dream and declared it a genuine target in 1994. And there were howls of derision when a little team from Dingwall had the audacity to set their sights on exactly the same.
But Steven Mackay sees no reason why Brora, with a population just over 1,000, cannot emulate the big Highland pair’s journey to the top tier of the Scottish game.
Placing it all in context, the sleepy Sutherland village is less than a quarter the size of Ross County’s humble hometown and one-sixtieth the scale of Inverness.
But Mackay, the Dudgeon Park club’s 55-goal, record-breaking captain has always been one to set his sights high.
The 33-year- old, who wants to lead Brora into the SPFL at the expense of Montrose today, said: ‘The play- offs have had a lot of attention, often negative, but I think they have been brilliant.
‘The boys here have thrived on it. It has added a bit of spice to the end of the season, generating a real buzz and a l ot of media attention.
‘The structure of them maybe needs a bit of work but, in terms of interest and excitement, they have been a huge success.
‘I would be immensely proud to lead the team up to League Two and show we can compete at that level.
‘The Highland League has been great and I have enjoyed the local rivalry — but what an opportunity f or the l ads, particularly the younger players, to step up and play at that level regularly.
‘Some of them have the ability and potential to kick on, so it would be a great platform for them.
‘It is not for everyone, though. Our defender Grant Munro has been through it all before and said no — but I want to go for it, 100 per cent.
‘It’s a long way off, but who is to say Brora can’t emulate what Ross County and Caley Thistle have done? That might sound a ridiculous statement, but why not?
‘We have an ambitious board, an ambitious backer in Ben Mackay. No disrespect to Elgin City, but we wouldn’t want to go into League Two just to play at that level and not compete and challenge.
‘We want to go into League Two with a view to trying to win it within a few years. That’s the kind of mentality we have here.
‘I want to be part of that. What a way to finish my career — to lead Brora into League Two and try to mount a challenge at that level before I hang up my boots.’
Mackay knows first-hand how unlikely it seemed, back in the early 1990s, that Caley Thistle and County could become major forces in Scotland.
He was in County’s youth ranks as a schoolboy when they won league status and progressed to play in the old First Division under Alex Smith.
Now both of the Highland big two have reached the Scottish Cup Final and achieved top- six football, while Inverness have qualified for the Europa League.
Mackay said: ‘I remember people laughed at the ambition, but look at Caley Thistle this season. It’s unbelievable.
‘I was part of the County side that got voted into the Scottish League and among the first batch of Youth Training Scheme lads who went full-time.
‘It would have seemed ridiculous at the time to say Caley Thistle and Ross County would be in the SPL and both of them would reach Scottish Cup Finals.
‘I’m a great believer in aiming big and setting high targets, so why not? Why can’t Brora do the same?’
Mackay, though, is taking nothing for granted in the second leg of the Play- off against today’s hosts Montrose.
He knows there is huge pressure on Paul Hegarty’s side as they strive to preserve a proud 92-year history as a national league club.
Brora dominated the home leg, but left with a 1-0 advantage after Marvin Andrews’ own goal, created by Mackay
The striker, who this season broke Tommy Reid’s club goals record, said: ‘It’s a huge game for us and Montrose.
‘If they reflect on last Saturday, I’m sure they won’t be too pleased — certainly, Paul Hegarty wasn’t. He was quite critical, so you have to feel they will be better this time.
‘Although we won 1-0, I felt we should have won by more. We had a couple of really good chances in the second half to put some distance in the tie. It is still very much in the balance. They will be giving everything they have, as will we.
‘Their surface will suit us better than our own. We train on the same kind of artificial turf through in Dingwall.
‘Although we lost 4-1 to Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup, we more than matched them for 70 minutes on their plastic pitch. Fatigue and fitness played its part that day
‘But that type of surface suits us. It runs true and will certainly be relished by our quick players l i ke Andy Greig and Zander Sutherland.
‘They are all about getting the ball down and running at players, so, hopefully, a nice smooth surface will work in our favour.’
Mackay is a real athlete, who belies part-time status with his fitness levels and wants to play on towards the age of 40.
As such, he found last Saturday’s battle with former Rangers and Livingston veteran Andrews was an inspiration — even if it left the Brora star bruised and battered.
Mackay added: ‘I had a 19-mile autism charity run the next day and I was a little sore after the game against Montrose. Big Marvin gave me a tough day.
‘But I have to admit that I’m full of admiration for him, given his age (Andrews is 39) and the appetite he retains for the game.
‘I was just disappointed some people gave my header to him as an own goal.
‘Even our goalkeeper, Joe Malin, was trying to claim it for the punt forward. But, as a striker, I’m always going to say it was my 56th goal of the season.
‘Hopefully, I can add to that in the game at Montrose and we can get the victory.’