Buckie Ladies feeling just champion as they claim league and cup double honours
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BUCKIE Ladies made history when they claimed the Highlands and Islands League title for the very first time.
The team are unbeaten in the league so far but they did not have to kick a ball to be crowned champions when challengers Clach were beaten 2-1 at home by Caley yesterday (Tuesday). A Betty Ross strike for the hosts was cancelled out by Simone Cole, who went on to complete a brace after the break and sink Clach's slim hopes of landing the title.
It means that Buckie Ladies have now completed the league and cup double, having vanquished Sutherland on penalties in the final on July 3 at Nairn.
Buckie had been preparing to claim the three points they needed to sew up the league when they face Nairn St Ninian this Sunday, but instead yesterday evening's game in the Highland capital was to leave Buckie Ladies manager stunned to find her team declared champions without kicking a ball in anger.
She said: "I'm still numb, I'm totally speechless.
"It didn't seem real when I heard the result and that we were the league champions. We actually thought about going to the Clach v Caley game but decided to have our usual training session instead.
"I'm immensely proud of the quines – it's up to them to do it on the field and get the results. When I think back to the early days when we were conceding something like 80 goals a season and now we're league champions it's a bit difficult to take in.
"Although we're champions we still have a job to do – I want us to finish the season by winning all our league games."
Amid the victory celebrations thoughts turned to Buckie Ladies' widely respected late manager David 'Parro' Findlay, who had a huge influence on laying the foundations for what was to become a championship-winning club.
Smith said: "'Parro' is never far from anyone's thoughts at the club, especially last night.
"He would've been so proud of us. This one's for him."
The league triumph makes for the perfect leaving present for Smith's four-year stint in the hotseat as she is due to leave her post when the league finishes later in October. A new challenge will await for her – she is due to have a baby.
Smith added: "It's the perfect send off for.
"It doesn't come any better than a league and cup double."
Finishing with the championship safely tucked away is a far cry from her first game in charge, an SWFL 2 encounter with Stonehaven which ended 21-0 to the Aberdeenshire outfit.
The club's stay in the SWFL2 was to be marked by a procession of heavy defeats but since Buckie moved to the Highlands and Islands League, they have thrived and developed in leaps and bounds.
Buckie Ladies' game this Sunday kicks off at 2pm at the Showfield, Nairn. Follow the club's Facebook page for game updates and other news.
