Buckie Thistle manager Graeme Stewart says transfer-listed midfielder Sam Urquhart is a Victoria Park "legend"
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A Buckie Thistle “legend” will be moving to pastures new, with Sam Urquhart being placed on the Jags’ transfer list.
Urquhart (31) became a big favourite with the Victoria Park faithful over the past seven seasons, forming a prolific strike partnership with John McLeod and Chris Angus that totalled more than a century of goals in Buckie’s 2016-17 title-winning team.
Manager Graeme Stewart explained why he made the attacking midfielder available for transfer.
“With Sam, how good and experienced as he is, he needs to be playing every week,” Stewart said. “He’s not the automatic starter for us now when he has been for the last few years.
“We are a bit top-heavy so we are having to move one on. He lives in Inverness and we will obviously get a fee for him and he will command a decent salary wherever he goes.
“He was the logical one because the others were a bit younger - but he is a Buckie legend. He was there when we won the league and cup double and must have scored more than 100 goals for the club.
“He has been absolutely superb for us. I have a lot of time for Sam, he’s a great lad and I’ve had a great relationship with him so it wasn’t an easy decision to make.
“I’m sure he would rather have stayed but again it’s one of those decisions you have to make. There’s been four or five clubs showing interest already, and he’s a proven Highland League player, a goalscorer and a top performer.”
Stewart watched his team defeat junior hosts Dyce 3-0 on Saturday. He had called for his team to cut out defensive errors which led to goals being conceded against junior opposition in previous friendlies.
Buckie also won 5-0 at home to Rothie Rovers last Wednesday and their manager expects a third consecutive shut-out on Saturday when his team plays their final pre-season game at Stoneywood Parkvale in Aberdeen.
He was pleased to see big summer signing Darryl McHardy make his long-awaited debut and score a goal in the Dyce win.
“That was his first game back after his wedding and he got 90 minutes,
“He was blowing, he was certainly feeling it but he did well especially in the first half when we played him at centre half and left back and he checked in with a goal so we are delighted with that.
“He is physical, he can head a ball and he’s got a good left foot so we are hoping he will be getting double figures in goals for us this season.”
Buckie’s match against Loch Ness on Wednesday has been postponed.
