Macadie hailed as ‘role model’ and ‘fantastic servant to Wick Academy’
Club legend Richard Macadie was hailed as “a role model” and “a fantastic servant to Wick Academy” at the weekend after calling time on his playing career.
Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Nairn County was his final match at Harmsworth Park before becoming part of the club’s coaching staff for next season.
The 37-year-old club captain came off the bench after 84 minutes for his 651st competitive appearance, and his last one at home. He is Academy’s record scorer with 204 goals since making his debut almost 22 years ago.
Macadie, who was at Ross County as a youngster, was named as Highland League player of the year for 2008/09 – the only Wick player to have achieved that honour.
His friend and former team-mate Gary Weir was among the spectators applauding Macadie as he turned out in the black-and-white stripes at Harmsworth Park for what is likely to be the final time. Macadie has made it clear he will only play next season in an emergency.
Weir, who quit Highland League football at the end of the 2016/17 campaign, is second on the club’s goalscoring list with 168.
“He is a fantastic servant to Wick Academy,” Weir said. “The season he won the Highland League player of the year award, he was absolutely unbelievable.
“I remember the game that he played at the start of the season after he’d won that, at home to Strathspey Thistle, and he scored four goals in the first half. He was just lightning.
“How many miles has he travelled going up and down that road to play football, from when he was 16 years old until now? That’s how much he loves it.
“It doesn’t matter how much you love it, you’ve got to be good at it – and he has obviously been good at it as well.”
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Manager and former team-mate Gary Manson said: “I’ve been with Richie all throughout his Wick career. I was here slightly before him.
“I’ve seen the way he has trained, I’ve seen the way he has looked after himself. Players at semi-pro level, at Highland League level, only train twice a week so it’s what you do outwith the training that can separate you from the rest.
“Richie is a role model for his commitment, the effort he puts in at training, the quality he shows... Everything about how he operates is the ideal target for a young player to aim for.
“He has been a terrific player all throughout his Wick career and I’m sure he'll be a real asset to the coaching team as well.”
Macadie only had six minutes plus stoppage time on the park on Saturday. However, given his contribution to the club since his debut in 2003, it came as no surprise that he was chosen for the man-of-the-match award by match sponsor Alan Turner, who until recently was chairman of Caithness United.
Before heading in for a shower, Macadie said: “I feel okay. It’s the right time. It’s just another end-of-season day.
“When pre-season starts, that’s when it will probably make a difference.”
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game, former Academy manager Tom McKenna said: “Richard deserves all the accolades he gets.
“When I was there he was unbelievable to work with. He never stopped working and that rubs off on other players.”
Macadie was awarded a testimonial year in 2019 and fought back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2021 to re-establish himself as a key member of the squad.
He spent most of his career as an attacking midfielder before switching to a deeper role in recent seasons.
Macadie, who works as an airport firefighter, went into the current campaign feeling that it was likely to be his last, and a leg injury against Brora Rangers in February played a part in his decision.
Macadie helped Academy to a third-place finish in the Highland League in 2012/13 when they achieved the unique feat of winning all 17 of their home league games.
Another highlight was the 6-2 victory over Nairn County in the North of Scotland Cup final in 2015.
Macadie will be 38 by the time the current season ends. He could feature in one or both of the Scorries’ remaining fixtures, away to Strathspey Thistle and Inverurie Locos.
Presentations were made to Macadie and to long-serving keeper James More at the end of Saturday’s match.
More (36) announced recently that he was bringing his playing career to an end after 20 years. He made 166 competitive appearances for the club.
More will continue in his role as goalkeeping coach.
