Post by Brian Mackay on Jul 30, 2006 10:03:14 GMT
Story from JOG Jorunal website
Budge look to 'the next level'
By Gordon Calder
Published: 28 July, 2006
WICK Academy kick off a new season tomorrow when they take on Clachnacuddin in the North of Scotland Cup at Harmsworth Park. The game will be the first competitive outing for the team under new manager Peter Budge, who was appointed by the club in May as Alistair Budge’s successor.
Academy have played five pre-season friendlies under the new boss, scoring a total of 17 goals and conceding one, against a young Ross County side in a 1-1 draw last Thursday night. The Scorries won the other four games – 5-0 against Wick Rovers, 7-0 in their encounter with a Thurso select, 1-0 at home to Orkney and 3-0 away to Balintore on Tuesday night.
While Budge was pleased with the team’s performances in these matches, he knows the real test for his players begins against Clach and will continue throughout the forthcoming Highland League season. But he is focused and positive about the challenges ahead and knows what he wants from the team, although he accepts that it will take time to put into practice.
Budge is reluctant to set targets for himself or his players, stressing that he is keen to see continued progress for the club as he and his assistants, Richard Hughes and Ian Munro, strive to take Academy to “the next level”. He plans to make Academy “a very competitive team” who are strong defensively yet play attractive, attacking football.
Budge, who spent five seasons coaching the under-15s and under-17s at Scottish first division side Ross County, wants to see the players improve their tactical and technical skills.
“Players must feel comfortable and confident on the ball and play an accurate, passing game,” he told the John O’Groat Journal this week.
That is a key factor for Budge but he also outlined the importance in football of fitness, strength, endurance and psychology, as well as the need for the players to develop at an individual and team level. He clearly believes in having a positive attitude and hopes to communicate that to the team as they embark on the new campaign.
He is realistic enough to know that it will take time to put his philosophy into practice but he has been encouraged by what has been achieved in the pre-season friendlies.
“We scored a lot of goals and only conceded one, and that was a penalty against Ross County,” he said. “Although they had some young players in their side they provided a good test for us and we took a lot of positives from that game. There are areas we have to work on, but generally I was quite happy with how things went in those five games.”
Another encouraging aspect for the manager is that the goals have been scored by midfield and defensive players as well as the strikers. On Tuesday night, Academy kept a clean sheet against Balintore and notched up three goals from Craig Shearer, Graeme Reid and John Farquhar.
During his short time back with Academy – Budge managed the club from November 1998 to the summer of 2000 – he has been busy adding to his squad. Talented defender David Mowat has returned to the club after playing for Cowdenbeath when he was a student at Heriot-Watt University, while young midfielder Richard Macadie is back after his spell at Ross County.
They have linked up with experienced players such as Gary Farquhar, Nigel MacKenzie and Martin Gunn and newcomers Martin Bain (midfielder), Stewart Ross (midfielder or defender), Gordon MacDonald (striker) and Stuart Sinclair (defender). Striker Shane Sutherland, from Halkirk, has also been recruited.
Budge revealed he is hoping to sign another forward “fairly soon” and explained that the club plans to use the new all-weather pitch in Wick for training purposes over the winter months.
Looking ahead to the cup game against Clach, he said: “It will be a difficult tie but we are at home and are ready and raring to go.”
Academy also have a hard game in the opening round of the North Qualifying Cup when they take on Inverurie Locos at home on Saturday, August 26, but they are determined to do their best in these tournaments and in the league campaign. In recent years, Academy have finished in the bottom four but everyone at the club is committed to trying to get the team further up the table.
The manager’s five years at Ross County and his collection of coaching certificates should prove invaluable in that task. Budge described his time with the Dingwall club as “an education”, while he said the work he did to get his SFA and UEFA licences was “a steep learning curve”.
Now, Budge wants to use that knowledge to benefit Academy. He is delighted to be back at the club with which he has such a long association, having played for the team as a central defender for 14 years. “I thoroughly enjoyed my five seasons at Ross County but the opportunity to manage my home-town team was one I could not turn down. I am really looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
Budge is passionate about football and is clearly committed to Academy’s cause.
He first embraced the sport as a youngster with East End Boys’ Club but then gave up the game for two years as he thought he was not good enough. However, he had a change of heart when he was 18 and resurrected his career with Keiss, where he spent a couple of seasons before joining Wick Rovers and then Wick Groats.
He became an Academy player when he was 20 and spent 14 years with the club before taking over as player/coach at Groats in 1997. That same year he studied for an HNC in sports coaching and development, and in 1998 he was appointed Academy manager.
He left the club in the summer of 2000 and went to Ross County, where he remained until he agreed to replace Alistair Budge, who was sacked as boss earlier this year.
Peter Budge, who served his time as a fitter/turner at Dounreay, spent 22 years working for Osprey Electronics and JGC before rejoining the UKAEA in April this year. He acknowledged that his love of football takes up much of his spare time and praised his wife Moira and four of a family for their backing. “Without their support it is not a job I could do,” he said.
Budge hopes that over the next couple of seasons the team’s hard work will pay off. “I want Wick Academy to do well, play attractive, attacking football, and be strong defensively,” he said. “I would like to see the team play with passion and make continuous improvement.”
Supporters are being reminded that as tomorrow’s game is a cup tie entry will be by cash payment at the gates. Club members may purchase season tickets on the day at a discounted price of £60 (concessions £30). The respective prices for non-members are £72 and £36.
There are two other fixtures being played in the North of Scotland Cup tomorrow, with Forres Mechanics taking on Lossiemouth at Mosset Park and Brora Rangers travelling to Dingwall face a Ross County XI.
A charity football match in Thurso on Sunday will see Top Joe’s staff taking on Joe’s Regulars at the Dammies (3pm kick-off). As well as the on-field action, there will be a barbecue and refreshments for sale as well as a bouncy castle.
The match will be followed by a slave auction and charity horse-racing in Top Joe’s, with a live band rounding off the evening.
Last year’s game, won by the Top Joe’s staff, raised over £2000 for Elaine’s bed appeal. This year’s good cause is the local lifeboat.
g.calder@nosn.co.uk
Budge look to 'the next level'
By Gordon Calder
Published: 28 July, 2006
WICK Academy kick off a new season tomorrow when they take on Clachnacuddin in the North of Scotland Cup at Harmsworth Park. The game will be the first competitive outing for the team under new manager Peter Budge, who was appointed by the club in May as Alistair Budge’s successor.
Academy have played five pre-season friendlies under the new boss, scoring a total of 17 goals and conceding one, against a young Ross County side in a 1-1 draw last Thursday night. The Scorries won the other four games – 5-0 against Wick Rovers, 7-0 in their encounter with a Thurso select, 1-0 at home to Orkney and 3-0 away to Balintore on Tuesday night.
While Budge was pleased with the team’s performances in these matches, he knows the real test for his players begins against Clach and will continue throughout the forthcoming Highland League season. But he is focused and positive about the challenges ahead and knows what he wants from the team, although he accepts that it will take time to put into practice.
Budge is reluctant to set targets for himself or his players, stressing that he is keen to see continued progress for the club as he and his assistants, Richard Hughes and Ian Munro, strive to take Academy to “the next level”. He plans to make Academy “a very competitive team” who are strong defensively yet play attractive, attacking football.
Budge, who spent five seasons coaching the under-15s and under-17s at Scottish first division side Ross County, wants to see the players improve their tactical and technical skills.
“Players must feel comfortable and confident on the ball and play an accurate, passing game,” he told the John O’Groat Journal this week.
That is a key factor for Budge but he also outlined the importance in football of fitness, strength, endurance and psychology, as well as the need for the players to develop at an individual and team level. He clearly believes in having a positive attitude and hopes to communicate that to the team as they embark on the new campaign.
He is realistic enough to know that it will take time to put his philosophy into practice but he has been encouraged by what has been achieved in the pre-season friendlies.
“We scored a lot of goals and only conceded one, and that was a penalty against Ross County,” he said. “Although they had some young players in their side they provided a good test for us and we took a lot of positives from that game. There are areas we have to work on, but generally I was quite happy with how things went in those five games.”
Another encouraging aspect for the manager is that the goals have been scored by midfield and defensive players as well as the strikers. On Tuesday night, Academy kept a clean sheet against Balintore and notched up three goals from Craig Shearer, Graeme Reid and John Farquhar.
During his short time back with Academy – Budge managed the club from November 1998 to the summer of 2000 – he has been busy adding to his squad. Talented defender David Mowat has returned to the club after playing for Cowdenbeath when he was a student at Heriot-Watt University, while young midfielder Richard Macadie is back after his spell at Ross County.
They have linked up with experienced players such as Gary Farquhar, Nigel MacKenzie and Martin Gunn and newcomers Martin Bain (midfielder), Stewart Ross (midfielder or defender), Gordon MacDonald (striker) and Stuart Sinclair (defender). Striker Shane Sutherland, from Halkirk, has also been recruited.
Budge revealed he is hoping to sign another forward “fairly soon” and explained that the club plans to use the new all-weather pitch in Wick for training purposes over the winter months.
Looking ahead to the cup game against Clach, he said: “It will be a difficult tie but we are at home and are ready and raring to go.”
Academy also have a hard game in the opening round of the North Qualifying Cup when they take on Inverurie Locos at home on Saturday, August 26, but they are determined to do their best in these tournaments and in the league campaign. In recent years, Academy have finished in the bottom four but everyone at the club is committed to trying to get the team further up the table.
The manager’s five years at Ross County and his collection of coaching certificates should prove invaluable in that task. Budge described his time with the Dingwall club as “an education”, while he said the work he did to get his SFA and UEFA licences was “a steep learning curve”.
Now, Budge wants to use that knowledge to benefit Academy. He is delighted to be back at the club with which he has such a long association, having played for the team as a central defender for 14 years. “I thoroughly enjoyed my five seasons at Ross County but the opportunity to manage my home-town team was one I could not turn down. I am really looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
Budge is passionate about football and is clearly committed to Academy’s cause.
He first embraced the sport as a youngster with East End Boys’ Club but then gave up the game for two years as he thought he was not good enough. However, he had a change of heart when he was 18 and resurrected his career with Keiss, where he spent a couple of seasons before joining Wick Rovers and then Wick Groats.
He became an Academy player when he was 20 and spent 14 years with the club before taking over as player/coach at Groats in 1997. That same year he studied for an HNC in sports coaching and development, and in 1998 he was appointed Academy manager.
He left the club in the summer of 2000 and went to Ross County, where he remained until he agreed to replace Alistair Budge, who was sacked as boss earlier this year.
Peter Budge, who served his time as a fitter/turner at Dounreay, spent 22 years working for Osprey Electronics and JGC before rejoining the UKAEA in April this year. He acknowledged that his love of football takes up much of his spare time and praised his wife Moira and four of a family for their backing. “Without their support it is not a job I could do,” he said.
Budge hopes that over the next couple of seasons the team’s hard work will pay off. “I want Wick Academy to do well, play attractive, attacking football, and be strong defensively,” he said. “I would like to see the team play with passion and make continuous improvement.”
Supporters are being reminded that as tomorrow’s game is a cup tie entry will be by cash payment at the gates. Club members may purchase season tickets on the day at a discounted price of £60 (concessions £30). The respective prices for non-members are £72 and £36.
There are two other fixtures being played in the North of Scotland Cup tomorrow, with Forres Mechanics taking on Lossiemouth at Mosset Park and Brora Rangers travelling to Dingwall face a Ross County XI.
A charity football match in Thurso on Sunday will see Top Joe’s staff taking on Joe’s Regulars at the Dammies (3pm kick-off). As well as the on-field action, there will be a barbecue and refreshments for sale as well as a bouncy castle.
The match will be followed by a slave auction and charity horse-racing in Top Joe’s, with a live band rounding off the evening.
Last year’s game, won by the Top Joe’s staff, raised over £2000 for Elaine’s bed appeal. This year’s good cause is the local lifeboat.
g.calder@nosn.co.uk