VIDEO: ‘Proud’ Buckie Thistle boss Graeme Stewart hails his title-winners
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BUCKIE Thistle boss Graeme Stewart has hailed the Jags’ Highland League title win as the proudest moment of his career.
The Jags battled their way to a 1-0 victory over Moray rivals Keith to secure the title at Victoria Park.
It’s Buckie’s first trophy since 2017 and a delighted Stewart said it was the proudest moment of his career as a manager.
"To win the league and do what these guys have done, I couldn't be more proud of them,” he said.
"It's probably the proudest moment of my footballing career. This team is a special team that should have won stuff before now. After seven years, this is the best feeling I have had in football in a long time.
“We have special players and special characters and they deserve all the credit and plaudits they get over the next couple of weeks.”
Max Barry was Buckie’s match-winner, with his eighth-minute goal separating the sides at the end of a nervy affair.
He said: "It has been a long time coming. For three years we were so close every year and now we have finally and done it and got across the line.
“The ball could have been in the air the whole game, as long as we won 1-0 that was all that mattered. It didn't matter who scored, as long as we won, and I'm just glad we have.”
Buckie take on Inverurie Loco Works at Keith’s Kynoch Park on Tuesday night in the Aberdeenshire Cup, looking to secure a double.
Attention will then turn to the play-offs, where Buckie face a two-legged play-off with Lowland League champions. The first leg is on Saturday (April 27) in East Kilbride.
On the play-offs, Stewart added: “It’s a nice challenge. We did the play-offs seven or eight years ago and at the time the club maybe wasn’t in a position to go for it.
“This team is good enough. Trust me, this team is definitely good enough.
“Whether or not we will have the energy levels or get the luck, I’m not sure, but the team is definitely good enough to play a level above.
“That’s not to say we are going to do it, but I’m very confident that if this team was to step up a level the majority, if not all, could play at the level.”
