Wick Academy FC agreed recently to award a testimonial for their long serving midfielder Craig Shearer, and a group of supporters are currently putting together a programme for the year - the showpiece event being a pre-season match against Dunfermline Athletic FC.

Craig has been a loyal servant to Wick Academy FC for the past 11 seasons, notching up 347 starting appearances and 12 substitute appearances for the Club in all competitions. In that time he has scored 51 goals.

These statistics show Craig as being the player with the 2^nd most appearances for the Club and the 3^rd highest goal scorer since Wick Academy entered the Scottish Highland Football League in 1994/95.

Craig made his full first team debut for Academy in the local derby Highland League game at Brora on 26^th December 1998 during Peter Budge’s first spell as manager. It was not a winning start to the 18 year olds career however as Academy lost 1-0.

He has since started 270 league games for the club and made 9 appearances as a substitute while in cup competitions he has clocked up 36 starts and come off the bench once. In the goal scoring stakes Craig’s vital statistics are; SHFL goals – 37 and cup goals – 9. 

He first found the net ten years ago on 5^th February 2000 in a 2-4 home defeat by Huntly.

Craig’s popularity with team mates and supporters is shown by his having won the Players Player of the Year and Supporters Player of the Year Awards on several occasions.

Well wishers will have an early opportunity to show their appreciation of Shearer’s loyalty to his home team at a Race Night on March 27^th. The main event will be a match against Irn Bru SFL First Division side Dunfermline Athletic FC which is pencilled in for the afternoon of Saturday 17^th July and a Sportsmen’s Dinner will be staged on the 9^th October. A Golf Day is also planned when Craig and his Academy team mates will compete against ‘real’ golfers.

Alistair Ross, one of the group of supporters arranging the programme of events, said "Craig has proven himself to be a fantastic servant to Wick Academy FC throughout the years. His spirit and never-say-die attitude are an inspiration to his teammates and supporters alike. He is a valued asset to the team and is one of those players who quietly goes about his business both on and off the park. We are very pleased that Craig has been granted a testimonial and are very excited by the prospect of welcoming Dunfermline Athletic FC to the Harmsworth Park to mark his achievements. We hope to have a successful testimonial dinner in October where Craig has pledged to donate a proportion of all monies raised in support of local charities throughout Caithness. That in itself speaks volumes for him as a professional footballer and as a person.”