Gregg Main insists lifting the Highland League Cup with Rothes would be up there with winning the trophy with Nairn County nearly 10 years ago.
Main, a Highland League stalwart with Nairn for over a decade, was part of the Nairn side that beat Fraserburgh 4-0 in 2011 and hopes to repeat history with the Speysiders on Saturday.
Rothes are searching for their first piece of silverware since 1979 and have gone from strength-to-strength under manager Ross Jack.
Main arrived at the start of the 2019-20 campaign after clocking up 313 appearances for the Wee County, which also included lifting the North of Scotland Cup in 2008 and 2012. His current Rothes team-mate Paul Macleod was also by his side in that final in 2011, in which Main’s brother Glenn scored the fourth goal.
Should Rothes topple Buckie Thistle at Christie Park, however, it would be another memorable afternoon for Main to look back on.
He said: “It would definitely be up there with that. We were always there or there abouts in the North of Scotland Cup and were pushing up there in the league.
“We had a good side – Steven Mackay, Craig Campbell, Robbie Duncanson, Dale Gillespie, – and it was a massive thing to win it.
“But Rothes are a small club and I don’t think many people gave us a chance against Formartine. It would be good to give the whole club a lift by winning something and proving we can push up the league.”
Main only worked briefly with previous manager Steven MacDonald before his departure last year and Jack came in.
Rothes finished fourth in the Highland League when the season ended in March and conceded just 22 goals, behind only champions Brora Rangers and Formartine United.
Jack has also balanced an experienced element in his squad – players such as Main, Macleod and Bruce Milne – with younger additions like Jack Brown, Ross Gunn and Aidan Wilson, who have all arrived after leaving Caley Thistle.
Main added: “There’s definitely been a change – there’s a more professional outlook on things. I was only there for a short period of time under Steven MacDonald, about three or four weeks before he left.
“Consistency has been massive. We were on a good run before the league got closed down – we kept the same team most weeks. The gaffer has been a big plus as his experience has been big for the boys.
“Everyone gets on well. There’s no divide between the youth and senior players. If we go out and play as a team, we’ve got a chance.”