Kingussie’s Dave Borthwick has hung up his boots at the age of 47, but the Dell club plans to coax him back into the game in a non-playing role.
Borthwick, who has been playing for the second team for the past three years, has 14 Camanachd Cup winners medals and he would have equalled the record but refused to go on as substitute in the last minutes of the 2006 final as he did not want to collect a gong for so little effort.
Kingussie colts’ exit from the Sutherland Cup leaves them with nothing to play for and Borthwick feels it is the right time for him to bow out and make space for a much younger player.
He won more than 100 medals in his career but his elder brother Steve, the first team manager, said: “Dave didn’t play for glory, but for the love of the game. He’s still remarkably fit but he’s made up his mind it’s over. I’m sure once he has his little break, he’ll be back at the club in some capacity. He’s got too much experience and insight to let him walk away.”
The veteran, who made his Kingussie first team debut 33 years ago, will now be able to watch his 16-year-old son Thomas playing for the first team, starting with tomorrow’s game with Lovat at the Dell.
This game has a 1pm throw-up to allow Lovat to watch their second team play Glenurquhart in the Sutherland Cup final.
With leaders Newtonmore idle, the teams chasing them in the Premier Division have the chance to narrow the gap. Fort William, four points being with three games in hand, have a tricky test at Bute, who leaked nine goals in the cup last weekend but who have drawn with both Kingussie and Inveraray.
Third-placed Inveraray, eight points off the top with three games in hand, look to continue their rich vein of form in their visit to bottom club Glasgow Mid Argyll.
Oban Camanachd, now dangerously three points adrift in the second relegation spot, have Gary Lord suspended for their trip to Kyles Athletic as they try to avoid three red cards in three games.
It is top versus bottom in the North First Division as Kinlochshiel host Strathglass, who they have already beaten twice this season while Portree hosts a duel of title chasers when Kilmallie, who slipped up last week, have a tough test against Skye.