Forres Mechanics forward Scott Lawrie is back leading the line at Mosset Park after being in the front line in Afghanistan on a three-month tour of duty with the RAF.
The 29-year-old aircraft engineer, who has been in the forces for 12 years, returned to Scotland with the rest of 12 (Bomber) Squadron on Thursday, November 7 and came off the bench late on to replace Lee Fraser up front in the 4-0 win at Deveronvale on November 16.
Looking back on his 11-week Afghanistan tour, Lawrie, who has also seen service in the Falklands, Malta and Cyprus said: “I am glad to be back home after what felt like quite a long tour of duty.
“If we were lucky we were able to play a bit of five-a-side football a couple of times a week over there, but other than that we were kept very busy with 13-14 hour shifts working on the Tornado GR4s.
“We got one day off in every 15, so it was pretty much a case of finishing our shift, having something to eat then going to bed. We were lucky as the food we had was very good. That did come as a bit of a surprise to me, but we were fortunate that the mess we were able to use most was an American one.
“Plenty of burgers if that’s what you wanted to eat, but obviously not for myself. It was about 40 degrees over there so we really are all shivering back home I really had been missing my football so it was great to get a few minutes under my belt against Vale at Banff.”
Lawrie believes the Can-Cans are now beginning to recapture the kind of form which saw them lift the 2011-2012 title.
He added: “Our recent results can kick-start our season. We have an excellent squad of players who get on really well with each other and since I left to go to Afghanistan we have added to that squad with Stuart Soane from Formartine United and Kris Duncan from Deveronvale.
“I know that I will have to fight for my place, but I am fairly versatile and would be happy to play anywhere our manager wants me to play.”
Manager Rowley is delighted to have the Fifer back in the ranks.
He said: “First of all we are all very relieved that Scott has returned to us safe and sound and in good health from Afghanistan.
“On the playing side, he has a quality we don’t often see in the Highland League. He is more than capable of scoring a goal out of nothing, especially from long-range or from the edge of the box. He is a real asset to the club.
“He’s an attacking player whose best role is probably just off the main attackers.
“He can be a real threat in the final third of the park.
“He’s desperate to play and that is exactly the attitude we look for at this club.”