As Caley Thistle’s all-time top goalscorer, there are plenty of fans who have fond memories of Dennis Wyness.
The 41-year-old is still plying his trade in the Highland League with Huntly but recently announced that he will play his last game on Saturday.
It will bring to an end a 22-year career which started in Aberdeen’s youth ranks.
He struggled to break into Ebbe Skovdahl’s Dons team on a regular basis and was sent out on loan to Caley Thistle in 1999. His progress was slow however, and he ended up being transfer listed by manager Steve Paterson.
It turned out to the best thing that ever happened to his career because Wyness, who by now had been playing as a striker instead of a midfielder, went on a great goalscoring run.
He hit 24 league goals in 2000-1 and a further 18 the following season and in March 2003, he scored the only goal of the game as Inverness once again knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup.
His fine form for Caley Thistle led to a move to Hearts and much was expected of him. Things didn’t quite go to plan though and he struggled to break into the team under Craig Levein.
He enjoyed more playing time when his former Caley Thistle boss John Robertson took charge of the Jambos but once Robertson was replaced by George Burley, Wyness found his chances limited again.
A loan move back to Inverness was made permanent in 2006 and in his second spell he scored his 100th goal for the club against his first team Aberdeen. He eventually finished on 101, which still stands as a club record, before spells at St Mirren, Queen of the South, Dumbarton, Peterhead and Elgin.
He dropped into the Highland League with Buckie Thistle and in 2016, he signed with Huntly.
With 560 Scottish senior appearances and more than 150 Scottish senior goals under his belt, he certainly deserves a rest.
Dennis, enjoy your retirement!
Career statistics
1996-2000: Aberdeen. 25 appearances, 1 goal.
1999: Caley Thistle (loan). 15 appearances, 0 goals.
2000-2003: Caley Thistle. 143 appearances, 80 goals.
2003-2006: Hearts. 82 appearances, 14 goals.
2005: Caley Thistle (loan). 34 appearances, 11 goals.
2006-2008: Caley Thistle. 50 appearances, 10 goals.
2008-2010: St Mirren. 37 appearances, 3 goals.
2009-2010: Queen of the South (loan). 7 appearances, 2 goals.
2010: Dumbarton. 17 appearances, 5 goals.
2010-2012: Peterhead. 60 appearances, 9 goals.
2012-2015: Elgin. 96 appearances, 19 goals.
