COVE Rangers are this season hoping to become the first team since Huntly to complete a successive hat-trick of Highland League titles.
But current Christie Park boss Dave McGinlay reckons they are still no match for that great Huntly side, who won five titles in a row between 1993 and 1998.
McGinlay, who leads his charges against Cove at Christie Park tomorrow, played in the first of those title winning campaigns.
McGinlay said: “It would be an interesting showdown.
“I know for certain that big Doug Rougvie would relish the tussle with Cove’s Paul Tosh.
“It’s always hard to make comparisons between teams from different eras.
“What I will say is, while Cove are a magnificent side, they have enjoyed a lot of luck along the way as well.
“I accept they work very hard to make that bit of luck, I’m not being disrespectful in any way.
“But I find it hard to say they would be a match for that Huntly side.
“They were outstanding.
“We had Doug, who won the European Cup Winners’ Cup with Aberdeen FC.
“We also had loads of other guys, like Steve Lennox and Eddie Copland, who had played at higher levels and stood out in the Highland League.
“The Elgin City side that won the championship a few years before that was also a bit special for the same reasons.
“Cove haven’t been as fortunate because the finances are different in the game now, although I concede they have some great young boys coming through. They are a good side, but whether they can go on and match Huntly and do five-in-a-row remains to be seen.
“The league gets tougher and tougher as each season passes.
“No one has really managed to dominate as much as Huntly did in the 90s.”