Shinty: Clark hints his time may be up as Fort William enter transition

Fort William lucky charm James Clark has revealed that shinty's Co-Operative MacTavish Cup final against Kingussie today could be his last final as the An Aird club faces up to a time of change.

Clark, now featuring in defence, has been a powerhouse for Fort William since 1993, playing a major role in making the present era the most successful in the club's history.

Renowned as a big-game player, Scotland internationalist Clark's goals have won Fort many a trophy, including Camanachd Cups and a championship.

However, with his 38th birthday approaching next week, business commitments and the passage of time could see Clark pack away his caman and boots for good.

He will make a decision at the end of the current campaign but, with Fort out of the Camanachd and Macaulay Cups, this showcase could conceivably be his swansong.

"I will have a look at it at the end of the year. I've had a good run at it and I've won everything in shinty that I wanted to win. I am quite busy now with my own business as well so we'll see how I feel at the time.

"There are still some good young players to come through at the club so maybe it is time for them to come in and let us old boys retire."

Clark may be looking to the future but that will not deter him today from trying to ensure Fort William have something to show for their efforts this season.

Their campaign has been a poor reflection of past glory and manager Peter MacIntyre is now broaching a period of transformation.

It is something today's opponents Kingussie had to face last term.

And Clark admits the fire which has powered them to four Camanachd Cups in a row is beginning to burn less often. "If I am to be honest, it has been a bit of a season to forget for us. The backbone of our team is still there and we have introduced two or three young players but we are just not hitting it off this year in the way we have in the past.

"It happens to every team, really. Kingussie have gone through the transition maybe more than us but I think it has come to the stage where the young boys have to come in and it may take two or three seasons to peak again.

"Hopefully we can win the trophy today. Perhaps we can then bring some younger players in to give them experience between now and the end of the year."

Today's final opponents Kingussie are also in transition but now have several youngsters reaching true form. Louis Munro and Fraser Munro are mainstays of the team while, in teenager Thomas Borthwick, they have an emerging star.

"Games against Fort William, no matter how each team has been playing beforehand, are always very close," said Kings captain, Ronald Ross. "Everything will come down to who rises to the occasion on the day. Hopefully, we can do that."