Club License in February 2012. As a result of obtaining Club licensing the top two licensed SHFL Clubs were invited into the first round of the Ramsdens Cup. Wick Academy along with Inverurie Locos secured the two slots and Academy drew a home tie against Raith Rovers. The Scorries gave the 1st Division side a real fright and at 2–2 it looked as if an upset was on the cards, but unfortunately Raith went on to win the game 4–2. Wick finished 8th in the league in the 2011–12 season Pre-season 2012 saw the club draw 3–3 with Aberdeen and 0–0 with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. At the end of August 2012 Manager Davie Kirkwood resigned to join local rivals Brora Rangers. Richard Hughes took over as caretaker manager but the shock resignation of Kirkwood was taken in the stride of the players as they did their talking on the park. As fate would have it Academy met Kirkwood's new team in the semi-final of the North of Scotland Cup within a few weeks of his sudden departure, and the Scorries thrashed Brora 3–0. Academy faced Nairn County in the final, which was played on 20 October 2012 but lost 2–1 with Nairn's winner coming in the first period of extra time after the game had ended 1–1. In the Scottish Cup Academy became the first Highland League team in over 10 years to beat Cup specialists Spartans 2–0 down at Ainslie Park, and then drew another mammoth away trip to Berwick Rangers in the second round. Academy missed a penalty in that game and with the score at 0–0 in the 90th minute and a re-play on the cards Berwick were awarded a penalty of their own which they converted to win the game 1–0. Barry Wilson was announced as the new manager on 14 October 2012 with caretaker manager Richard Hughes staying on as his assistant. Barry Wilson's first game in charge was a 5–1 demolition of Keith which took his new side to the top of the Highland League. In November 2012 a new sponsorship deal was announced with Scotty Youngson of PHD\Barga Ltd. Scotty owns the Comm Bar in Thurso which will be used by the club as the main sponsorship logo until the end of season 2014–15. As well as the Comm Bar in Thurso Scotty also owns the Central Bar and Hotel, Top Joe's and