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Match Ticket Prices 05/06

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Caley Thistle announce per-game ticket prices for season 2005/06 and also confirm the ticket details for the first home match against league champions Rangers.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle have announced their match ticket prices for the 2005-06 SPL season on the eve of Craig Brewster's squad flying to Denmark for a week's pre-season training camp.Fans are also being warned that if season ticket holders take up their full uptake, there may be few other seats available for the first home SPL game with Rangers.
Match day tickets for the Main Stand will cost £25 in the new season with student, senior citizens and schoolchildren discounts at £20.
Tickets for the North Stand will be £20 for adults and £15 for discount groups. In the Kevin Bissett Family Enclosure, adult tickets will be £15, senior citizens and students at £13 and schoolchildren at £7
"We feel we are being reasonable with our pricing strategy for the first full SPL season in the Highlands", says chief executive Mike Smith."We are in the middle group of pricing structure among the 12 SPL clubs. We have to maximise income to meet rising costs to stay out of the financial traps other clubs have found themselves in.
"The key message is that our season tickets, at £320 for an adult in the Main Stand and £280 in the North Stand, become even greater value, which is why our season ticket sales are going very well and have accelerated in the past couple of weeks.
"The fans are voting with their feet and it's highly encouraging for the club and players. It's important that our support base is going in the right direction as we face our vital second season in the top flight."
Operations manager Morven Reid revealed that there are only 30 seats still available in the main stand and she expects these to be snapped up. Similarly, in the Kevin Bissett Family Enclosure only 35 seats are unallocated -- with 400 youngsters and 320 parents having snapped up season tickets.
"There is, however, plenty of availability remaining in the North Stand, though people need to book soon to ensure a good seat", she stressed."It was pleasing that 95 per cent of existing season ticket holders renewed their seats before the June 18 deadline -- the highest retention rate in the club's history.
"Of those who did not renew, some were Aberdeen-based and bought when we were playing at Pittodrie. Travel was the main issue. "But we're delighted at the excellent surge of new business triggered by fans seeking to be part of the new atmosphere at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. The Main Stand and the Family Enclosure are on course to be season ticket sellouts for the first time and we're confident the North Stand briefs will gain momentum over the next three to four weeks."
Mrs Reid added:"This season we've two home games each with Rangers and Aberdeen plus one with Celtic -- that would cost a Main Stand supporter £125 to attend these five big games if they acquired individual match tickets. Yet for £320 they could be guaranteed a seat for all 18 home games. In effect, you are watching those five big games for free!"
She revealed that tickets for the first home game against Rangers on August 6 will go on sale to season ticket holders from July 25. "That will be an all-ticket match and we put briefs on sale, first priority will go to season ticket holders who can take a maximum of two depending on availability", disclosed Mrs Reid.
"The evidence of our season ticket sales growth suggests clearly that unless you hold a season ticket at the time of the sale, you are extremely unlikely to be able to secure a ticket for the Rangers match and other Old Firm visits. It is only fair to flag this up at this stage to avoid complaints later."
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By Guest in News 2005-06 ·

2004-05 – SPL Football in Inverness

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Another momentous season - a new manager, top-flight survival, half a season at ‘home' in Pittodrie, two new stands at the renamed Tulloch Caledonian Stadium and SPL football in Inverness. The club's second decade started on 10 July with a friendly at Brora - just 24 hours after finally gaining entry to the Bank of Scotland Premierleague. It had been a long, hard struggle after winning the First Division Championship, but the uncertainty ended thanks to a groundshare arrangement with Aberdeen, a positive vote by the SPL member clubs and the cessation of appeals by Partick Thistle.
Another momentous season - a new manager, top-flight survival, half a season at ‘home' in Pittodrie, two new stands at the renamed Tulloch Caledonian Stadium and SPL football in Inverness. The club's second decade started on 10 July with a friendly at Brora - just 24 hours after finally gaining entry to the Bank of Scotland Premierleague. It had been a long, hard struggle after winning the First Division Championship, but the uncertainty ended thanks to a groundshare arrangement with Aberdeen, a positive vote by the SPL member clubs and the cessation of appeals by Partick Thistle.
Replacements in the squad were required for Charlie Christie (retired), Bobby Mann (to Dundee), Paul Ritchie (to Brechin) and David Bingham (to Gretna). Graham Bayne (from Ross County) was already in place, after signing a pre-contract agreement. Stuart Golabek succeeded Bobby Mann as captain and July signings were defenders Darren Dods and Richard Hastings (returning for his second spell at the club), midfielders Liam Fox and Ian Black and Spanish forward Juanjo Carricondo Perez.   
The players returned for pre-season training not knowing where they would be playing but by the time they visited Brora the future was clearer. They romped home 7-0 but this was followed by disappointing draws at Huntly (1-1) and Lossiemouth (0-0). The usual diet of local friendlies was supplemented by visits to Inverness by Queens Park Rangers and Hartlepool with both matches ending 1-1. Sandwiched between these games were a 10-2 win away to Deveronvale and a 1-1 draw at Forfar. A 5-0 away win at Elgin was followed by a 6-0 home victory against Clach in the Inverness Courier Challenge Cup - Charlie Christie captained the side to mark his retiral. The final pre-season match was a 3-1 home win against Ross County in the semi-final of the Inverness Cup.
Behind the scenes preparations were being made for a season on the road but the burden of travel to/from Aberdeen was eased by sponsorship from Rapsons. Season ticket sales were brisk despite the 200-mile return trip for each home game. Inverness Medical confirmed that their shirt sponsorship would continue with a new ‘One Touch' logo. Morven Reid took the hot seat as Operations Manager. Sandy MacKenzie replaced Kenny Cameron on the board at the start of the season but, in December, he stood down in favour of former chairman David Sutherland. Emily Goodlad relinquished her post as physio in November and David Brandie took over.
The First Division championship flag was presented to the club on Friday 6 August by Lord Macfarlane at an Inverness Town House ceremony, and 24 hours later the SPL adventure started at Livingston. A comprehensive 3-0 defeat brought everyone back down to earth. The national media poured criticism on the Highlanders and made them firm relegation favourites. The Herald's chief sports writer Graham Speirs was a prominent prophet of doom and he promised to eat his hat if ICT avoided the dreaded drop back to the SFL. He was to eat both his words and his hat!
The first ‘home' SPL match at Pittodrie on Sunday 15August was successful on the field (a 2-0 win against Dunfermline) but the attendance was not great. It was announced as 1972 but this apparently failed to include season tickets - the number was understood to be nearer 3000. The honour of scoring the club's first SPL goal went to skipper Stuart Golabek. The crowd on the 22nd was rather greater for the visit of Celtic live on Setanta TV. The defining moment of the afternoon was the 17th minute red card for Juanjo after an altercation with Neil Lennon. Lennon went down and a penalty was awarded - TV evidence vindicated Juanjo and he was declared innocent following an appeal to the SFA. ICT had to play on with ten men and succumbed 3-1. On the 24th there was a CIS Cup tie away to Ross County and a narrow 1-0 victory. The final SPL match of August was a 2-1 defeat away to Dundee United on the 28thand ICT ended August in eleventh place. The squad was strengthened in early August by the signing of Scotland Under-21 striker Bryan Prunty from Aberdeen.
It was back along the A96 to Aberdeen on the 11th to play Hibs who won 2-1. On Sunday 19 September it was another first - a visit to Ibrox. The home side were clear favourites and they did win, but it was a close 1-0. On 22 September it was the third round of the CIS cup against Motherwell. An SFA/SFL dispensation to play the tie at home came with strings attached - the terracing and enclosure could not be used. For those unable to make it to Pittodrie this was a chance to see their team in Inverness, but it was no happy homecoming.  Motherwell ran out worthy 3-1 winners against a below-par ICT.
The following Saturday when Robbo took his team to Tynecastle but it was not a happy day. Hearts won 1-0 and injuries compounded the misery. Richie Hart left the field with a back spasm then Steve Hislop was stretchered off with torn knee ligaments. With no points in September, Caley Thistle propped up the SPL.
October started with two ‘home' matches - a 1-1 draw with Motherwell then a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen. There was a well-won point at Kilmarnock on the 23rd and a 2-1 victory against Dundee the following Wednesday thanks to two Graham Bayne goals. Reserve ‘keeper Mike Fraser came on for the injured Mark Brown with three minutes left - his first appearance after 69 bench slots.
On Sunday 24 October there was great sadness at the passing of Honorary Life-President Norman Miller, after a short illness. Norman was a former chairman of Caledonian and was deeply involved in the Caledonian/Thistle merger. What eventually proved to be John Robertson's last game in charge was a 2-0 victory against Livingston at Pittodrie on the 30th. Seven points out of a possible nine in three October matches pushed ICT up to ninth and earned John Robertson the ‘Manager of the Month' award. When Hearts manager Craig Levein was appointed manager of Leicester City John Robertson was immediately touted as favourite to replace him. An approach was made to ICT and, with compensation settled, Robertson was unveiled as Hearts new head coach on 3 November. Donald Park went with him and the search began for a successor. Parky agreed to take charge on a caretaker basis for the away 1-1 draw at Dunfermline on the sixth before heading for Edinburgh. Thus the Robertson/Park era came to an end and it was time to move on.
At the PLC's AGM on 8 November a proposal to convert back to a private company was put forward - this would release the company from the restraints of the Stock Exchange and allow an investor to hold in excess of 30% of shares without the need to bid for all shares. A show of hands was 81/10 in favour, but a full poll resulted in 65% for and 35% against - with 75% needed to pass the motion it failed. This caused a major row which threatened the economic fabric of the club. The economic uncertainty led to a delay in the appointment of a new manager. John Docherty and Charlie Christie took charge for two games and had a baptism of fire on the 13th - Celtic in Glasgow and a 3-0 defeat. Their second match was a 1-1 draw with Dundee United match.
The failed bid to revert to a private company resulted in major shareholders Tulloch being unable to commit new funds to the club. In turn this created an air of confusion around the club but, following behind-the-scenes meetings, the fog gradually began to lift. The search for a new manager was declared over on 25 November with the unveiling of Craig Brewster and Rangers' coach Malcolm Thomson. Charlie Christie took over the role of first team coach. The Brewster/Thomson era began at Easter Road on 27 November. Juanjo gave a 34th minute lead but, in a very tight match, Hibs came back to win 2-1. ICT finished the month in ninth place but the relegation zone was very crowded.
Foundation work for two new stands to meet SPL standards had already taken place but full construction work began on 29 November. The necessity for this to be completed before the end of the season was clear, but there was a new sense of urgency when an early return to Inverness became a possibility. Informal soundings of SPL chairmen revealed support for this move. Timing was now vital and an SPL board meeting held the key. If an early return was to be allowed, the target date was the home match against Dunfermline on 29 January.
A book covering the club's ten-year history, ‘Going Ballistic!' by club historian Ian Broadfoot, was launched on 1 December at a buffet lunch in Caledonian Stadium, attended by 40 guests. The event was fully covered by the media and the resultant publicity helped to ensure bumper sales in the run-up to Christmas. It was marketed through the club shop, the web site, Debenhams and bookshops in Inverness, Nairn, Elgin and Grantown. Any doubts about its economic viability were soon dispelled by healthy sales and, on the day of the staff Xmas party (21 December) it was announced that it was the number one best seller in Inverness.
In early December there were two decisive Pittodrie SPL matches - against Rangers on the fifth and Hearts on the 11th. Remarkably both ended 1-1. The Scottish Cup third round draw took place on the day of the Hearts game and St Johnstone were drawn at home. Building work at the stadium led to a switch to Dingwall. Between the Rangers and Hearts matches - on 7 December - there were celebrations in Inverness as the five-man SPL executive voted unanimously to allow the club to play SPL games at Caledonian Stadium from 29 January - on condition that 6000 covered seats were provided and under-soil heating was installed.
An EGM of the PLC was arranged for 20 December to revisit the conversion to a private company and this time the motion was passed on a unanimous show-of-hands. Work on the two new stands had already started but this vote strengthened the economic backing. The total cost of the two stands was estimated at £1m with Highland Council lending £400,000, matching funds from Tulloch PLC and the football club investing £200,000. The timetable was very tight but steelwork appeared above ground on 17 December and within days the shape of the south stand was clearly visible. Despite snow, frost and even a hurricane, Tulloch's army of workmen kept the project on target for 29 January. There were two more away matches before the turn of the year - a 2-1 win at Motherwell a 0-0 draw away to Aberdeen.
Monday 3 January 2005 was a busy day on all fronts - the last ‘home' match at Pittodrie and the start of undersoil heating installation at Caledonian Stadium. The 2-0 defeat by Kilmarnock was very disappointing given a good ICT performance. The Pittodrie groundshare started amidst a wave of enthusiasm for SPL football but nerves jangled as the true cost became known. In the end all was well and firm friendships were built between the Inverness and Pittodrie staff leading to mixed feelings when the final ‘home' game in the far east was over. Craig Brewster's playing debut was delayed until the Scottish Cup tie against St Johnstone on 9 January. It felt strange to play at ‘home' in Dingwall and it took a goal from captain Stuart Golabek to snatch a 1-0 victory.
Amidst difficult conditions work at Caledonian Stadium continued and on Saturday 8 January the last length of undersoil heating pipe was laid. This gave the pitch three weeks to recover before the first SPL match. With the cladding on the south stand nearly complete and the framing of the north stand well under-way Tulloch were confident that all would be ready for 29 January. There were two SPL matches before the Inverness return - at Dens Park on the 15th Dundee won 3-1 despite one of the best ICT displays of the season and a week later there was revenge at Almondvale as Livingston were whipped 4-1. On 20 January Craig Brewster announced his first signing; Danish midfielder Bajram Fetai joined from Rangers on loan until the end of the season.
The final stage in the stadium upgrading exercise was the formal granting of the appropriate certificates then on 27 January Tulloch chairman David Sutherland formally handed back the upgraded stadium to the club and it was all systems go. Saturday 29 January was another historic day in the short history of the club as the upgraded stadium (now the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium) was formally opened and the team ran out to play Dunfermline. The build up to the match had captivated the north and the home stands were a sell-out. It was  on with the show and any worries about a let-down disappeared as Caley Thistle began to dominate and Barry Wilson scored a classic goal in 35 minutes to give a deserved lead. The scoring was completed by Craig Brewster's goal in 74 minutes. Three valuable points, eighth place at the end of January, and a nine point gap over bottom club Livingston.
The following Saturday it was round four of the Scottish Cup and another A96 trip to play Aberdeen at Pittodrie. It ended in a 2-1 defeat. The following Tuesday Forres were beaten 4-1 in the final of the Inverness Cup. Sunday 13February was a major date in the calendar - Celtic's first visit to Inverness on league business. It was a sell-out and fans flocked from all over the country. They were devastated when overnight snow caused a late cancellation due to a waterlogged pitch. That left just one more match in February - 1-1 away to Dundee United on the 19th. Caley Thistle now lay 8th - ten points clear of Livingston at the foot.
On 17 February 80 supporters attended the inaugural meeting of the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters Trust. The meeting was chaired by MP David Stewart and a guest speaker was James Proctor of the Trust movement's parent body Supporters Direct. Names were taken of those interested in assisting with the Trust formation and a steering group assembled. This group quickly set to work and the launch date was set for 25 August.
Hibs came to town on Wednesday 2 March and were soundly beaten 3-0. Three days later it was back to Ibrox and the home faithful were stunned when Bryan Prunty’s last-minute goal earned the Highlanders a point. The purple patch continued the following week at Tynecastle when John Robertson’s side were beaten 2-0. These results were no flukes – the team was playing with a confidence and spirit that was a joy to behold and relegation worries were beginning to fade. The rearranged visit of Celtic on the 16th was not quite so successful. Celtic won 2-0 but it was a sign of the times that home fans were so disappointed. March’s performances were, however, enough to earn Craig Brewster the Bank of Scotland Premierleague manager of the month award. Into April and a home 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen on the second then a 1-0 win at Kilmarnock on the 9th pushed ICT up to seventh. Motherwell came north on Tuesday 12th and ICT won 1-0. There was just one match to go before the top six places were decided and Motherwell were just three points ahead.
It all came to a head on Saturday 16th with Dundee as visitors to Inverness. ICT were 3-0 up after 65 minutes and Motherwell were one down at Kilmarnock. A top six finish was possible at that point but two Dundee goals and a Motherwell equaliser ended all hopes. The 3-2 victory did however ensure that SPL survival was a mathematical certainty. At least eighth place was assured and there was now little to play for except pride and the additional cash if seventh place was secured. Fringe players were given the chance to shine but the results of the last five matches were disappointing – 0-0 away to Dunfermline, 1-2 at Kilmarnock, 0-1 at home to Livingston, 1-1 at Dundee and finally a 1-0 defeat to Dundee United. The United game on 21 May brought down the curtain on a fantastic season but the defeat meant that Kilmarnock took seventh spot. Home fans were disappointed with the tail-end results but eighth was still a remarkable achievement.
Ross Tokely’s tremendous season led to him scooping the pool with all five player awards. Mark Brown started all 42 games although an October injury put this in doubt. In the event reserve ‘keeper Mike Fraser made two substitute appearances but Brown’s 100% starting record was intact. Brown also finished the season having played 133 games in a row – an ever present for three seasons. Graham Bayne played in all 42 games of 2004-05 but his total included eight substitute appearances. Top goalscorer was Barry Wilson with ten.
Copyright to and used with permission of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC Club Historian - Ian Broadfoot

By Scotty in History ·

Homeless World Cup - Edinburgh

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A sporting fixture of an altogether different kind kicks off for the first time in the UK this summer, with the arrival of The Homeless World Cup (HWC), a global street soccer tournament involving 32 teams of homeless people from around the globe.
Street soccer is a fast growing, fast-paced, highly competitive and dynamic sport capturing the imagination of millions worldwideSponsored and supported by Nike, UEFA and The United Nations, The Homeless World Cup is an international street soccer event that highlights the positive power of sport by creating a unique setting for homeless people and people in poverty. Mel Young and Harald Schmied created the concept in 2001 at the Annual International Network of Street Papers Conference (INSP), which works on practical solutions for homelessness and poverty. Founded in 1995 the INSP today acts as a network for more than 60 street papers worldwide.
In providing excluded people with access to football, the Homeless World Cup generates a new social impact for a marginalised group. The feeling of belonging, challenge of working in a team, the process of regaining a health- oriented attitude towards life, self esteem and last but not least the experience of fun.
The Scottish Executive, EventScotland, SportScotland and the City of Edinburgh Council, UEFA, Nike, Standard Life, Forth are supporting this year¹s event in Edinburgh. The United Nations has also pledged its support in recognition of the important part the Homeless World Cup plays in the lives of the disenfranchised.
The Scotland team who competed last year in Gothenburg and came fourth after a narrow defeat by Austria, shall be once again competing, hoping to get all the way to the finals! So come along and support Scotland! All information on the event is on www.streetsoccer.org
The brainchild of Big Issue in Scotland founder, Mel Young, and Harald Schmied from Austria, The Homeless World Cup is in its third year and, following huge success in Austria 2003 and Sweden 2004, has grown out of all proportion in terms of team entries, spectators, exposure and support with increasing global impact on poverty. A week-long competition, with players from 32 countries, it is scheduled to take place in the streets of Edinburgh from 20-24 July 2005, and is predicted to attract at least 50,000 spectators.
"The Homeless World Cup aims to tackle global poverty, specifically challenging the issue of homeless people and results to date have been simply astounding in terms of changing lives and changing perceptions," says co-founder Mel Young. "Football is a great leveller, it connects people and is a grass roots sport for everyone. The Homeless World Cup is able to change the scenery, challenge stereotyping and people who have been spat at the week before are cheered by thousands and treated as soccer heroes during the tournament. It is quite extraordinary ­ this kind of change is previously unheard of for the most disaffected people in the world who are usually cast aside and alienated by society," says Young.
The Homeless World Cup is full of inspiring, courageous teams and players. The Netherland's team Haags Straatnieuws, is lead by ex-premier league player Steve Cromwell of Sparta Rotterdam, who is making his way back from drugs and homelessness when injury ended his football career. He says: "When playing soccer, you forget about your problems. It opens your spirit. I want my players to be disciplined, and show that they are grown up men. Good sportsmanship is so important. If we make this tournament a success, it will be an experience they will never forget."
The United Nations are also firm supporters of the Homeless World Cup. 2005 is the United Nation¹s International Year of Sport and Physical Education and they see street soccer as a perfect example of how sport can be used to tackle exclusion: "The Homeless World Cup puts the emphasis on the potential of sport. It offers a precious frame for the empowerment of the youth and young adults on the edge of society. By using the universal language of sport, particularly a team sport such as football, you favour a better mutual understanding between the participants," says Adolf Ogi, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace.
HWC teams are supported by world-class football teams and it is hoped this will spark support and involvement from other big name clubs in setting up the soccer academies around the world, which are planned to further increase the impact of the Homeless World Cup. England is supported by Manchester United and Spain has links with Real Madrid.
WHEN: 20-24 July 2005 Homeless World Cup heads to Edinburgh, UK WHERE: Princes Street Gardens (at Ross Band Stand) TIMES: Approx 1pm - 9pm every day ENTRY FEE: None
TEAMS: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Wales, Zambia
For further information log onto www.streetsoccer.org.
Guest
By Guest in News 2005-06 ·

TeamICT - Fancy Footworx

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Team ICT is launching Footworx, a unique new football based exercise class, on Monday 6 June at Raigmore Primary School at 10.30am with a demo of the footworx activities. 15 children from P7 at Raigmore Primary and ICT coaches will take part
Team ICT is launching Footworx, a unique new football based exercise class, on Monday 6 June at Raigmore Primary School at 10.30am with a demo of the footworx activities. 15 children from P7 at Raigmore Primary and ICT coaches will take part.Footworx is an alternative circuit class which uses football specific movements to improve coordination, fitness and endurance. Male and female participants of all ages and levels of fitness can take part in the fun and effective form of exercise.
Ally Velzian of Team ICT, said: "Footworx provides people with an interesting alternative to the normal keep-fit classes available and is a unique way of getting healthy.
"We developed Footworx in such a way to ensure that people of all ages at any level of fitness can get involved and enjoy keeping fit in an upbeat fun environment.
"Team ICT is focussed on providing high quality services like Footworx to the community in a bid to make healthy living accessible to everyone."
The project is funded by Scotland Against Drugs and a donation from The Royal Institution Of Chartered Surveyors.
Guest
By Guest in News 2005-06 ·

Rossco Scoops 6 Awards

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Ross Tokely, who broke Charlie Christie's appearance record earlier in the season has created another bit of history by winning every single end of season award - the first time this has ever happened.
Ross Tokely has been written off year after year by some people as a player that wouldnt make the grade. Ross has been with the club since our Division 3 days and each time Caley Thistle stepped up a division there were some who predicted that Rossco's demise would soon follow.At the end of this season, our first in the SPL, the team have made many critics eat their words (and a few hats !!) with the quality of their performances and the determination that the players showed to succeed. There is no-one who embodies that spirit and determination more than Ross Tokely.
Ross has managed to have the last laugh on all of his doubters by not only breaking Charlie Christie's all-time appearance record for Caley Thistle during the season but also by scooping every single end of season award, a feat which has never been done before.
Ross's first award came after the final game of the season against Dundee United when he was named as the Supporters Player of the Year.
The Supporters's Player of the Year award is the award that home fans attending the last match of the season decide on by filling in a ballot at the stadium.
This award is highly desired as it is voted on by the supporters and is indicative of consistent performances throughout the season. Ross won this award by a huge margin. He can be seen in the picture on the left accepting the award from Caley Thistle's 'Super Fan' Ann Nicol.
Another award that is highly prized is the Players' Player of the Year trophy as this is voted on by the winner's fellow professionals in the squad and Ross was also awarded this trophy.
Ross was not finished picking up silverware and later in the evening he picked up another four awards at the Supporter's Club end of season function in the Loch Ness Hotel.
The Matchday Programme Player of the year is tallied up by program editor Bryan Munro and points for this are awarded throughout the season.
Ross won this award also and can be seen here with Bryan Munro (centre) and his father Jim.
Ross had no sooner sat down from this award than he was back up to collect another. This time it was the Supporters Club Player of the Year. Ross also won this last year and added it to his growing tally for season 2004/05.
Over the last five years the CaleyThistleOnline.com Player of the Year has started to become valued by the players too.
This trophy is voted on over the course of the season by the supporters who attend games and vote after each game for the top performances in matches. The points are tallied up over the season and it takes consistency over the complete season to win this. Ross won this award by quite some distance and it takes something special for a player to win it by the margin that Ross did this season. Previous winners of this trophy have been Bobby Mann, Barry Robson, Stuart Golabek and Liam Keogh.
Simon MacDonald (you might know him best as 'Bronson' from the website) can be seen above awarding Ross with the trophy for this season which has seen him draw plaudits from almost everyone.
CaleyJags.com initiated a Player of the Year award last season and gave it to Mark Brown. This award is chosen by those who run the CaleyJags.com website and Ross managed to make it a clean sweep of all the awards by winning this one too !!!
Ross can be seen here accepting the trophy from Linsey Paul.
Caley Thistle fans have always applauded loyalty, determination and effort from our players which is why Ross has always been a huge fan favourite. We are sure the fans will continue to get behind Ross in the coming seasons and hopefully he can join the likes of Charlie Christie and Jim Calder who are held in the highest regard as Caley Thistle legends.
Ross might still be too young (26) to be classed as a 'legend' for now, but if he continues to perform as he has for the last 9 years in Caley Thistle colours he will surely set an appearance record that will never be broken and will truly be regarded as a legend in the same way as Christie and Calder.
Charlie Christie, the previous appearance record holder had this to say about Ross breaking his record "I am delighted that it has been a local ‘Highland lad' who has overtaken my proud record. I have enjoyed many great results playing alongside Roscoe with ICT and I have been delighted that he has enjoyed such a terrific season at the top level. To think that we have achieved so much this year with three out of our back four being local lads (Tokely,Munro & Golabek) is unbelievable and gives a huge incentive to all the keen young players at the club."
As Caley Thistle fans most of us also firmly believe that his next step-up should be to catch the eye of the national team manager and add the award of a Scotland international cap to his bulging trophy cabinet. Those of us who have delighted in watching his performances over the last 9 years know he is up to the challenge and we look forward to perhaps another 9 years of Rossco in the Red and Blue !!!
Well Done Ross - more of the same please ...
Guest
By Guest in News 2005-06 ·

Singing Section - North Stand

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As a result of a number of supporter requests, both on the website and directly by email to the club an area of the North Stand has been designated as a 'singing area'. Time to make some noise !!! Morven Reid, Operations manager at Caley Thistle has responded to a number of requests from fans requesting a designated area for singing at games.
In an email to one of the requestors she said "We have reserved the following section for any fans who would like to be together in a 'Singing Section': North Stand, Section F, Row's C, D, E, & F"
Morven asked that we highlight this on the website so that fans wishing to join in with their (hopefully) noisy fellow supporters could request tickets for this area when renewing season tickets ... and she hopes that you will all be in great voice next season to cheer the team on.
Guest
By Guest in News 2005-06 ·

Chief Executive Named

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Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC has appointed the former chief executive of the UK professional basketball league as the man to drive forward the SPL's most northerly club.
FORMER UK PRO BASKETBALL BOSS TO BE ICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC has appointed the former chief executive of the UK professional basketball league as the man to drive forward the SPL's most northerly club.
Chartered accountant Mike Smith, whose previous football post was at Aston Villa, has been appointed as ICT's first Chief Executive and will take up post from June 1.
Mike Smith was chief executive of Basketball League Ltd for 14 years until last year and was responsible for the strategic development and operational management of the professional league and its member clubs. His role included commercial income generation and dealing with sponsorship, TV and major events contracts. Prior to that he was Head of Events at Birmingham City Council, managing the UK's largest events department, staging high profile international events in the arts, sport and general entertainment. He opened and managed the Aston Villa FA Leisure Centre, combining commercial activity with community use of sports facilities.
Before moving in to the leisure industry, Mr Smith was a taxation and audit accountant and later company secretary of a computer firm. He and his wife moved to Inverness last year when his wife, Jackie Cuddy, was appointed Manager of the Eastgate Centre shopping mall.
ICT chairman Ken Mackie commented: "We were delighted with the high calibre of applicants for this job, it is testimony to how far this club has come." He added "We have appointed Mike Smith because he has a fine track record both in finance and in leisure. In the present state of football in Scotland, it's important for our leading employee to be on top of the financial position and Mike's accountancy expertise will be of great value."
Ken added "He will have responsibility for all aspects of the club, including financial, administration, marketing and staffing, and he will report directly to the board."
Mr Smith commented: "I've been very impressed by what the club has achieved this year and I hope my background will enable me to work with the directors and staff to drive ICT further forward. My priority will be the business side of things, leaving the football operation to Director of Football Graeme Bennett and the football management staff. The success of this club in its first SPL season, coupled with the stadium enhancement, offers me a very sound basis on which to tackle the job."
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By Guest in News 2005-06 ·

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