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Dougie McGilvray Statement

Teaser Paragraph:
Dougie McGilvray, former Chairman of the club has sent a letter, reproduced in full below to all the shareholders of the club with his thoughts on the forthcoming share issue.
Dougie McGilvray's letter to the shareholders
The current Chairman, David Sutherland has promised his response to this letter, in full and on here.
 
22nd February 2001
Dear Fellow Shareholder,
As immediate past Chairman of INVERNESS THISTLE & CALEDONIAN FC PLC and a Board member since the amalgamation of the two former Clubs, I have seen what the first Chairman and his Board and my own Board had to face, and act on, to bring senior football to Inverness. There were many decisions that had to be made and I believe that the individuals concerned made the correct choices, and indeed this has been proven by the success of our Club over the past 6 years.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?
• Kingsmills Park has become an executive housing estate.
• Telford Street Park has become a retail park.
• Longman Dump has become the gateway to the city.
• Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC has been the catalyst for future development of West and East Longman.
• The Club through its developments has provided long and short-term employment within Inverness.
• The Highland Council will benefit financially from all the property development.
But most of all the Football Club...
• Have come from the Highland League to the First Division Scottish Football League.
• Have reached the quarter final of the Scottish Cup only to be knocked out by Rangers.
• Have beaten Celtic in the third round of the Scottish Cup.
Surely the founders of Inverness Thistle and Caledonian Football Clubs would be proud to know that their vision and wonderful history is being carried forward.
We have the longest serving Manager in Scottish Football. Steve Paterson has been with us since our second year in Scottish League Football. It is also pleasing to note that 90%of today's squad have been with the Club since our Second Divisicn campaign, and indeed we still have a few players who played for the two previous Clubs.
One of the conditions of Inverness getting a team in the Scottish Football League was that we had to provide a new Stadium. The Stadium and related infrastructure costs less the funding that was in place left the Club with an immediate shortfall in November 1996 of approximately £1.4 million. This was to be recovered by property development.
I stood down as Chairman of the PLC in December 1999 and as a Director on the 30" of May 2000. To this date I have not made public my feelings about what is happening to our Club, I have listened and read the many remarks made about the past Boards and said nothing.
Like you I have now received the new prospectus, which offers for sale shares in the PLC. It seems that this is to be a company without a Stadium.
I know that many of my fellow shareholders have already spoken to their financial advisors, only to be told not to invest in the PLC but if they wish to invest to do so in the Trust. The reason being it is not advisable to invest in anything that has no assets. But how can you invest in something that has a low limit and is very likely to be fully subscribed to?
I know that the PLC requires to have money invested in it, but does it make sense to sell the crown jewels and leave the safe empty? With the present solution we are not getting rid of the debt we are only transferring it.
Is this proposal not just a small part of a scheme by bankers and property developers to get a foothold within the Highland Council to allow them to development other areas of land within the Highlands and make large profits?
If so I say good luck to them, but please leave us with our Stadium and negotiate with the Lease on the land that we have invested heavily in. Thus helping the Football Club to recover some of its costs.
My personal wish is to see the City of Inverness have a senior football Club to support, namely Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC.
I enclose with this letter some questions and facts for your perusal. It is my belief that every supporter and shareholder should ask themselves these questions before making any decisions.
I would ask you either to back this proposal, and also ask you to try and encourage your friends to invest and come along to support our Club, or to come up with an alternative proposal whereby we do not lose our Stadium.
If you can do this we still need to attract more support and return to being a family Club.
Yours in Sport
DOUGIE MCGILVRAY

INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE FC PLC
QUESTIONS & FACTS
1)
Why is a Trust being set up?
2)
Why is a new Property Company being set up?
3)
Why are the Lease and Stadium both being transferred to the Trust?
4)
The Stadium cost was in the region of 2.5 million pounds.
5)
The infrastructure cost was in the region of 2.8 million pounds.
6)
Would it not be sensible to transfer the Lease to the Property Company or Trust and leave the PLC with the Stadium as an asset?
7)
If the Trust or Property Company can carry debt and eventually make a profit, how can the PLC not do the same?
8)
The Inverness Common Good Fund gave some 900,000 pounds, in return they have a capital gain in excess of 4 million pounds in land value. Very good business.
9)
The Highland Council gave 100,000 pounds and in return they received a distributor road valued in excess of 2.3 million pounds, plus all revenue from future property developments within the area serviced by the distributor road. Very good business.
10)
The Harbour Trust contributed to the cost of the distributor road and received a capital gain from the sale of the foreshore that was reclaimed. Very good business.
11)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle was left with the shortfall in costs and it was envisaged that this would be recovered by future property development. Poor Catalyst.
12)
Where does Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. go from here, with no Stadium, no asset?
13)
Inverness Thistle and Caledonian Football Clubs were the biggest contributors to the funding of Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club. Now they are being asked to reduce their voting rights without any Share Capital being lodged in the PLC.
14)
If this was to happen it would surely make it easier for one person or a group of people to take control of the Club.
15)
This is what the former Clubs did not want to happen.
16) Six members of the previous board were asked to resign on the understanding that there was going to be a large sum of money invested in the PLC 17) The directors duly resigned but to their knowledge no investment has been made in the PLC 18) At that time there was no mention of the assets being transferred to any other companies or trusts.
 
 
 
By Scotty in News 2001-02 ·

Chairmans Statement

Teaser Paragraph:
David Sutherland talks to the fans
Dear Shareholder The press speculation and interest in our operations as a football club is relentless so, I thought it would be appropriate to write to you explaining where we are in terms of restructuring the Company, its Balance sheet and its operations.
In terms of the capital reconstruction, we now have outline terms and conditions from the Bank of Scotland to enable us to do this.
As outlined in our document "The Road to Premier League Football" issued to you earlier in the year, the proposal is basically the same and includes -
The formation of a new Trust called the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Trust Ltd. This is a company limited by guarantee and the terms of the Trust are as outlined in our document.
The stadium is transferred to a new property company, 75% owned by the Trust in as fiscally expedient a manner as possible and at a value which - a) removes the debt from the football club; b) gives us cash breathing space; c) lets us build a new enclosure.
The football operation then rents back the stadium on terms to be agreed but substantially less than the interest costs.
The terms of the sub-lease will mirror the terms of the existing head lease with Highland Council.
We obviously need SFL and SFA agreement to this procedure and the acquiescence of the grant authorities to avoid any grant claw back on the original grants tabled to enable the stadium to be completed.
At the same time, we are working diligently to secure a structure which has no VAT, stamp duty or tax implications of any significant nature.
One of the major conditions precedent in the offer from the Bank of Scotland is that we raise share capital of £600,000 within the Trust's Property Company and we are endeavouring to secure this from major shareholders given the risk profile attaching to this.
This £600,000 will represent 24.9% of the issued capital of the subsidiary of the Trust called Inverness Caledonian Thistle Properties Ltd who will, in turn, own the stadium on behalf of the Trust. The residual 75.1% of the share capital will be owned by the Trust.
The objective is that this company, ie. Inverness Caledonian Thistle Properties Ltd undertakes further development at the stadium with, hopefully, a deal to be announced shortly and, when the time comes for a major stand to be constructed, given our progression through the football leagues, we have a vehicle within the camp to do this.
The only stumbling block therefore is the £600,000, but we are in the process of raising this.
At the same time, we are launching a share issue within the existing Inverness Thistle & Caledonian Thistle FC plc company, ie., the company in which you currently own shares and funds received here will be used to bolster the team, and the associated income generating activity is so necessary to help balance the books.
Our Sports Bar in Church Street is now well on its way to creation with planning and licence now secured and building warrant now requested.
We hope to be operational here by April/May.
The refit of the premises is to be carried out via support from the brewers so we should not have a drain on our resources here.
The social clubs are in the process of being rationalised through the Greig Street operation and in addition the buying power identified via the Sports Bar is being used to good effect through the social clubs.
We are using an external consultant to help us set this operation up.
Our operators at the stadium in terms of catering, conferences, etc. have been represented this season in a new mode which has been received most positively by the public and supporters alike. Having taken the bull by the horns earlier this year and improved the position, we will not rest there and, for next season, another theme will be introduced, all in pursuit of providing what the customer is looking for in terms of value for money.
Servery areas are currently receiving strategic evaluation, as is a pub within the curtilage of the stadium at the Longman with the slant on match day.
You will no doubt have read the speculation in the press and on the internet re Catriona Bissett, our Chief Executive but, for avoidance of doubt, we knew when we employed Catriona earlier in the year that she would have a change of career direction if the premises she had secured in Inverness obtained planning consent for a restaurant.
Catriona happily has secured a consent, but she is not abandoning the ship as some sources have suggested, more moving on to a part-time consultancy role.
At the same time, we were bolstering our backroom teams across the spectrum, including the management committee and valuable additions should be signalled shortly.
Catriona staying as a Consultant with us is a positive move both in terms of cost control and maintaining the standards which have been set over the past 9 months.
The transformation of the hospitality vista at the stadium is there for all to see and as signalled, we hope to build on this.
You have read it here first, for a change, in that John Sutherland is retiring as General Manager but in line with Catriona, will also stay on as a part-time Health & Safety Consultant to us on match days. This then leaves Gary and David to run the business under the control of the Board and/or Catriona.
We are also evaluating, with others, the question of a Highland Football Academy to help with the training and honing of our youngsters who will be the players of tomorrow with an announcement to be made here shortly.
Last, but not least, our team has, despite a poor start, moved to its highest place within the League system since its inception and move from the Highland League, a testament to Graeme Bennett and Pele Paterson as well as all the players.
In common with many other clubs within the game we are striving to make ends meet in terms of our income and expenditure curves, and whilst we have strived to ensure that we maintain momentum within the league, we are also looking at every angle to preserve football at as high a level as practicable in our current league.
We are, I repeat, at the highest level in the league system, we are not far away from the top 3 and as we move forward, who knows!
Meantime, I hope the above commentary gives you a flavour of, "where we are at", and if the final parts of the restructuring can be put in place by then, you can expect documentation on the plc share issue pre Xmas.
At the risk of repeating myself, with the support of certain major shareholders, we have an opportunity of removing our debt and leaving ourselves modestly cash positive. Additionally, we remove the burden of the past once and for all and move the stadium into a mode which sees it held in Trust, the remaining 94 years of the current lease, with the material benefit being the removal from the equation of the monumental interest charge which our financials simply do not digest (for avoidance of doubt, the footballing operation keeps the revenues from all activities associated with the stadium such as boards, gates, hospitality, etc.)
What a way for Inverness Caledonian Thistle to start the new millennium and hopefully you can see your way in this millennium year of supporting football via subscribing to the share issue.
Could I wish you and your friends and family, a merry Xmas and a prosperous New Year.
 
David F Sutherland
 
By Scotty in News 2000-01 ·

Chairmans Statement

Teaser Paragraph:
David Sutherland talks to the fans
The Road to Premier Glory Caley Thistle Chairman, David Sutherland is promising to make the experience of visiting Caledonian Stadium for fans more pleasant, in the hope that it will increase numbers during the coming season. Attendances are of course crucial to the club's financial recovery, and the board have pledged action of a wide range of issues ranging from the provision of covered enclosures, which they have applied for planning permission for, to faster service at the eateries within the stadium, and other areas to make it a far more pleasant experience to visit the stadium. (There are no plans to provide hot water bottles during the winter however unfortunately!).
 
Ground Improvements
"Our master plan is that next season is the season that we really go for premier league football, but I don't rule out this season if we get off to a good start. I don't rule out having to look at it half-term and I'd hate to be caught in the same position as Falkirk last season. We are not doing an Ayr or Livingston, and buying wildly to guarantee promotion but we are nurturing from the grass roots level really. We will meet the Premier League criteria one way or another because we want the major chunks built and consented with the ability to extend and we would have enough of the criteria met in the Premier League 'tick-sheet' terms to say 'right, go ahead'.
Pricing Policies
"Unfortunately, we have been unable to tinker with the pricing. That's something I was quite keen to have a look at because football in the first division has become expensive. But this season because of the financial position we find ourselves in, we have been unable to tinker with that but next season we want to become more ambitious and look at ways of lightening the load for the fans and in particular the family"
The Debt
"In terms of addressing the millstone of the debt, we have a plan to table to our shareholders in august which says that the debt will be eliminated and we have a very simple mechanism in place to be able to provide the necessary capital to enable the ground improvements to occur to help us achieve Premier League status if and when that comes along. Balancing the books is also a key issue and its like turning the rudder of the Titanic to avoid the iceberg. It takes quite a time for the ship to respond to the rudder instruction and Graeme Bennett is doing a sterling job in getting our cost curve to meet the revenue curve and it takes about nine months for that to happen"
The Team
"Steve Paterson has gone about his job in a cool and calculated manner and is to be commended for not wanting to rush out and buy players in response to a defeat. Duncan Shearer's toughness and Pele's thoughtfulness make a great combination. Its not our style to say were going out to win the league. We would rather plan the the campaign and see how the new signings of Ayr and Livingston go, and think ahead. Every General goes out to win the war but it's the generals that don't tell you how they will do it who come up trumps. We would rather use our general to plan the campaign as the season goes on. There is not a great deal of money to invest in players, but if the right player and package became available then we will not shirk from doing the business. With Graeme Bennett joining the team as director of football we have now avoided the boardroom interfering with the dressing room. The days of a chairman wandering into a dressing room swearing, blinding and cursing has no place at Inverness Caley Thistle. The manager is charged with looking after the team on the park, the Director of Football is charged with looking after the strategy of the team as it approaches the park. I will not be seen in the dressing room unless invited in by Pele Paterson or Graeme Bennett."
By Scotty in News 2000-01 ·

Managers Statement

Teaser Paragraph:
Pele talks to the fans
League Structure "This must be the only league in Britain with "one-up two-down" whereas most others are two-up two-down but that is the way it is laid out and there is very little we can do about it apart from hope that there will be further restructuring later on. Because there are two to be relegated it will be cut-throat but I will be looking to build up some early momentum so that we don't get involved in a relegation fight early on."
The Team I have my best 11 in my head, which I think will be a strong side but that 11 will not be fit week in and week out. I would like us to get off to a good start, unlike last season when we lost the first four league games and which then made it a difficult season for a while. I would like to see us get ourselves bedded down in the top half of the league, which would be a more challenging position for us. Money The lack of cash is probably a common factor in 90% of clubs in this division. You just have to become accustomed to working under that kind of restraint, although if there was one or two key areas that needed strengthening and there was no cash available it could become frustrating. Anyway, I don't think the answer is always the chequebook. The young players have chosen football as their career and its there for the taking. And if they can rise to that challenge they could become better players than I could buy. But instead of whingeing about the lack of money, part of my job is to unearth young players, such as Martin Bavidge who I brought in from the junior ranks. I think that gives more satisfaction than going out and buying a player." The Season "A top five finish is the aim this term, and gaining promotion to the SPL may be unrealistic at this time. I am looking forward to the return of the local derbies with Ross County. We have moved forward every year for the last five years and we have to maintain that progress. We finished 6th last season, and a higher finish this year, whether that be third or fourth will be progress. But I don't want to build up hopes by being unrealistic, we will be fighting against clubs who have been able to spend a lot of money on premier league players. We obviously cant go down that road but that doesn't bother me because for the long term I think you are better developing your own young players anyway. The local derbies add more flavour to the campaign because it is something that has been sorely missed. Obviously we want to get the better of them and they will feel the same way about us. Livingston and Ayr Utd have spent big during the close season, with their sights set clearly on moving up to the top flight. But one of them is going to get burnt which means the investment has gone down the pan. Falkirk cannot be discounted either, nor can Raith Rovers for they are always there or there about. The club that I think could cause a few suprises is Clyde. I've rated them for the last few seasons, and the season when we won promotion, they were third. They were a right good side then, and by winning the second division last season they have clearly progressed.
By Scotty in News 2000-01 ·

1999-00 - SuperCaleyGoBallistic!!!

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Lack of cash meant few signings and a reliance on the squad that had gained promotion. Stuart Golabek came from Ross County and Kevin Byers from Raith Rovers. Mid season Davide Xausa and Dennis Wyness joined but Paul Cherry and Iain MacArthur retired through injury. Scott McLean left for Queen of the South and Barry Robson went on loan to Forfar. Lack of cash meant few signings and a reliance on the squad that had gained promotion. Stuart Golabek came from Ross County and Kevin Byers from Raith Rovers. Mid season Davide Xausa and Dennis Wyness joined but Paul Cherry and Iain MacArthur retired through injury. Scott McLean left for Queen of the South and Barry Robson went on loan to Forfar. A new kit sponsor came on the scene - Errea of Italy. After a series of pre-season friendlies the first competitive match took place on 31 July - away at Stenhousemuir in the first round of the CIS Insurance Cup. It proved to be a stroll in the sun and Caley Thistle won 3-1. The start of the League campaign the following week was another matter - a 4-0 defeat away to Dunfermline demonstrated how hard things were to be in Division One. In the CIS Cup St Mirren were beaten but there was a narrow 1-0 defeat in the third round against Motherwell. The resurrected Bells Challenge Cup provided a good run to the final before losing to Alloa 5-4 on penalties after a 4-4 draw. It was a thrilling match with Caley Thistle coming back three times in normal play and once in extra time. The league was a real battle and the first four matches were lost. It was 4th September before a precious point was gained against Morton then the first win came the following week - 1-0 against Clydebank. The North Cup was lifted on 12th September with the 3-0 defeat of Lossiemouth and the Inverness Cup was won by beating Forres 6-0 on 24th November. League form improved and by Xmas Caley Thistle lay 6th equal with Airdrie - despite a 5-1 drubbing by Morton on 12 November.
The last game of 1999 was against Clydebank at home. Barry Wilson created Scottish football history when he scored the 4th goal - it was the last league or cup goal of the old millennium - helped by the 330 start. Amazingly he scored the first of the new millennium at Livingston on 3 January - a 1pm kick off because Livingston temporarily had no lights. Restructuring of the Board early in January saw David Sutherland take over as Chairman with Ken Thomson as Vice-Chairman. 8th January saw a 6-2 victory against Morton then the Scottish Cup draw the next day produced a plum away tie against Celtic.
The game drew great interest and 4000 fans made their way to Glasgow on buses, cars and a special train. After a night of gales part of the Parkhead stand became dangerous and the game was called off 45 minutes before kick-off. The disappointed supporters made their way home and the match was re-scheduled for 8 February - a Tuesday evening. They could not believe what was to follow as their team beat Celtic 3-1. This was dubbed the greatest Scottish football shock for over 30 years amd it spawned the classic headline "Super Caley Go Ballistic Celtic Are Atrocious" in The Sun. The resultant publicity was overwhelming and began to overshadow all other matters. Inverness was the centre of attention for a long time. The 5th round tie on the 20 February was at home against Aberdeen - live on SKY TV. After an exciting game it was 1-1 and a replay at Pittodrie. This took place on 29th February and 4000 fans travelled east in hope. The team put up a good show but narrowly lost 1-0. Only a wonderful Jim Leighton save from a Paul Sheerin volley in the dying minutes stopped a draw.
Richard Hastings and Davide Xausa both played in the replay after being with the Canadian international team at Gold Cup 2000 in California. Richard scored the winning quarter final "Golden Goal" against Mexico and he played in the final when Canada beat Colombia 1-0. Richard was also voted "Rookie of the Tournament". Davide played in the earlier games but missed the final due to a shoulder injury. Assistant manager Alec Caldwell left on February 24th to take the Manager's job at Elgin City - bound for the Third Division next season. Duncan Shearer moved into the vacant slot from First Team Coach. February was quite a month.
With the cup run over the new Board faced up to the economic realities of a near £2m overdraft and stringent financial controls were applied throughout the Club. On March 7 it was announced that there would be a £1m share rights issue. The terms were opposed by major shareholders but eventually agreement was reached and financial matters were set to dominate the close season. On the field the season was effectively over with 6th place in the League secure. It was just as well because a series of injuries decimated the team and gave chances to the Skillseekers. A 5-1 home defeat against lowly Airdrie on 15th April was a major embarassment but the season finished on a high note with a 5-0 home win against newly-crowned champions St Mirren.


Copyright to and used with permission of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC Club Historian - Ian Broadfoot
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By Guest in History ·

1998-99 - Promotion to Division 1

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Steve Paterson signed three players in the close season but none were to be major influences. Mike Newlands was injured and only played pre season. Martin Bavidge made his senior debut but spent most of the season at Forres on loan. Gary Farquhar was only in the team sporadically and spent some time mid-season on loan to Clachnacuddin. Steve Paterson signed three players in the close season but none were to be major influences. Mike Newlands was injured and only played pre season. Martin Bavidge made his senior debut but spent most of the season at Forres on loan. Gary Farquhar was only in the team sporadically and spent some time mid-season on loan to Clachnacuddin.
The season started with the traditional series of friendly matches including a 2-2 draw at home to Aberdeen. Then it was down to the serious business of the League Cup. A 4-1 victory away to Queen of the South on August 1st set up a lucrative second round match against Aberdeen at Caledonian Stadium. A crowd of 5164 turned up on 8th August but it was over as a contest when Billy Dodds scored the first of his three goals in 17 seconds. Caley Thistle could not reply and eventually lost 3-0. With the demise of the League Championship Trophy (formerly the B&Q Cup) this was the last cup action until January. The league campaign started on 4th August at Firhill when ICT beat Partick Thistle 1-0 with a Barry Wilson 57th minute goal. A 2-1 home victory on 15th August against Livingston put ICT joint top of the league with Clyde. A 5-1 away victory at East Fife two weeks later put them clear at the top and they stayed there until 26th September and a bad 4-1 defeat by Clyde at Broadwood. Full back Richard Hastings received a bad knee injury in this game and was out until January. Hugh Robertson came on loan from Dundee from October to December. As the Division settled down it became a two horse race between ICT and Livingston with Clyde a distant third. A 3-2 victory at home against Partick produced a record for a competitive goal when Paul Sheerin scored in 1 minute 20 seconds. By the half-way stage Livingston were on top with a 5 point lead. Clyde were third, 8 points behind second placed Caley Thistle.
In the Tennents Scottish Cup Caley Thistle were given a bye into the second round but interest ended when league rivals Livingston won 2-1 at Caledonian Stadium on the 2nd January 1999. Livingston went on to beat Aberdeen in the third round . With Iain Stewart out with a long term injury Martin Glancy came on loan from Dumbarton and made his debut on 9th January. After a fee wrangle with Dumbarton he finally signed a full-time contract. In February the defence was strengthened by the signing of Bobby Mann fron Forfar. Caley Thistle were unbeaten in the league for the first two months of 1999 and this included beating Stirling 5-1 and Alloa 4-1. On 27th February the promotion race took a significant turn when ICT beat Livingston 2-1 to close the gap between second and first to 4 points. Charlie Christie passed a milestone on 13th March when he became the first player to make 150 appearances. On the 20th March ICT went to the top of the Division on goal difference after a 3-0 win at Forfar and the Inverness Cup was retained on 26th March with a 1-0 defeat of local rivals Ross County. On 3rd April promotion was achieved with a 3-0 home win against Clyde. This result also ensured that Livingston were promoted and the only issue was the Championship.
The Championship decider took place on 1st May at Almondvale. It could not have been scripted better with both teams on the same points with two games left. Over 2000 supporters travelled down the A9 to support Caley Thistle and the record 6013 crowd saw an amazing game. Livingston were 4-0 up after 22 minutes and it looked like a landslide. Caley Thistle clawed three back through McCulloch, Christie and Stewart and could have equalised. These three goals restored pride but Livingston took the points and effectively the Championship. They made sure the following week when they beat Forfar and Caley Thistle could only draw at home against Alloa. Caley Thistle finished the league campaign on 72 points, 5 behind Livingston.
It was the end of a memorable season and all at the Club could look forward to Division One.


Copyright to and used with permission of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC Club Historian - Ian Broadfoot
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By Guest in History ·

1997-98 - Full-Time in Division 2

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The season started well. On 1st July Steve Paterson and most of the first team squad went full time and pre-season match results were generally good. These included a match at Wick which produced a record 32 second goal from Marco De-Barros and a two-game visit to the Western Isles. The season started well. On 1st July Steve Paterson and most of the first team squad went full time and pre-season match results were generally good. These included a match at Wick which produced a record 32 second goal from Marco De-Barros and a two-game visit to the Western Isles. There was great excitement in the Coca-Cola Cup. Stenhousemuir were beaten 5-1 in the first round on 2nd August with Brian Thomson scoring a hat-trick. The second round a week later saw premier league Motherwell taken to a penalty decider after a 2-2 draw at Fir Park. Motherwell won the decider 4-1 but it was a great performance.
The Second Division campaign started badly with a series of draws and defeats by the odd goal. Despondent at the foot of Division 2 the first league win did not come until the 25th October - a resounding 5-1 score at East Fife. Things improved gradually and by Christmas, although second bottom, only 8 points separated them from Queen of the South who lay third.
The Scottish Cup was a welcome distraction from the strain of the league. In the first round Caley Thistle beat non-league Whitehill Welfare 3-1 in Inverness and in the second round they beat Queen's Park 2-0, also at home. In the league a 4-0 thumping of East Fife at home on the 27th December was followed by a 5-1 win against Clyde on the 16th January - results which lifted them out of the relegation zone for the first time.
The third round of the Cup brought non-league Annan Athletic to Inverness in January - the result was a record 8-1 win (despite Annan taking an early lead) and the prize of a Fourth Round match away against Dundee United. This led to two historic matches. At Tannadice Caley Thistle led Dundee United 1-0 for most of the game before United equalised 9 minutes from time. The replay saw cup fever in the town and a record 5821 crowd. 2-0 down with 5 minutes remaining it seemed all over despite a great performance and a saved penalty by Jim Calder. In 85 minutes Brian Thomson pulled one back and in the 91st minute Mark McCulloch hit a glorious volley to equalise. 18 minutes into extra time Dundee United scored to take the tie and a home match against Celtic. The finest night in the Club's short history.
It was back to the league campaign and the long grind to retain Second Division status. During the season the Premier clubs declared their intention to break away and form their own league - 10 teams to start with but a promise to increase this to 12. This left the other teams to decide their own set-up and many formats were mooted - two Divisions of 12 & 18 being the most common suggestions (or 18-12!). This caused great uncertainty - was there going to be promotion or relegation? In the end the present arrangement was left for 1998/1999. Caley Thistle bounced back and forward from a relegation slot for all of the second half of the season with the worst moment being a mid-week 3-1 defeat at Brechin - a night that everything seemed to go wrong. The tide turned and important wins against Clyde, Stenhousemuir and East Fife gave them a strong chance of avoiding the drop. They beat East Fife 1-0 on the 25th April and this lifted them to 6th place needing 2 points from 2 games to survive - assuming lower placed Clyde & Stenhousemuir won their last 2 games. Brechin were already down. On the second last Saturday of the season they beat Brechin 2-1 to ensure survival. The last Saturday (9th May) proved to be eventful as Caley Thistle beat Livingston 2-1 at Almondvale.. Livingston started the day at the top of the table with high hopes of taking the Championship. Caley Thistle took the lead in the 34th minute through Iain Stewart, Livvie equalised in 47 minutes then Paul Sheerin scored the winner 15 minutes from time direct from a free kick. In the end Clydebank and Stranraer both leapfrogged Livingston to gain promotion and they were devastated. Caley Thistle finished a very creditable 5th despite the ups and downs of the season.
Brian Thomson and Iain Stewart were joint top goal scorers in the Second Division and Richard Hastings gained a full Canadian international cap on 18th May - his 21st birthday. Caley Thistle retained the Inverness Cup and the reserve team won the North Caledonian League Championship.


Copyright to and used with permission of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC Club Historian - Ian Broadfoot
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By Guest in History ·

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