Massive Game

 

We have talked about big games before, but this one is absolutely huge in the thirty year history of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Only two games left of the regular season and we still need to ensure we avoid the dreaded relegation play-offs. We face Arbroath at home on Saturday and then make the trip to Montrose the week after and these two games could determine our fate. Musa Dibaga is out for the last couple of games as is Alfie Bavidge. Luis Longstaff returned after injury last week and played half a game.

Prior to the game, and three years on from his passing, a few of us will be raising a glass to remember Big Stew in the Innes Bar from 1:00pm. Pop in to say hello and share some stories with us. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Match/Ticket/Bus/Bar94/Info

Hospitality Available

Bring a friend for £5

ICTFC PotY VOTING

Wayne Addicoat RIP

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sad news released by the club today to announce that former player Wayne Addicoat has passed away at just 45 years of age RIP Wayne 😥 His passing will be acknowledged with a minutes applause ahead of kick off against Arbroath.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC are saddened to hear of the recent passing of former player Wayne Addicoat at 45 years-old. 

Wayne played for the club from July 1996 until May 1999, making 54 appearances and scoring 4 goals. 

The club send its condolences to Wayne’s family at this sad time and we will be holding a minute’s applause before this Saturday’s match against Arbroath. 

 

 

Four meetings already this season and we have yet to win one. Closest we came was in the League cup game that ended goalless with Arbroath winning the bonus point after the penalty shoot-out.

2025

Apr 26th	League (League 1)	? - ?	H	-
Feb 8th	League (League 1)	0 - 3	A	1,500

2024

Dec 14th	League (League 1)	0 - 2	H	1,531
Oct 5th	League (League 1)	0 - 1	A	1,381
Jul 23rd	League Cup (Group D)	p 0 - 0	H	754

Final quarter of the season: W L  D L  W L  D ? ? 

Forget the rest of the season; it's what happens over the next two games that will define our season. As well as we have done to give ourselves the chance to stay in this division, we have faltered over the last few games with injuries, suspensions and administration taking it's toll on the squad. Only the two wins in this last phase, but both were emphatic. A 4-1 win in the re-arranged game at home to Stenhousemuir and a brilliant 3-0 win at Cove. A disappointing home defeat to Annan was followed by another disappointing home draw against Alloa. It got worse the week after as QotS battered us 4-1 and following the win at Cove, Kelty dumped us 0-2 in the Highlands, another three points lost. We almost pulled off a good result away to Stenhousemuir last Saturday but a 91st minute own goal left us with just a point after Billy Mckay had scored his first goal for three months earlier in the second half. Thems the breaks, as disappointing as they are. With three minutes to go, we were sitting in 7th place in the table until Montrose equalised against Dumbarton and Stenny levelled with us.

Looks like we will be without big Musa again so I for one won't be holding my breath. I believe we are hopeful of acquiring Marcus Gill again. I also doubt very much that Arbroath will be sending up a second string starting XI this weekend like they did last week at Annan. They would have been as well not turning up instead of the embarrassing 5-1 defeat they were dished out by a team with a goal difference of minus 23, the worst in League1. Scott Kellacher does not want to make anything of this, however, I'm happy to do it for him. Meh!

Kelty are at Cove, Montrose are at Alloa and Annan are at Dumbarton. All tricky away ties at this stage of the season.

Pos	Team	Pld	Gd	Pts
1	Smokies	34	19	63
2😀	Cove	34	16	53
3😀	Queen Sth	34	3	51
4	Stenny	34	4	50
5	Alloa Ath	34	8	48
6🙁	Montrose	34	-6	40
7🙁	Kelty	34	-7	40
8	Caley Jags	34	2	37
9💩	Annan Ath	34	-23	36
10	Sons	34	-16	17

 

Last Six: D D W W W L  

The two draws were both 1-1 against Dumbarton (h) and Kelty (a). Three wins on the bounce v Cove (1-0), Montrose (0-1) and the title winning defeat of Stenhousemuir (4-0). Last week was the embarrassing loss to Annan at Galabank where they made seven changes to their line up and were thrashed 5-1 by Annan. It goes against the grain to be honest especially as they can still influence relegation places by their bringing the game into disrepute tactic. It's certainly not in the spirit of things and unless they field half a team this week then it smacks of dishonesty. When you leave players out with the quality of Fraser Taylor, Scott Stewart, Sam Stanton, Ryan Dow, Tam O'Brien, Aidan McAdams...... yer havin a laff guys.

 

 

Remembering Stewart Anderson who sadly is no longer with us having departed three years ago on 13th April 2022 aged just 52. A few friends of 'Big Stew' will be remembering the Big Man and having a peedie dram in his absence before the Smokies game. Join us if you like as we reminisce about better times ahead of kick-off and fondly get the craic with Big Stew in the Innes Bar from 1:00pm onward. Many a pre-match aperitif was had with Stewart before heading to the game with ample shouting juice absorbed into the body and boarding the taxi at four minutes to three (and still making kick-off).

As you can see, this painting was done by Stewart's brother, Blair. What a fantastic instantly recognisable image that captures the energy and passion, and epitomises this Gentle Giant of a character.

Cheers Stewart, missed by many  Slàinte Mhath

Here's the new barman sampling some of the wares in what could be described as a 'lock in' back in the day. Never one to shirk a challenge Stewart could easily demolish a peedie dram or equally a 31/2 pint tumbler of the black stuff in one go. A gentleman and a scholar who will be forever in our thoughts. I'm not sure what he would have thought about the current situation the club finds itself in, but I bet he would have had a few choice words for those that have contributed to our demise. More pics to follow once preview posted.

Unseen footage of the Caley Jags roasting the Smokies on the BBQ after the game has appeared on social media following the 3-0 win over them at the weekend.

In a swashbuckling final home game, Inverness avoided the relegation play-offs before easing up to save the Smokies further embarrassment.

More good news followed from the Club with a meeting scheduled for May 22nd to iron out any lingering CVA differences.

Roll on next season!

 

Ben Brannan was part of the Kilmarnock team tonight that beat Dundee in the Scottish Youth Cup Final. It was Ben's cross onto the head of Keith that started our 3-0 win against Arbroath on Saturday. A tremendous loan signing for us.

1 hour ago, CELTIC1CALEY3 said:

Ben Brannan was part of the Kilmarnock team tonight that beat Dundee in the Scottish Youth Cup Final. It was Ben's cross onto the head of Keith that started our 3-0 win against Arbroath on Saturday. A tremendous loan signing for us.

Derek McInnes said tonight that Brannan has had an excellent loan spell with us and will be promoted to Killie’s first team squad next season.

37 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

Derek McInnes said tonight that Brannan has had an excellent loan spell with us and will be promoted to Killie’s first team squad next season.

A loan that has worked out well for both teams, we were lucky to get him and the two Alfie's from Aberdeen.

....plus Keith Bray from Dunfermline and James Nolan from Man U. Not forgetting Connall Ewing from Ross County.

These are the kind of loans - where the players do well for us and go back to their parent club as better players - that work for everyone.

Derek McInnes (and others) will no doubt be more willing to send players to us if that's the result he gets. The Alfies and the others also seemed to work out well, apart from the injury to Bavidge. I also liked that Savage mentioned in a recent comment about the club having paid for operations recently for players. Thats quite a turnaround from when we had a surgeon as an interim chairman and had to crowdfund surgery for Aaron Doran which was wrong on so many levels!   All these little things do a lot of positive things to turn around the reputation we gained under the previous "guardians" of the club. 

1 hour ago, Scotty said:

These are the kind of loans - where the players do well for us and go back to their parent club as better players - that work for everyone.

Derek McInnes (and others) will no doubt be more willing to send players to us if that's the result he gets. The Alfies and the others also seemed to work out well, apart from the injury to Bavidge. I also liked that Savage mentioned in a recent comment about the club having paid for operations recently for players. Thats quite a turnaround from when we had a surgeon as an interim chairman and had to crowdfund surgery for Aaron Doran which was wrong on so many levels!   All these little things do a lot of positive things to turn around the reputation we gained under the previous "guardians" of the club. 

Like the USA in 4 years time, we are currently trying to dissociate ourselves, move on and rebuild trust, after the corrupt and untrustworthy mess we were under SG's stewardship - that was our Trump period!

4 hours ago, buckett said:

Like the USA in 4 years time, we are currently trying to dissociate ourselves, move on and rebuild trust, after the corrupt and untrustworthy mess we were under SG's stewardship - that was our Trump period!

Please don't mention the 'T' word.  All this 51st state nonsense is pretty raw over here ! Could also seriously derail next year's world cup which is concerning. Travel and future bookings to USA is reportedly down over 70% from Canada, Europe and UK mainly due to deportations and immigration detention horror stories and FIFA are reportedly worried because the major host is in a trade war with the two co-hosts and the rest of the world. Elon and Tangoman could teach our former custodians a thing or two about how to alienate folks and drop your company profits by 71% in less than 100 days, and also how to make a party that was losing in a landslide before DJT spoke up, win the general election held in Canada this week! Crazy times.  

// Tangoman for nostalgia 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqm-s6h8l1I

 

 

 

4 hours ago, Scotty said:

Please don't mention the 'T' word.  All this 51st state nonsense is pretty raw over here ! Could also seriously derail next year's world cup which is concerning. Travel and future bookings to USA is reportedly down over 70% from Canada, Europe and UK mainly due to deportations and immigration detention horror stories and FIFA are reportedly worried because the major host is in a trade war with the two co-hosts and the rest of the world. Elon and Tangoman could teach our former custodians a thing or two about how to alienate folks and drop your company profits by 71% in less than 100 days, and also how to make a party that was losing in a landslide before DJT spoke up, win the general election held in Canada this week! Crazy times.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqm-s6h8l1I

 

 

 

Apologies for the T-word Scotty, but the analogy was irresistible!  😆

19 hours ago, Scotty said:

Please don't mention the 'T' word.  All this 51st state nonsense is pretty raw over here ! Could also seriously derail next year's world cup which is concerning. Travel and future bookings to USA is reportedly down over 70% from Canada, Europe and UK mainly due to deportations and immigration detention horror stories and FIFA are reportedly worried because the major host is in a trade war with the two co-hosts and the rest of the world. Elon and Tangoman could teach our former custodians a thing or two about how to alienate folks and drop your company profits by 71% in less than 100 days, and also how to make a party that was losing in a landslide before DJT spoke up, win the general election held in Canada this week! Crazy times.  

// Tangoman for nostalgia 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqm-s6h8l1I

 

Had a look at this after your post and I see your BMO field is being used so surely you’ve a good chance of getting tickets. I must admit my first thought was the Rogers Center (Skydome when I was there, when the Blue Jays beat the despised Yankees 👏). Maybe it’s not suitable for a football pitch - you’ll know the ins and outs better than I do. I also saw the Toronto Lynx play in Kitchener, at Centennial Stadium. Both long gone.

6 hours ago, The Mantis said:

Had a look at this after your post and I see your BMO field is being used so surely you’ve a good chance of getting tickets. I must admit my first thought was the Rogers Center (Skydome when I was there, when the Blue Jays beat the despised Yankees 👏). Maybe it’s not suitable for a football pitch - you’ll know the ins and outs better than I do. I also saw the Toronto Lynx play in Kitchener, at Centennial Stadium. Both long gone.

Yeah, BMO field is getting temporary stands for the World Cup to take it up from 30K to 45K. They are building a second tier above the supporters' section where i stand right now and also at the other end which is currently open as they need that for the longer field for the Toronto Argonauts (CFL). Hoping to get tickets on the back of being an inaugural season one TFC season ticket holder since 2006 but its FIFA not MLS doing ticketing and right now, they are punting tickets to those who buy Club World Cup tickets which seems to be failing miserably to sell on its own. I just want one or two games at BMO filed if I can afford it to say I have been 🙂

South End of stadium. Tier 2 would be brand new (and temporary). The ball shows my current season seats. 
https://www.bmofield.com/events/fifa26
https://www.bmofield.com/assets/doc/BMO-Field-Renovations-Renderings-March-3-535d66de4d.pdf

 

My fear is that all the current issues will make people want to go to games in Canada or Mexico instead of USA and it's going to be nigh on impossible to get tickets. Public transit and traffic is a nightmare in this city and only going to get worse so if I dont get tickets I may head out of country for a month, organise to rent out my house, and use that to fund it 🙂

I started off going to see the Lynx @ Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke (near the airport) when I first moved over. Think of it like watching ICT from the Bught Park shinty stands. They were the only option, and they were really really bad as were some of the teams they played. I remember one team in particular because of the name ... the Rochester Raging Rhinos but they were quite good. Neither exist anymore however.  Nowadays, if you dont want to go see TFC then you have York United or Hamilton Forge who are both Canadian Premier League teams in the Toronto area as well as a few other lower tier teams kicking around.