It's not how we imagined it

Well, it's the scenario that no Caley Jags fan wanted. If we could have chosen one team to stroke off our last game of the season title deciding clash, Hamilton Accies would probably be the peoples choice. It doesn't bother me that we have had previous with Accies over the years regarding relegation, it's the fact that they are the form team in the league on three wins on the bounce and if you remove their 21 point deduction, they would be sitting third in the table on merit. Add in the factor that Accies need at least one point, dependant on another result, to have any hope of avoiding the relegation play-off but a better option for Accies is going for all three points. We are also well aware that they have top strikers in Oli Shaw and Kevin O'Hara and they are the third top scorers in the league with 53 goals behind us and Queen of the South. The other major stumbling block is our own form. We are hell bent on drawing our way to the title with four draws over the last six which has included playing teams in the relegation zone. Whilst we are unbeaten in the League over 17 games we could have been out of site long before now. Instead of that we have turned wins into draws and are paying the price for our failure to kill games off when well on top. That price is no finger nails left and confidence draining away from the park to the stands. Here's a thought to cheer us up. Our last defeat was 18 games ago when we lost 2-1 at Montrose. On Saturday Stenhousemuir visit Montrose looking to win the title

Apart from all that we have nothing to worry about!

Of the three previous meetings this season: We were blown away 3-1 at NDP on a miserable day during Storm Amy in October: Accies blew Inverness away with Amy spoiling our day. Goals from O'Hara, McDonald and Shaw were enough to win the three points and send Accies to the top of the table. Bavidge scored our counter but we dropped to third with Stenhousemuir second. We exacted revenge back in the Highlands before Xmas with a 4-0 thrashing of Accies. It was a convincing win for the table toppers with goals from Mitchell Robertson, Chanka Zimba, his 13th of the season, substitutes Alfie Bavidge and Billy Mckay. Boom! In the last meeting away at Broadwood an Alfie Bavidge goal separated the sides in a scrappy affair. At that stage, the Caley Jags moved 5 points ahead after beating Accies 1-0 thanks to Alfie Bavidge's first half header.

With County relegated at Kirkaldy after a 3-2 defeat to Raith Rovers, Airdrie will be in the relegation/promotion games against the League1 teams who finish in second, third and fourth places.

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Match/Ticket/Bar94/Bus/Info

Bring a Friend for a £5 - u12 £1

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This was our squad that struggled on the artificial surface at Bayview. It took a brilliant strike from Billy Mckay to rescue a point in the 89th minute after Michael McKenna had given the Fifer's the lead shortly after the interval. That was goal No 131 for Billy and could prove to be his most crucial strike yet.

• Last Six League1:

• D D D W W D

Liam Sole has been struggling with a calf injury and has missed out recently. We badly need his pace up front in an attacking manner.

• Bar 94 will open at 1200, with last orders at 1430 (the bar must be fully vacated by 1445).

• The bar reopens at full time, when expect to be joined by some of the players.

• Operated by Stagecoach, buses will leave the Bus Station for the Stadium at 1245 and 1415.

• Buses return from the Stadium to the Bus Station 10 minutes after the full time whistle and at 1800.

• The bus fare is £2 single (contactless payments or cash accepted), and Over 60 / Disabled and Under 22 Concession passes are valid, giving free travel on the service to passholders.

• Why not come down early, make a day of it, and wait to see the players after full time?

Accies are on a three game winning streak as they try to escape the relegation zone. To be honest it would be an unbelievable achievement should they escape after a 21 point deduction for gross mismanagement. We all know how that feels.

Accies Manager Darian MacKinnon has been named as MotM for April with three wins on the bounce. May the curse be with you!

• Last Six League1:

• D L L W W W

Accies drew 2-2 at Cove before losing the next two at home to Kelty (1-2) and a 3-0 loss at Stenhousemuir. They have since made a sprint for the finishing line beating Alloa 1-0, Montrose 0-2 and last time out beating Peterhead 3-1. Those results have taken them close to safety and they sit one point below East Fife and three points below Cove Rangers but with a much better GD than both. All to play for at the bottom but it depends on the result at Cove v East Fife to determine their destiny combined with a result at Inverness other than a defeat.

Oli Shaw has scored three times over the last six games. He is the leading scorer in League1 with 19 goals. In comparison our best League scorers this season is Chanka Zimba with 11 and Alfie Bavidge with 10.

Steven Bradley will need rehab after picking up an injury at Montrose.

It will be some achievement should Accies avoid relegation, but to do that they need to not lose which is not in our best interest.

• Inverness CT deducted 5 points as per SPFL rules on clubs suffering an insolvency event

• Hamilton Academical deducted 6 points following breaches of multiple SPFL Rules. 

• Hamilton Academical deducted 9 points following SPFL Disciplinary Tribunal. 

• Hamilton Academical deducted 6 points following SPFL Disciplinary Tribunal 

Pos.		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1	Inverness CT*	35	20	11	4	58	23	35	66
2	Stenhousemuir	35	17	13	5	48	27	21	64
3	Alloa Athletic	35	15	8	12	49	34	15	53
4	Queen of the South	35	13	12	10	54	46	8	51
5	Peterhead	35	12	7	16	48	62	-14	43
6	Montrose	35	11	9	15	48	65	-17	42
7	Cove Rangers	35	9	10	16	41	44	-3	37
8	East Fife	35	9	8	18	34	61	-27	35
9	Hamilton Accies *	35	16	7	12	53	40	13	34
	Kelty Hearts	35	5	11	19	31	62	-31	26

Everyone available according to Scott Kellacher

After tonight's final Championship games

Ross County Relegated - Airdrie in play-offs.

Semi-Final: 1st Leg Tue 5th May 19:45 4th in L1 v Airdrie

Semi-Final: 1st Leg Tue 5th May 19:45 3rd in L1 v 2nd in L1

Semi-Final: 2nd Leg Sat 9th May 15:00 Airdrie v 4th in L1

Semi-Final: 2nd Leg Sat 9th May 15:00 2nd in L1 v 3rd in L1

Final: 1st Leg Wed 13th May 19:45 Lowest remaining seed at home

Final: 2nd Leg Sat 16th May 17:30 Highest remaining seed at home

Championees championees oh eh oh eh oh eh!!!!

Never in doubt eh! 😜

Get in!

Those were nervy last few minutes, with the penalty, the miss, pitch invasion, boxing match, restart, final whistle... Just said thank you to Alan Savage on the pitch side after the trophy presentation, as without his backing and hard work I don't think we would have been there to see it 👏

Well done boys you did make us proud 👏 😇 ⚽ 👍 roll on next season

Well done to all at ICT. It got a bit Squeaky Bum at times and not just today. But.....when it all boils down, its very much a case of JOB DONE.

Onwards and upwards.

Today we take the proud possession of the title of League 1 champions. So let us recognise the achievement in winning the league as the best team over the 36 game season.

Three elements of todays match to comment on later:

1) The football match.

2) Stadium security management.

3) Stadium catering for the match.

That’s for tomorrow. Tonight is for enjoying coming out on top of the pile on the last league match.

bc

Wow! From Administration and points deductions to champions!

There is so much to discuss, I don't know where to start.

So I'll have a celebratory drink instead.

Cheers!

What a day, what a game , what a season. Great crowd and atmosphere today. Fantastic to see so many families and young children.So many memories and emotions for lots of us. An amazing and fitting end to the season. Just over a year ago the club was close to closing. We are now promoted and leaping over Ross County in the process. It is truly fairytale stuff. For me personally that’s in many ways right up with the feelings and emotions of our Cup Final win. Well done to ICT, the players and everyone connected to the club.

What an end to the season, great game, great support, well done to all at the football club from the top to the bottom on and off the park

Even dropping a few points in recent games we were the form team and deserved to win the league

Edited May 2May 2 by Robert

That was Bar 94 pre-match.

What a party post-match!

Alfie leading the singing!

Edited May 2May 2 by Robert

Congratulations to all at the club who have made this day possible

In the end it was a fantastic achievement. I saw some of our grateful supporters thank Alan Savage post presentation. Without him and the culture he has generated in the rebuild this would not have happened. To Scott and Billy, to all the coaches, to Charlie, to the players, stadium staff and especially the away supporters, this recovery from severe adversity is much to be cherished.

In terms of being magnanimous I have to say Stenhousemuir have been tremendous competitors this season. I wish them well in the playoffs.

I also have sympathy and admiration with the way Hamilton's players and staff have coped with the mismanagement of their club. We once had that experience too.

To those over the Bridge who only expected one year in the Championship, I am not the Brahan Seer, but well done for such foresight. ICT FC now rule the Highlands again.

A long time since I left a match so happy. Due to go to Arran next week on holiday and my wife reminded me of how relegation then the Kelty scheme ruined our holiday to Arran two years ago. Thank you to everyone who has turned our club around.

1 hour ago, CELTIC1CALEY3 said:

In the end it was a fantastic achievement. I saw some of our grateful supporters thank Alan Savage post presentation. Without him and the culture he has generated in the rebuild this would not have happened. To Scott and Billy, to all the coaches, to Charlie, to the players, stadium staff and especially the away supporters, this recovery from severe adversity is much to be cherished.

In terms of being magnanimous I have to say Stenhousemuir have been tremendous competitors this season. I wish them well in the playoffs.

I also have sympathy and admiration with the way Hamilton's players and staff have coped with the mismanagement of their club. We once had that experience too.

To those over the Bridge who only expected one year in the Championship, I am not the Brahan Seer, but well done for such foresight. ICT FC now rule the Highlands again.

Well said Danny

Thanks to the team and management for what you've achieved over the season, and today.

And thanks to Alan Savage, for making all this possible!

First time we’ve won this league I think. We’ve now won 3 of the 4 leagues, so just one more needed to complete the set.

7 hours ago, ryjayy said:

The BBC Sport live page for the game has been saying 89 minutes for the last 10 minutes while every other game has long finished. Was there a delay or is it just not updating on the page?

Yes...that was hell for me down in South London!

Me too, here in Brisbane at two o'clock in the morning!

Well done. We're back!!!

What a game ending, got a lift in a chopper and told everyone at Macmoray we just won the League

I suspect I am writing this when a few of you are nursing alcohol induced sore heads!

What an incredible season, and how fitting that the last match of the season, mirrored the season has a whole, what looked from afar via my phone was Caley in control, then towards the end a last minute (perhaps 20minutes) period of jeopardy and uncertainty. A goal back from Accies (do we need to try and secure Oli Shaw's services?) and the unbelievable drama of a late penalty kick to them, an equaliser for them would still have kept promotion in sight, but would have seen a last minute nerve-shredding panic ridden finale. But Munro saved it!

So a wonderful end to the season albeit with some unfortunate joshing on the pitch between supporters

A 5000 strong crowd, imagine if we get to see that a few more times next season, shows that actually Inverness's population can be mobilised (or bothered?) occasionally, although I suspect a fair few from farther away helped.

Fitting that Billy McKay scored the winner, his aging legs have been well managed this year and he seems to have added quite a bit on the coaching side. A legend

Fitting also that Danny Devine also scored, someone who nailed his colours to Caley's mast for this season early after last season finish no doubt helping to encourage others to stay or join the fight for this season. Not always appreciated, but a legend. And incredible that he and especially Remi Savage (with 52 appearances) featured in so many games. Quite incredible, given how little back up we had in the CB area, and how often in the past we have suffered long injury absences.

Scott Kellacher has navigated a season where expectation was high, helping to assemble a decent team, managing the workload, those terrible 3G pitches, and different opposition styles. Mostly getting it right, making the right calls as the season came to it's epic end. Two years of a managing CV that is worthy validation and if the next season goes well must surely edge him towards 'legendary' status.

Well done to Stenny for pushing us all the way, some achievement, I hope they do well in the play-offs

Well done to all the young lads who have given so much, learnt so much, earned reputations, especially the boys on loan, In an ideal world Bavidge and Stewart would appear for us next season, we can only hope Aberdeen ignore a season and a half of stellar performances and decide that a Scottish Premiership campaign isn't for them. Regardless of that, in MacIntyre, MacLeod, McKinnon, Savage (if he stays) Allan, Longstaff, Munro, Alone, Zimba (19 goals) and Alonge, there is a decent base. For young Wotherspoon, probably asking too much.

So an exciting season awaiting for 26/27, definitely a trip to Greenock Morton for me (overnighting in Dunoon!) and maybe Queens Park, in their actual ground not Ochilview! Possibly Dunfermline again, and a trip up to Inverness with the wife (who is complaining she is missing out)

A wonderful season, it is life affirming supporting Caley and roaming Scotland!

My day yesterday was spent watching Palace Women get promotion to the Super League. Can Palace men pull off European glory? Fingers crossed for another miracle ☺️ 😭

What a day.

I was surprisingly relaxed in the build up as County failing to sneak into the play off place removed the risk that we could face them in the play off final, clearing the way for us to avoid that distraction and focus on getting the result.

Bar 94 was amazing pre-match. It was bouncing from the time it opened and credit to the fans going through their repertoire of songs.

To the game itself, and we came out clearly on a mission. The early goal calmed any remaining nerves, and was clearly a training ground move.

The second was as good after great work by Robertson and, as someone has said, how fitting that Mckay and Devine were our scorers. I hope Devine’s injury is not serious.

That first half was probably the best we have played in 2026.

Hamilton had more of the ball in the second half but didn’t trouble us until their late goal. The late penalty could have made for an anxious ending, but was well saved by Munro.

We then had the delay due to the premature pitch invasion, then a few minutes play before the full time whistle confirmed we were Champions.

Well done to all the management team and players: the have achieved what was asked of them.

The crowd was amazing and I just hope many of the 2000+ extra fans come back when the new season starts.

Then the party really started with the presentation and then the raucous bar.

What a difference from May 2024!

What a day: one for the memory bank!

Roll on next season.

17 hours ago, big cherly said:

Today we take the proud possession of the title of League 1 champions. So let us recognise the achievement in winning the league as the best team over the 36 game season.

Three elements of todays match to comment on later:

1) The football match.

2) Stadium security management.

3) Stadium catering for the match.

That’s for tomorrow. Tonight is for enjoying coming out on top of the pile on the last league match.

bc

Can you add north stand loo issues lol

What an amazing 24 hours that was, starting with County getting relegated 20 minutes after their fans were chanting “we are staying up”.

Full CTO report now published

Last one for the season out of 64 I think (including friendlies)

Cheers IBM keeping the stats ticking over.

Cheers Scotty keeping the site ticking over.

I’m reminded of the time years ago when Brentford (the Bees) for promoted and their rivals got relegated, resulting in the brilliant chant “Bees up, Fulham down”, to the tune of Knees Up Mother Brown!