Inverness CT -V- Arbroath - League1 - Preview

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. 

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Match/Ticket/Bus/Bar94/Info

Hospitality Available

Bring a friend for £5

ICTFC PotY VOTING

Wayne Addicoat RIP

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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.

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.