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Just added new Mugs, Hats, Scarves, Notebooks, Water Bottles, Calendars to the club online shop at http://ictfc.com/commercial/store?page=shop.browse&category_id=27 I'm particularly fond of the new mugs...and there's also a new bar scarf due to arrive any day (sneak preview graphic attached)

The original topic on this thread was about doing something to address dwindling spectator numbers in Inverness, which then diverged into an argument about the suitability of the stadium and what a fairly beleagured ICTFC could or should do about it. Back on track, CB is right that football is now existing in an era of increased competition for peoples leisure time and what austerity ravaged money they have left after paying the bills. They can watch 5 channels of Sky Sports, ESPN, 2 channels of BT sport, occasional BBC and ITV coverage, 2 channels of Eurosport and other subscription channels like premier sports. Those are just the channels that cover football (even if only occasionally) Cast that net out into other sports and you have perfectly valid reasons as to why people might want to watch and play rugby, cricket, american football etc. They don't need to be told that football has a right to primacy over them because its the "national game". Shinty has the advantage of having a politically popular cultural association with gaelic language, and BBC Alba with SPFL coverage can be added on that basis to the above list (even if you can't understand the commentary) It's little wonder that football is haemmorhaging fans, and ICTFC are just a tiny part of that. The game and attendance at it needs sold to the public and in Scotland we are utterly, shamefully and wilfully poor at that. Our mainstream media are a disgrace in their coverage of the game - I read today that Celtic's Guidetti only looked good because of the "quality of defenders he was up against in the SPFL" in the Record. What disrespectful tripe. Willie Miller tells me that Aberdeen will "certainly finish second" so there really is no competition and therefore no point in witnessing it first hand. What arrogant, cynical nonsense. These viewpoints are, however, what informs the public's perception of football. The SPFL treat fans with contempt - witness their treatment of us last year, and their inability to attract support or investment into the game in Scotland. Police Scotland happily create a perception that disorder is still attached to football (did we really need a campaign of increased police numbers in Inverness to "prevent anti-social behaviour and disorder" because pubs were screening a TV international game with England or horses imported from Glasgow last year to control our missing crowds?) and they persist in enforcing the Offensive Communications etc. Act long after it has been discredited and found utterly inappropriate outside the OF. They mitigate against standing and being able to have a beer whilst watching a game (or even going to a game) because they, not us, can't move on from the 1970's. We are constantly subject to harrasment by under trained and overly empowered stewards who will enforce rules they have no understanding of and won't change. They will search your bags, remove things that they consider dangerous and order you seated in a manner that you won't have experienced since being at school in the 60's. If you stand, chant, sing, wave flags or create an atmosphere that will enhance a sporting contest, beware. On the other side, you have small bands of activists supporting Clubs with an income deflating faster than a Branson balloon who can't agree on a coherent way forward and are limited in their influence and voice to forums like this one and P&B with the occasional blogger making a bigger noise. These are the reasons that crowds are down, not an inability of the fans or club to provide an effective atmosphere or a match day experience that makes people decide "let's go to the football today instead of" (insert any of the above) Again, and I know I labour this point they only thing that can effect change is the fans themselves by challenging the stuff above and continuing to give their support to their clubs, ICTFC included. It really is about individual activism - take someone along with you every chance you get. That lot above won't change football in Scotland to the extent that our crowds would justify the investment need for a better stadium. It's the fans that can do that.

Brill Raven Warren Meekings Shinnie Vincent Draper Doran Christie Williams Mckay I'll be there. Just hope ICTChris can control himself on the train to Paisley and avoid the wrath of BTP

Probably common knowledge for some, but I've just learned that Ross Tokely is off to work in Angola over the winter. He's due to return by February so will be available for the anticipated pyramid play-off. He'll be a miss for Brora's cup game at Queen of the South on Saturday.

The Bught is a public amenity and as such should always stay that way. For too long now bits of public amenity sites have been sold off to private development to the detriment of safe recreational activity for our youngsters. To all those who'd like a move to there I ask this: Would you be happy if HC decided to sell part of it to a supermarket of housing developer? Both of these are private, profit making enterprises just like ICT. The Bught should and will never happen. There may be other areas in the industrial belt that could be flattened and utilised but where does the money come from. We'd get nothing for selling the current site because we dont own it. We lease the site. We lease the stadium. So how do we raise the likely £10 million or so? Too many people use the stadium etc as the reason for low turnouts. Not so. The whole Scottish football scene is the problem. People have stayed away because of the Rangers fiasco. People have stayed away because of the OF bias. People may even be staying away because Hibs and Hearts are no longer in the top league. The big thing though is that people are no longer spending money at opposition clubs. Travelling numbers are down. St Mirren posted accounts yesterday and stated their ST sales and gate reciepts are down. Ten years ago it was impossible to get an ST for Celtic. Now their stadium is full of empty seats. Every club is suffering. There is more incentives not to follow football than there is to follow nowadays. Many people want nothing but 3pm on Saturday. Many people want the standing and alcohol restrictions removed. Many people want to go to a game and have an enjoyable day out. They dont want the hassles associated with it. Get rid of the stupid all seater criteria. Get rid of the over zealous stewarding. Get rid of the rules and regulations and the cocking the forelock to TV attitude. Get rid of the bias reporting. Make the game a level playing field for all teams. Get rid of the highly paid players and the ludicrous transfer fees. Play the game at more sensible time of year. Make the game more affordable. Sort all that and the numbers will rise again. I haven't been to a game so far this season (apart from Birmingham) partly because I've been out of the country, partly because other things have prevented me attending but mainly because I'm finding it harder and harder to motivate myself into making the journey.