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Good Luck Inverness from an Aberdeen Fan. You have done your club and Scotland proud in recent Years. Now is your Time :-)

It would be nice if there was a bit more media focus. Footballing headlines at the moment are very much focused on the FIFA situation and it strikes me that there is a real story here in the contrast between the money grubbing corruption at the top of the game and the honest endeavors of players, officials and volunteers associated with small clubs like ICT and Falkirk. Here's two clubs who don't have much cash but who have shown great commitment in winning through to the final. Maybe Hampden won't be full but there will probably be more people there who have never been to a final before and win or lose it will be a day they will remember for the rest of their lives. It is a day for the small clubs: it's a day when hard work and commitment triumph over buying success: it is a day for fans who dream rather than fans who expect. Whilst the international body tasked with leading the game shames the world of football with its greed and corruption, two small teams with small supports will tomorrow show the world that football is still the beautiful game and still the people's game. Win or lose it will be a great day out, and I for one feel privileged that I will be a small part of it.

Odds on for at least one more season of this wonderful Armageddon. Wish we'd thought of it years ago. Now, if only we could find a way to rid the the Premiership of that other lot what a great league we would have.....

Let's not forget this could also be Nick Ross's last game, a hometown boy. As Caley D says all the players past and present have played a part and we should back the whole team for the whole game.

No work getting done today. Instead I've been doing... http://terracepodcast.net/latest/2015/5/28/show-scottish-cup-final-special http://nareystoepoker.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/scottish-cup-final-preview-inverness-ct.html http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/scottish-football/9868322/hughes-want-favourites-tag-ignored http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2648579

I think the older generation get something of a bonus out of this since they have a long and direct experience of what things were like in the Highland League and are hence in a position to appreciate the profound contrast. No one much under 30 can even remember when Thistle and Caley played in the Highland League and one of the highlights of the season was the quarter finals of the Qualifying Cup when, each October, your club might just be one of the lucky four to win a place in the "first round proper" of the Scottish Cup. Indeed in order to have an established and reasonably detailed memory of this, you would probably have to be nearer 40. Even for these younger supporters the sense of satsfaction will be immense. But take, say, a 65 year old whose first 30 years of supporting football will have been within the virtual dead end of the Highand League with the odd opportunity of a modest Scottish Cup run. That is a long time to establish a pretty solid and indeed limited set of norms, values and expectations which don't really change very much from year to year. But now, over the rather shorter period of just 21 years, history has produced (in chronological order): Election to the SFL (1994) - Scottish Cup quarter final (1996) - Division 3 title and promotion (1997) - Division 2 runners up and promotion (1999) - Two Scottish Cup semi finals (2003 and 2004) - Division 1 title and promotion to the SPL (2004) - SPL football coming to Inverness (2005) - (let's quickly bypass season 2008-09!) - Second Division 1 title and return to the SPL (2010) - Top six (2013, 2014 and 2015) - League Cup Final (2014)- Europe (2015) - Scottish Cup final (2015). To have witnessed that at all is a great experience. To have witnessed that off the back of decades of existence in a footballing dead end is absolutely stupendous! Having raised this issue, I would now like to mention five gentlemen whom I like to count among my friends. Jimmy Falconer (still football secretary) and Ken Thomson (now back on the board) and John Douglas (now in charge of the turnstiles) were all deeply involved with Caley back in the Highland League days. Ian MacKenzie, (still a club official on matchdays) was one of the Thistle inner circle from the same era. Tommy Cumming has been groundsman at Telford Street and the Caledonian Stadium since time began. People like that (and there will be one or two more I haven't named) who have been right at the centre of things across all these inspiring years, must feel a very special sense of satisfaction as this final approaches.

I have created a cup final photo album. Please feel free to add any pictures of your cup final experience into this album. Please concentrate on the experience rather than the match as I am not clear how we stand in terms of photos of the action which is usually copyrighted to the SFA/SPFL. Photos of people getting ready for their journey (at the airport, on the plane/train/bus), meeting up and having a beer beforehand, or enjoying the stadium atmosphere should be ok. Gallery here: http://caleythistleonline.com/gallery/category/486-scottish-cup-final/ Click upload button on right side of page to upload pictures into the main page. Please submit PNG or JPG images (no BMP please) and if they are large, resize them down to about 1600x1200 before uploading.

Earlier, I laid out all the stuff I'll need for tomorrow morning, to avoid any last minute panic. I'm sure many others are doing the same. Helpful suggestion - just go and check that the ticket you've laid out is the one for the final and not, as I have just found, the very similar looking one from the semi-final!

As a youngster growing up in Nairn in the 90s, it took me a while to have any affirmation to a team. Most of my friends at school supported Rangers or Celtic, especially Rangers whilst they went through their 9 in a row. A few mates supported Aberdeen since they were geographically the closest club in the Premier League. However I just couldn't buy into following a team which felt so far away. I could have even supported Nairn County but it was always frowned upon to like someone at that level. It wasn't until 1994 when my father would talk to me about Inverness having a new team merge and compete in the 3rd Division. I didn't really take to it at 1st but it wasn't until the 95/96 season when Caley were drawn home to East Fife in the Scottish cup 3rd round. My father being a Fifer followed East Fife as a youngster and was keen to take the trip to Telford Street for which would be my 1st Caley game. I still remember standing high up the top of the Howden end terraces watching a game under a rowdy atmosphere and I loved it! The game finished a draw and the replay took place in Methil where we won on pens to reach the quarter finals. Our draw put us together at home against Rangers however Telford Street wasn't up to standard so the fixture was moved to Tannadice. My father realising how much I enjoyed the East Fife game and the fact it was Rangers we were playing took me down to Dundee for the game. I was in awe watching the stars of the time Gascoigne, Laudrup, McCoist and so. We lost 3-0 but I didn't care, I just watched my local team from Inverness play the biggest team in Scotland at the time. So from this point the seed had been sown. My dad started taking me to more league games and we watched the club rise. Unfortunately once we reached the 1st Division we started going to less matches as ticket prices increased but my love for the club was there and followed on 20 years later. I alway remember my father being realistic over how Caley Thistle would do in years to come and he would say we would be a competent Championship club maybe lucky enough to get the odd season or 2 in the Premiership. I would never have thought we would be competing so high in Scotland's top division, let alone playing in Europe next year. Add a Scottish cup final to this is unbelievable, I feel I have gone full circle with this, from my first game v East Fife in the Scottish cup in the Howden End to Hampden Park in the final tomorrow. What a 20 years it's been!!...

Amongst all the Cup Final excitement, let's not forget this'll be Graeme's last appearance in an ICT shirt. Let's hope his last act will be to lift that cup. What a fantastic player he's been for us, and while I hate the thought of him going to Aberdeen, I fully expect him to move onto bigger things from them. Easily good enough to play top end Championship/bottom end Premiership level. All the best Graeme, now make sure you'll be lifting that cup for us all come Sat evening.

I like the idea of, should we be winning comfortably with a few minutes to go, sub Shinnie to give him a proper send off.

Try this and, at the time of writing this, the other eight "ICT - Scottish Cup" stories down the "Headlines" column". http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/inverness-caledonian-thistle There does, however, seem to be a disproportionate intetest in the latest performance by the Govan Travelling Circus.

Just about to set off for Glasgow... Ticket. Check Top. Check Money. Check Car fuelled Check Camera. Check Hotel address Check. Right that's me, sure I've got everything............. Oh s**t the wife.......... Susan, Susan we're going.

Should this not be no more sleeps.......I mean is everyone not too excited now to be sleeping tonight? Dont want to sleep in tomorrow and arrive late or even miss it!!!!

http://caleythistleonline.com/page/index.html/_/previews-2014-15/scottish-cup-final-2015-r1277 Read all about it in here with predictions from the legendary Steve Hislop and Bobby Mann. "The 2015 Scottish Cup Final has arrived and no big Bhoys in sight, only Bairns. And, as the slogan says: It's Our Time. Hissy:- Look out the sombrero's as Caley are going to Europe with a 3-1 win. Bobby:- I'm going for 2-0 for Inverness. There's always a downside to these events, and news that Willie Collum will referee the final is as welcome as FIFA executives organising the World Cup. Ach well, somebody has to do it. Anyway, despite that, enjoy the game

Jings, nearly there

It is the tactics and the intent that will win or lose this match. I just hope that we go for the proverbial jugular and put in performances akin to those made by Preston North End and Norwich City in their play off finals. They both pressed the opposition relentlessly, they both played possession football, they both went ahead early doors, consolidated and then were able to sit back and look to hit on the break. And let us not forget that we are playing against a side who have not had a competitive match for a whole month.

You can all stop speculating now. The team has been made public. If you go down Old Edinburgh Road past Hilton Primary School, you will see eleven large ICT shirts on the perimeter fence, each with a player's name on. So you saw it there first... Yogi's team selection two days in advance courtest of Hilton PS! This latest wonderful display at Hilton follows on from last week's offering of massed balloons and a good luck sign which unfortunately appeared to fall victim to the wind. I suppose these strong gestures of solidarity are hardly surprising from a school where the husband of one member of staff is a former player and the father of another played a major part in getting the club together in the first place.

Doncaster set to announce plans for a 14 team top flight next season.

My local fish van man in Drakies was saying today that 3 of his older lady customers that have never been to a football match before are going, hope they enjoy it!

My dad is an aberdeen fan..last year hurt, especially getting home to find him celebrating. So winning the Scottish cup will be far better than wat he got last year. More importantly, I've supported caley thistle since my interest in football kicked off, had a season ticket since 2004, been to both league cup semi finals in in previous seasons, last years cup final and the challenge cup final...yet nothing has ever had me so excited as this Saturday. I cried when Celtic beat us in the 2008 quarter final as it was my first cup game. This club means more to me than anyone would believe and a win on Saturday would be a dream come true and easily the best day of my life...whatever happens in the future following this club it'll be a day that I won't forget about. This game will literally determine how happy I am until we reach another final.

The fulfilment of childhood dreams. The satisfaction we have done it despite the power brokers in Scottish football treating us with utter contempt. And lastly amazing pride on what everyone connected with ICT has achieved since 1994. Really is the stuff of dreams, irrespective of result on Saturday, but by god a cup win would be the cherry on top of the cake. Bring it on!!

This but from a red and black perspective. Reluctant supporter of the merger but, win or lose on Saturday (Hope to Hell it's the former) we have achieved what we could only dream of in the Highland League days. Added to that I have a long nursed, Scottish Cup related, score to settle with Falkirk. Back in the frozen winter of 1979 I bunked off school for the afternoon to make the short journey from Midmills to Kingsmills to watch the mighty Jags take on the Bairns in the 29 times postponed cup tie which finally kicked off at half past one on a Thursday due to Falkirk's refusal to play under our rather good floodlights. If memory serves, we were three down and well and truly out of the match after 15 minutes and a further goal adrift by half time. My misery was compounded the following day by incurring the wrath of the formidable deputy rector Mr 'Abdul' Johnston for my unauthorised absence. Revenge, they say, is a dish best eaten cold.

If we do win and I hope ,pray and think we will then like CMiB my boyhood dream comes true, ( that is the first part of my dream ) Inverness winning the Scottish Cup, second part of my boyhood dream was winning the then Scottish First Division. Even that now seems possible. Wish all my mates of then were still alive to relish this stupendous event. Hail ! Hail ! ICT.........

"Well. the horses are now all in the gates. and we are just waiting for the signal........There it is! THEY ARE OFFFF and the 96th running of the Inverness Caley Preakness is now well under way . Approaching the half way mark and Caley 1 is leading the bunched remaining horses who are closely following by three lengths with the jocky trying to hold him back .He's raring to go and watch what happens in the final straight 'cos if he keeps up this pace he will either drop dead or win by 6 lengths. The excitemenrt is mounting and the crowd are on their feet screaming for the blue clad jockey to whip the hoss. But he 's a class act and knows how to get the best out of a horse without hurting it and this horse is extraordinary and trained to the limit and is in superb condition plus he has a big heart and will always do his best no matter what. They'r turning now round Telford's Drift and he's still full of fight and the jockey is beginning his run to the finishing line. The crowd are all on their feet and going crazy, the noise is bedlam and still rising. It's a two horse race now with all the other hosses left in their dust. The second favorite is Falkir'k's Dream who has always been in contention right from the start and has proved to be a thoroughbred of real talent . Never started to flag but has been under the cosh from the get-go, withering from Caley1's blisterng , aggressivepace. He is undoubtedly now a real threat to our champion in the blue and red colors, though, and both horses are now neck and neck after a mighty effort from Falkirk's dream which has drawn him level but might just prove his undoing, But wait! Caley 1 has JUST CLICKED HIS PACE UP A NOTCH and is now leading by a length and seems to be unstoppable in his determination to win this mighty, prestigious cup. Quarter of a mile to go and, again, Falkirk's dream matches the pace of his frenetic adversary in what is turning out to be the race of the century for both horses and jockeys. Both sets of supporters in this mighty crowd are past cheering on their favorite but all are in unison in cheering for this fantastic display of grit and determination, pace and skill of the jockeys in putting on a show not seen hear at Hamden racecourse for at least fifty years. ' Who will now win. That is the question. 1/4 of a mile to go and the brilliant two are 50 lengths in front of the pack who simply did not have the heart and skill to match this terrible twosome who are unbelievably outstanding on their day in the sun. Now we are down to the run down the straight in front of the Stand and it's still neck and neck with Caley 1 shading it by a head. Whilst people are falling over the front stand rails andd ropping down on the people below, the hard-working jockeys are urging their steeds forward with everything they have. But now they know that both horses have each given so much energy and effort that these two have to battle their own kind to win this race and so the Jocks are simply holding the rains loosely and letting them go. As the crowd react in a fever pitch of excitement you can't even hear yourself think but with only a few yards to go there is a definite gap between the brave and bold horses and ittt's a WIN for Caley 1 by one length. What a race and what a worthy winner, But such a pity that either horse had to lose and that final spurt was all it took from one of the two utterly exhausted steeds to deliver the big prize. They say that no one remembers a loser but you will have to work very long and hard well into the future ,to convince anyone who was present at this "Blazing Saddles" tournament today, who saw this tremendous show of power, dedication, energy, skill and lovely colored tunics on the tiny Jockeys that this was a race where there was, and always will be, two mighty winners. .

happy birthday in advance. ..double celebration we hope

Paddy Power called it right with the advert they took out in today's Daily Star!

hi all inverness fans . i am travelling to game tommorrow to lend my support to inverness . being a pars fan i have not been at hampden many times but i have a soft spot for the sneck being an ex resident at fort george for lots of years. i am wondering can i just walk up and buy a ticket for me and my son ?

I'm a relatively new fan after defecting from the blue half of the ugly sisters during the season of 03/04 when we first got promoted to the Premiership. My Dad is a Hibs fan so never really "forced" ICT on me. I supported Rangers because, to me, they were the best ( ) and who doesn't want to support the best team? But then I saw the light and began to support my local team, and at that point I never could have even dreamed about where we are today. Already qualified for the Europa League and tomorrow we have an amazing chance to win our first trophy. I can honestly say that supporting ICT has given me some of the happiest (and saddest) moments of my life so far, but that is what football is about. Not winning everything in sight, but a rollercoaster. Supporting ICT has been far more rewarding than supporting "them" ever was, and winning the trophy tomorrow would just top it all off. THIS IS OUR TIME.

To win tomorrow would be simply amazing end to what has been a dream season. Dare i say, even IF we dont win, the club have done superb

Sounds like a seething mess County fan on the glory hunt.:D Tbh if the staff are not 100% sure I'm not certain what else they could say.

Everything brings it back - memories of games in the late sixties at Telford street with my long departed granddad He always said 80 capstan full strength a day wouldn't hurt anyone! Respect to players, staff and officials present and past to get to final - massive achievement but still work to do tomorrow afternoon -without sounding dour!!- Bring it home

At this time I feel nervous, excited, fearful, proud, anxious, happy, scared and confused. Not sure wether to go to Hampden or New Craig's right now.

https://www.facebook.com/falkirkfootballclub/photos/a.829022493774532.1073741834.143589232317865/1007814469228666/?type=1&theater <<<Disaster for Falkirk mascot..... On a lifghter note Falkirks new strip has arrived with CHILDRENS socks lol...frantically trying to get Puma to send the correct ones for Saturday or the team will be wearing ankle socks ....Good Luck ICT ...but not too much :-) https://www.facebook.com/falkirkfootballclub

Gloryhunters!!!

I will be taking my 86 year old dad to the final. He was a Caley FC committee member for many years and is a staunch ICT supporter. I would dearly love to see the look on his face if we can win the cup. For me, it would be the fruition of a dream that started 21 years ago. To get our name on the cup would be fantastic.

Let it go, Let it go Can't hold it back anymore Let it go, Let it go, Turn my back and slam the door And here I stand And here I'll stay Let it go, let it go The merger never bothered me anyway

I've got an even better idea....let's all just cheer for the full match in celebration of the entire team and all those who have come before and played their part in where the club is today.

Good luck from a Motherwell fan. Kinda got a game or two to keep us busy this weekend but will be watching on Saturday.

Good article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32908290 There's another, amusing, interview with him in the Highland News this week too where he divulges some interesting details on his teammates. The applause on 3 mins would be a great gesture I think.

Hailing from Edinburgh myself. I have many Hibs associations (bit rich to call them friends though eh ;-) ) and it would be a treat knowing we'd have won more Scottish cups in 21 years than they in over 100. I'll be in Gent, Belgium in a sports bar watching the game I hope. (Message to the bar looks promising) and cheering the boys on. To then train to Bruges later, probably a little tipsy, with a joyous smile on my face. Be a great day. I believe.

Great thread by the way Renegade...

Definately this club has surpassed my expectations. I always knew Caledonian & Thistle when we merged, were far superior to the then 2nd and 3rd division teams; so as far as dreams were concerned it was to play in the top division which we achieved in no time at all. Yes I always had dreams of winning a major trophy or playing in a European competition but these were pipe dreams. Credit must go to Butcher & Malpas for installing the "I believe" ethos in the team and the fans; and i'm happy that that has been strengthned with Hughes et al. What would it mean to me? Well some fans spend their whole lives supporting a team who will never reach the heights we have, so this would mean the world to me and hopefully to the kids growing up in Inverness. If we do win this cup i emplore the club to exploit it and ram it down kids throats. Bums on seats is everything. and my thoughts are with those 2nd and 3rd division teams who are still chasing that dream. BC

Ever been to Falkirk? That may answer your question.

It'll be emotional. To think where we've come from, to watching the boys walk out at Hampden on Sat. There'll be a few imaginary things that'll need wiping from several eyes I'd imagine.

We've released a music video for the song. Selection of our favourite moments as ICT fans from time gone by. Hope you enjoy it.

Right O.K. I have been to World Cups, Euro's and play offs with Scotland, I have been to FA Cup finals at Wembley, I have watched Leeds Utd win the League and have followed them in Europe. But for some reason this game has created more in my 51 y.o mind than any other I have ever been too. I moved back to the Highlands in '94 so picking somewhere to watch my football was easy, new start for both a club and me and because of being there at the beginning this game and club means so much more. Roll on Friday for travelling down and on Saturday, if anyone sees a grown man shaking uncontrollably it the corner of the Beechwood, say hello as it will be me.

I agree with the first bit of this and to me that is the most important thing. As long as we play with a high tempo and look to get forward quickly it doesn't really matter which two of Doran, Christie, Williams Ross and Vincent we have starting as we should be too good for Falkirk. But personally I think we should start with Christie as his outstanding performance against Celtic showed what he is capable of on the big stage. He also showed he can keep it up for 120 minutes so I would start with him and look to run their defence ragged from the word go. I would start with Williams with a view to bringing Doran on around the hour mark.

I have secured two coaches for Cup Final day and am looking to fill them with schoolkids and their parents. I will subsidise these coaches so that the return cost is just £10 for kids and £15 for adults that accompany them. This is about a third of the cost of public transport so hopefully we can get 100 people to the match that would otherwise not have gone. Departure points will be finalised in the next 48 hours. It would be great if other businesses or individuals would chip in some money so that we can organise more coaches and I would appreciate it if you can pass this request on to any charitable contacts you have. £750 would subsidise another coach but any amount is welcome. Please contact me if you can help or if you have access to more coaches (which are thin on the ground). We will be promoting this via the schools in the next two days and it will only be available for bookings where children are accompanied by adults.

You missed out the part about living under a bridge.