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I supported Inverness Thistle since around 1962 till their demise. I never wanted the merger, and have yet to meet a supporter who did. I was a season ticket holder and went to all home and away games right up to the end. I could never understand why Thistle and Caley had to merge and all the other Highland League clubs managed to get into the league on their own. It has been hard for ex-Thistle fans with the merger, hearing all the shouts of Caley, the stadium called Caledonian stadium, the media calling them Caley and playing in predominantly blue. But it is what it is. I have been a season ticket holder since around 2010, it took me a long time to have any feeling for the new club, and I would go to the odd game when I could, work permitting, as I worked most Saturdays and worked back and night shift, but since I retired I haven't missed a home match for several seasons. There have been many highs over the years, and a few lows, and I think I have lived through the golden period of ICT, winning the Scottish Cup being the pinnacle. I don't have the same passion for ICT that I did have for Inverness Thistle, but that's history now, and the new generation have no excuse for not following their home Scottish League team ICT, instead of following the Glasgow clubs or Aberdeen, something my generation never had.

Possibly a controversial opinion but IMHO: (Caley + Thistle) > Caley or Thistle in terms of the progress the combined teams have achieved in the last 29 years. Non-League to premiership in 10 seasons Scottish Cup winners in 20 seasons Into Europe by our 21st birthday. If we had been able to go it alone then I believe both Caley and Thistle would have progressed, but County (had they got in) would have eclipsed us thanks to the financial help from Uncle Roy. It has taken the combined efforts of football people from both parent clubs, as well as sponsorship and governance from business and benefactors of both. Had both clubs gone it alone then that would have been fragmented, the stadium would not have happened, and the central belters would have found a(nother) reason to keep us out, or at best, down in the lower leagues which might have been the natural level for either or both. Together we are stronger, have forged our own new history as a combined club, alongside the history - not to be forgotten - of the parent clubs that pre-dated ICT. I say that as a Caley man who lived in Dalneigh and would go to Telford Street on a semi-regular basis, work and money permitting.

It was Caledonian F.C when I first started following the team. This was in the later stages of their Highland League and club existence. I never had that solid 'my club' feeling as I wasn't brought up with the team. I never really wanted the merger to happen but would Caley or Thistle have got into the SFL on their own back then? You only have to look over the bridge for that answer. My following of the team started in 78 but I never got to see them and become a paying supporter until some ten years later. The club of today have given me so many good times (and bad) over the years that I now feel it was all worthwhile. Would Caley or Thistle have made it to the SPL (A league I hate) or win a major trophy? I have my doubts.

Raith losing to Hamilton is a result that has gone our way tonight. But we need to win against them on Saturday.

In hindsight it was clearly a stupid decision and I feel bad for both sets of fans who opposed this at the time. Who was to know the pyramid would open up and allow teams to reach their true level though, at that time it wasn’t really believable. I never supported either club from before but always take an interest in their history.

FT ICT 4 - Dryburgh 2