Leaderboard

Am Baile DESCRIPTION: In season 1982-83, Caledonian completed the remarkable achievement of winning the Highland League without losing a single game. They won 23 and drew 7 of their matches, equalling a record they themselves had set in 1913-14, when there were 9 teams in the league, and they won 9 and drew 7 of their games. Full Story

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.

The jaggies will have to go some to beat that one

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

IIRC, and without looking up CB's book, the League told the Inverness clubs that it would not be acceptable to have the competition of two Highland League clubs in the same town as a Scottish League club, and so at least two of them would have to merge if they were to be allowed in. Ross County were admitted at the same time. Elgin and Peterhead were admitted a few years later, and Cove came through the pyramid system.

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.

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.

I always find it interesting hearing people's back stories and takes on the merger / pre merger affiliations. I was 13/14 when it happened and although my dad couldn't care less about football, my uncle (Ben Gunn) used to take to to the Howden End sometimes so I had leanings from that. At the same time though my Grandad (Angie Mair Snr) took me to Grant St sometimes as he was a big Clach man. I also got my 'big team' support from him which was Rangers. After the merger I didn't go to more than a couple of ICT games for years as my uncle refused to have anything to do with ICT. By the time I was away to Uni in Glasgow I'd all but lost all interest in Rangers (living in Glasgow killed off the last vestige of any interest lol) and was more interested in ICT, going to the odd away game and Scotland home games. Kinda built from there, to getting a season ticket when I moved back to Inverness.