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Thank You to all who have responded in here. Hopefully it makes it easier for others to realise there is or should be no stigma or embarrassment around getting your prostate checked. Getting it checked won't kill you! Leaving it unchecked just might! For some reason it is the same over here. We pay something equivalent to National Insurance to cover the Canadian version of the NHS but some tests are not included, and you must pay out of pocket. It's not a huge amount ($75 i think) but any cost is often barrier enough for people to say 'nahh', especially if they don't fit into the stereotypical risk group. The only caveat is if your GP ticks the box on the bloodwork requisition form and in some cases, it seems they don't like to do that. After the story about my uncle, my GP said she was ticking that box and I don't think it's being melodramatic to say she saved my life with that check mark. My cancer was found to be stage 3 (Gleason 3+4) with positive margins meaning it had just reached the outer edges of the prostate and there was a risk of spread and becoming Stage 4. Long story short, they removed it, found no evidence of cancer in any of the lymph nodes, so no spread, and for the last few years the PSA scores have been good. However, because of the positive margins, there is a good chance that there are some residual cells left behind in the prostate bed which will get treated with radiation once the PSA level goes above 0.25 Well done to all signed up for these tests, and if anyone on here does get a concerning result, then I think a few of us on here would be more than willing to discuss our experiences in private with you. It is a daunting diagnosis but ignoring the signs doesn't make it go away, and if caught early enough then it is eminently treatable.

Presentation, if we win, will depend on how quickly it takes for the Helicopter to arrive from its location mid way between Montrose and Inverness and the time it takes for Queen Camilla to parachute onto the pitch and hopefully not drop the Trophy after her tiring trip to the USA.

As a Prostate Cancer survivor, due to early detection, I really want to promote and post about the absolute importance of the Prostate Cancer initiative that ICT have got involved with. I lost an uncle (in Inverness) due to this condition because it was detected too late and my doctor (in Toronto) sent me for a test because of his death. I was 52 at the time and conventional thinking said it was "too early" for me to be affected by PC or even that other favourite as you get older, an enlarged prostate. Fast forward a few weeks and after a reading that was too high, and a biopsy that followed, I was going under the knife to remove the cancer that had been confirmed. Early detection meant a good prognosis and although I now need to have checks regularly - which are simple and easy blood tests - the alternative does not bear thinking about. The club sent out a press release today with an invite for the media to come along and publicise this event, and that reminded me I had not made any comment yet so here is my tuppence worth as this is a subject that is very close to home and of which I have personal experience. I would urge anyone who has any symptoms, or who has a family history to go get tested. For me, looking back, the only real symptom I missed was that I was having to pee more frequently, especially if I was drinking carbonated drinks like Coke or Irn Bru, or alcoholic drinks like beer! I put it down to getting older, no big deal. Take advantage of this kind of initiative or talk to your GP. Don't be embarrassed. A PSA test is a simple blood test, and it will not only put your mind at rest if the results come back as clear, but if there is anything detected, it will hopefully give you time to have it seen to before it is too late. PC is one of those slow burns, usually building over a number of years, and often unseen ... my doctor told me after my surgery that early detection was key as it is eminently treatable if caught in time. This is the kind of initiative that can prevent the preventable so please go get tested if you can. ICT Release follows: Whilst this is a media release and the spots are already filled, it is worth highlighting this so you can keep an eye out for any future opportunities.

The real trophy will be in Inverness, A replica will be in Montrose( just in case ) 😉

I did add after my comment! SPFL office junior gets despatched to local trophy shop with orders to come back with change from £20.

I also wondered this, and will they not need one for League 2 as well?

I think (but not 100% certain) it goes to goals scored which would save County

Another survivor here, and if you’ve been listening to Kenny Macintyre on OTB then my story is quite similar. Lost my younger brother in 2017. Asked about getting checked out at age 60 but got fobbed off with a questionnaire. Visited my GP in summer 2022 about something unrelated and he took some tests. Traces of blood in the urine and PSA of 10, and later 8.9. This led to a biopsy in the winter which showed 11/12 samples cancerous. Diagnosed with stage 2/3 (hard to read a CT scan accurately). Stage 4 is when it’s spreading out of the prostate and is serious. Spring of 2023, started hormone injections and in late summer had umpteen 5-minute bursts of radiotherapy. I’ve had 6-monthly PSA tests since Feb 2024 and every one has been around 0.1 . tl;dr - Wednesday is an opportunity which you should take.

I'm now sorted 😀. I have another companion who I managed to persuade so we are biking it from Thurso to Inverness at about midday then back home after the game. He was reluctant to leave his dog at home for a few hours so I don't think he's keen on staying back for the trophy presentation (providing we get the point needed for that 🙄) but I am just glad to get down to the game. I'm sure someone will video the presentation and post it on Facebook, Twitter or even YouTube so that isn't an issue for me. We are in the North Stand directly behind the goal in Row M Seats 92/93 😀😀😀. I'm excited now because this is the first game since the Tel era because the Peterhead game I was going to go to in January got P-P and my usual companion wasn't free the Tuesday of the rearranged game due to college and hockey commitments. Aren't most posters on here based in the North Stand 🤔😀?

Was just reading the website listed and one stat on there is truly staggering Why? Is it the famous Highland/Scottish reserve and/or stoicism? FFS, as a population we do need to put any sense of embarrassment aside and get checked out. I was lucky, my GP ticked the box on my standard blood tests I get for my yearly physical to include a PSA test that is not normally included. If she had not, then I might be telling a different story - or none at all!

Okay, got back Sunday morning after an overnighter on a coach back, and left it to today to comment Overall an enjoyable trip, albeit the match was a bit of a damp squib, fortunately Billy got a terrific goal, which means things are much more in our hands, the simple equation is don't lose, and despite Hamilton being a bit of a bogey team and with something to play for, we have beat them twice this season and at the very least we should want to pay them back for relegating us. And we will be playing on a proper pitch! And I must say that Bayview pitch was absolutely terrible, a terrible bounce, the ball never held up on the glassy surface at all, maybe it was me, but the pitch looks less wide than Inverness'. The East Fife players were well marshalled and very busy, fair play to them, they often hunted our players down in pairs. We never had time on the ball, and could rarely get the ball under control. [I actually though Longstaff did the best in those close contact situations, but maybe I am in a minority]. People will of course say that this was the same for both teams [and we beat them earlier in the season], but I would argue if you play on that type of pitch regularly, you get to know how to play it. I understood why we were trying the long ball, to bypass a busy midfield, but we rarely got players close to Zimba who struggled a bit, but without close support this was likely to be the case as we needed to pick up the 2nd ball. I wasn't surprised that East Fife scored, they looked surer footed and the goal was a first touch hit. Would Billy and 'Wothers' fared better if on earlier? Who knows, they obviously had the guile, but also a tiring East Fife started to sit deeper which helped. Billy's goal was a great shot, and from distance [Probably the only way we were going to score on the day] I am not going to have a go at any player, because everyone of those have done a good job for us over the season. It didn't work on the day, but credit East Fife. As for team selections, does anyone know are best team, but also has the rotation helped minimise injuries this season? As for Saturday, I reckon Billy will have a say in the result.