The Mantis

That second season, 95-96, was a low in my attendance at games. The whole ICT thing hadn't really caught fire for me after the merger, and I ended up seeing only 9 matches. Steve Paterson had taken over from Sergei, thankfully, and it wasn't all that long before the difference began to show, in the playing style and the results. The team finished the season in 3rd place behind Livi and Brechin (but ahead of County naturally) but was to sweep all before them the following year. If I'm honest, I showed up at a few games just to notch some new grounds, but I got my Caley Thistle news from the small band of regulars who travelled away with Caley Thistle, notably John Stewart, ex-Caley committee and his sons, one of whom is of course David, the MSP, and the other, Alan, who is a regular on here. I also became a regular traveller with big Dougie Lynn, and through him, met Ken MacDonald from Point in Lewis who, of course, is the father of big Lewis. The season started for me at Cliftonhill where 2 goals from Herchie looked to have won it before Rovers equalised in the last minute. Then a goalless draw at Brechin which we really should have won. A place which became a happy hunting ground for ICT in later years. Apparently Charlie scored a late equaliser at Telford Street to salvage a point against Alloa but, unusually, I can't recall anything of the game. A week before xmas we had a dour 0-0 draw at Cowdenbeath in front of 230, although at the time I thought there were more people in the main street to see Santa and his sleigh before the game ? In the New Year, a highlight was beating Livi 2-0 at Almondvale with late goals from Christie and Teasdale. But of course the icing on the cake, as it so often was with Caley Thistle, was the Cup. I missed the legendary Herch-inspired comeback v Livi and jumped in at the East Fife stage. As Steve Archibald substituted himself late on in the replay, thinking the game was won, a wee bit of the future ICT spirit was revealed with a late Herchie equaliser and a cool 3-1 win on spot kicks. This led to the famous win at Ochilview as the team, backed by a healthy following, progressed due to a Luggy screamer with 15 minutes to go. From my acquaintances in the game, I can exclusively reveal that Terry Christie was so depressed by this result that the Stenhousemuir board and some of his friends had to talk him out of resigning. Then there was the Rangers game at Tannadice. A taste of things to come for ICT. Although we were well beaten in the end, most of us would have been happy with a goal, and we almost got one, courtesy of John Scott's drive which flashed narrowly over (I'm sure he went on to be a star somewhere ? ). For me, the ICT passion would be ignited next season.

Yeah that works. I see what you mean about the 1200x300 as you can't reposition it like the main image. Cheers.

Final question ?: can't seem to set different photos for each blog post. But you and James/Mannie have done it, so it's possible

OK, getting there, thanks Scotty. Only shows 10 posts though, same as James? Also the side panel on the CTO 'blogs' page shows 8 blogs in operation, but only displays 5 of them?

No contest between watching under the lights and watching the old goggle box. Plus listening to RedCard ranting away at Harkins ?

This kind of has me beat too. How do you link it to an existing blog?

Very comprehensive blog Scotty. I see the posts are 3 months apart which will probably help you keep it up in the long run ? when I started my own one I was posting every 1-2 weeks but after about 2 years I found the commitment waning a bit.

Been meaning to compliment you for a while Laurie. I bookmarked Narey’s Toepoker ages ago but can’t see an option to follow it as I’m on Wordpress not blogspot.

Jeezo Don, I said it was a ball park figure! I thought I was agreeing with you ? FWIW, I think Hearts will bring upwards of 20000, considering it’s their first Scottish Cup semi for 7 years and first trip to Hampden for 6. Not sure how many giraffes though ?

I don’t think you’re too far wide of the mark, but just as a ball park figure: 75000 combined attendance and £20 average ticket makes £1.5M. 12% of that would be £180k.

Gulp. Not good.

Some good memories there. I was at the Shire game where Wilsie scored the first ever goal - the date is easy to remember as it’s my brother’s birthday. Followed up on the Saturday with the 5-2 v Arbroath and the following midweek at Dundee where the away strip got its first airing. Red and white stripes and blue shorts. In those days, midweek games kicked off at 7.30. I then missed a 4-0 hammering at home to Queens Park (boo!) and the Wilsie-inspired cuffing of County at Dingwall (big regrets), before we won at Albion Rovers with a second half strike from ‘spineless Norman’ (Monty Python reference for the young team). I fished out my season ticket for the 3-1 defeat of Forfar, which took us to the top of the league, with Dick Campbell moaning that we were a long ball team, despite having Charlie Christie, John Scott and Mike Noble in the team. I think the season ticket was about £45, maybe £50, which sounds very cheap as I think it was £4 at the gate. My final game, coincidentally, was a 1-0 defeat at Firs Park in April, featuring out of retirement Billy Urquhart, who had been at the first game as a supporter. My tally for the season was only 11 matches though, as like the team, I fell away badly after exiting the Scottish Cup, and I was still not the biggest fan of the merger.

Worth mentioning that all football in Iceland is played on artificial surfaces, and also the Faroe Islands, and then, carrying on south for about 300 miles, guess what’s the next country you come to ? They don’t even attempt to play in the winter, either.

There’s really no such thing as 4G or even 5G (as they claim to have at QoS). You might argue that some 3G pitches are more advanced than others but even then you’d be using computer OS update numbers like 3.1 etc ? My local club consulted with a provider of artificial pitches and that is what we were told - although they could have been using it to get a sale ?

I’m just a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.

I'm afraid two things are being confused here. The individual is one of our more 'passionate' regulars and most people know him, though I was surprised to hear about the inappropriate comments. The other group were from the English Midlands on a day out and had taken far too much drink on the train. Not ICT fans and they left halfway through.

We really carried on from last Sunday. First half we were totally dominant. Two wins in 7 days - can't remember the last time I witnessed that... no cup hangover. Queens had chances second half but I put the clean sheet down to decent defending rather than chances missed. I don't really see the difference between 3rd place and 4th, as all it means is home advantage in the second leg, and we're much better away. Ideally we would want to be second. Looks like a very stuffy County side will stretch away in first place, they're not a patch on the side which got promoted 6 years ago.

This is all academic. Levein will kick his players’ erses and it’ll be a bit like our replay against Edinburgh City. That was Partick’s best shot on Friday. The Hearts support will be too big for anywhere except Hampden, given it’s the big cup and not that trinket County won. I’d rather have a day out at Hampden anyway. Even if it was Thistle, McDiarmid would be too small imo, it would have to be Easter Road.

Best day out I’ve ever had in Dundee? ICT and the Scottish Cup ? ?? “Dear Arabs Roond Ye Love Coll xx “

I haven't had a season ticket for some years as I very seldom make it up to home matches from the wrong side of Edinburgh, and I'm retired now so can't really afford just to buy one for show. However I'd be willing to donate to the club but I doubt you'd get anything like 500 members. So following on from that, it would probably need to be some sort of prize draw as already mentioned. Which brings us back to the Centenary Club, which I don't hear much of these days, as I get 99% of my ICT news from this site alone.

Meeiiaaaooow ?

Draper would make a big difference to us though. When you see him playing against you, it sinks in what an important player he was. Gardyne is decent too, though it's amazing how long he lasted last night considering he's about 60.

Quiet car going home that was ?

You can probably squeeze the letters in next to the traffic cone.