Scotty

FLYBE KICKS OFF FOOTBALL IN THE COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME WITH INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE Leading regional airline’s new agreement with Caley Thistle reinforces commitment to grass roots’ football Flybe, Europe’s leading regional airline and the UK’s Number One Domestic carrier, will again be championing grass roots’ football at Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C with its ‘In the Community’ programme that includes being the main sponsor of the third Flybe Football Festival where local primary school teams play for the Flybe 2011 Community Cup. The new deal was kicked off by popular Caley Thistle defenders, Chris Innes and David Proctor with excited young players at Crown School, Inverness. The programme incorporates Flybe’s involvement in a number of other key projects namely two Flybe Fun Day Festivals held during the 2010/11 season at Inverness’ Caledonian Stadium: a competition giving secondary schools across Inverness the opportunity to win a six week coaching course with a Flybe Community Football coach for their school’s football team culminating in a match between the winning school and the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Under -17 side and support for local football school holiday programmes. Ian Taylor, Flybe’s General Manager Market Development says: “Flybe has been the main Club Sponsor at Inverness Caledonian Thistle for the past three years and so we are delighted to be able to now continue our relationship with the Club following its return to the Premier league. Our In the Community programme offers local youngsters the superb opportunity to participate in a tournament at a Scottish Premier League venue and is just one of the ways in which we can show our support for the local communities that in turn so loyally support Flybe.” The Chairman of the Club, George Fraser, added: “Our relationship with Flybe is one that we are very keen to continue and both of us see this Community Sponsorship initiative as a great opportunity to expand our reach and support into the very areas where Flybe operates.”

Inverness bounced back after the midweek thrashing at Parkhead to beat rivals St Mirren 2-1 at St Mirren Park. Eric Odhiambo scored a brace either side of half time to give Butcher's boys a cushion before Paul McGowan fired home a superb volley to put the result on a knife edge, but it was too little too late this time for the Buddies as Inverness held on to their advantage to take all three points in a hard fought tussle. 25th September 2010 St Mirren Park, Paisley ST MIRREN 1 - McGowan (77) TEAM: Gallacher, van Zanten, Mair, Potter, McGregor, Travner, Murray, Lynch (McCluskey 53), Hegarty (McQuade 27), Wardlaw, McGowan SUBS: Samson, McAusland, Love, McLennan, Mclean Booked: Gallacher (12) INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 2 - Odhiambo (45,50) TEAM: Esson, Proctor (Ross 16), Tokely, Munro, Shinnie, Duff, Duncan, Hayes (Blumenshtein 88), Odhiambo (Morrison 82), Foran, Rooney SUBS: Tuffey, McBain, Sutherland Booked: Foran (76), Ross (82) Referee Steven Finnie Attendance 3954 The pen of Alternative Maryhill is wearing out fast, another gem coming up....... St Mirren V Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Scottish Premier League, 25th September 2010 Caley Thistle’s excellent record in away league matches was extended yesterday at sunny St Mirren Park with a battling win that banished memories of Wednesday’s rain-soaked dismantling by Celtic in the CIS Cup. Ignore all the torn-faced bleating from some St Mirren supporters on other forums, claiming that ICT were poor and St Mirren authors of their own downfall; this was a spirited and occasionally classy performance from an Inverness side stripped to the bones by injury. Since the demise of Love Street, a trip to Paisley is not what it once was, but around 300 ICT supporters still made the journey. Some went to traditional drinking haunt the Alamo, and made the journey to the ground from Paisley town centre on foot; others took advantage of being able to stay in the relative civilisation of Glasgow until twenty-five to three then hop on a train to Paisley St James and still arrive comfortably in time for kick off. Inside the ground, the vocal support from the Inverness supporters was excellent, putting the little St Mirren singing section to shame, and in contrast to Easter Road a fortnight ago, there was no attempt from the stewards to force anyone to sit down; in fact, most looked like they were happy to see supporters enjoying themselves. Remarkably, despite this licentiousness, nobody was killed or even injured. Another enjoyable aspect of the afternoon was the obvious effort St Mirren manager Danny Lennon had put into dressing for the occasion, proving that the Lennon revolution is a sartorial as well as a sporting one. A dapper spectacle in shiny waistcoat, shirt sleeves and trews, he would not have looked out of place in a grand country house or even in the Crucible Theatre. Terry Butcher take note: there is only so long a middle-aged man can get away with wearing a baseball cap. And so to football matters. As widely expected, Terry Butcher restored the players he had rested for the Celtic game to the starting line-up, fielding what was arguably his strongest available team. Nick Ross would have been entitled to feel a little disappointed to lose his place to Richie Foran after a series of promising performances, but the Inverness manager obviously felt he needed Foran’s strength and ability to win and hold up the ball in the wide left area where he performed so well last season. Graham Shinnie retained his place, moving to a more conventional left back role than he had occupied on Wednesday, with Stuart Golabek dropping out. Stuart Duff and Russell Duncan paired up in central midfield, with Eric Odhiambo returning to the deeper-lying striker role, supporting Adam Rooney. Danny Lennon made only one change to the St Mirren team that had lost 2-1 in Perth the previous week, with Paul McGowan, who had missed the St Johnstone game after a red card against Kilmarnock, returning up front and Steven Robb dropping out of the squad. Much debate has been generated by Danny Lennon’s overhaul of Gus MacPherson’s team and the number of players he has signed from his previous club, Cowdenbeath, but the reality is that yesterday’s St Mirren starting line-up contained only two former Cowdenbeath players, Gareth Wardlaw and Darren McGregor, and plenty of SPL experience, albeit mostly defensive, in Hugh Murray, John Potter, Lee Mair and David van Zanten. With two teams that looked quite evenly matched in terms of experience and recent results, it is perhaps unsurprising that the game started quite tentatively, with the sides apparently feeling each other out. Caley Thistle were first to exert any meaningful pressure, forcing a series of corners after about ten minutes, one the result of a last-ditch tackle on Adam Rooney from McGregor, when Rooney looked in a good position to score. On sixteen minutes, Nick Ross replaced David Proctor, who picked up an injury near the St Mirren bye-line and was unable to continue. With Stuart Duff moving to right back, Ross slotted into an unfamiliar central midfield role alongside Duncan, and proceeded to have such an impressive game that Terry Butcher might well be tempted to continue playing him there even after the current injury difficulties have eased. Four minutes after coming on, Ross hit the outside of the post with a low, angled drive from outside the area which Paul Gallacher could not reach. For the remainder of the game, he combined a willingness to run at players with the ball, which has already become familiar to ICT supporters, with a previously little-seen ability to track back, tackle and emerge with the ball still at his feet. As the first half wore on, St Mirren began to take more control of possession, although the Inverness players rarely looked troubled by the St Mirren attackers, with Grant Munro particularly impressive in his calm marshalling of Gareth Wardlaw. One of the few genuinely threatening moments came in twenty six minutes, when David van Zanten shot through a ruck of players from Paul McGowan’s cut-back. Despite presumably seeing the ball late, Ryan Esson saved superbly low to his left hand side. Esson also held comfortably from a dipping lob from substitute Paul McQuade twenty-five yards a few minutes later. If St Mirren were growing in confidence and daring to hope of an end to their run of league defeats, however, these hopes suffered a setback just before the interval, when Eric Odhiambo, unmarked, turned on a low diagonal free kick from Foran, exchanged a one-two with Nick Ross on the edge of the area and, running beyond the flat-footed St Mirren backline, fired the ball low past Paul Gallacher and into the bottom right-hand corner. A slick goal, exemplifying the ability to change pace and cut through defences that the ICT attackers have periodically shown in away games in the past twelve months. Half time: St Mirren 0 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1 The Inverness players started the second forty-five like a team determined to kill the game off as quickly as possible. When not in possession, they harried and closed down the St Mirren players, and it was this sort of pressure, from Jonny Hayes on Paul McQuade, that brought the second goal. McQuade ceded possession to Hayes and could simply not keep up with the Irish winger as he raced diagonally across the field and sent a pass straight to the feet of Odhiambo, sprinting clear ahead of him. If replays showed that Eric got lucky with his first touch and finish for his goal against Hearts last week, here there was no mistaking the clinical control of the first touch that took him past the Saints central defender and the delicacy of his chip over Gallacher that sent the ball in the net. A second goal for ICT, from another move that showed an understanding between the team’s attacking players that could make all the difference this season. For the next twenty minutes or so, the Inverness team seemed well in control. Jonny Hayes’ header back across goal, after fine work on the left wing from Richie Foran, came off the base of the post with Gallacher beaten, and Gallacher then had to block with his legs when Rooney raced clear. Esson was called into serious action just once in this period, to make a fine block from another van Zanten shot from the right hand side of the penalty area. The final fifteen minutes were far less comfortable for Caley Thistle, however, after a fine strike from Paul McGowan halved the Inverness side’s advantage. The ICT defenders could not properly clear a St Mirren free kick from the right hand side, and after a brief game of headers between the teams, the ball dropped to McGowan, who sent a looping volley high into the corner from twenty yards. With their hope renewed, the St Mirren players controlled possession for much of the remainder of the game, but with the ICT players working hard to close their opponents down and Munro and Tokely standing firm at the heart of the defence, there were few other clear cut chances for the Paisley side, although in injury time Paul McGowan did bring a low near-post save out of Esson with an angled shot after a header across goal. When the final whistle sounded, Ross Tokely and Ryan Esson were first over to the away support with clenched fists, epitomising the spirit that is always so evident in the team, in away games at least, under Terry Butcher. Danny Lennon disappeared disconsolately up the tunnel, presumably to polish the cutlery and ponder his next move. And the Inverness faithful moved off happily, to make the platform of Paisley St James, and then the rafters of Glasgow Central, ring with songs of celebration. Full time: St Mirren 1 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2

Lambs to the slaughter Greek Tragedy for Inverness Caley Thistle as Georgios Samaras netted a hat-trick as Terry Butchers boys were butchered. ICT were forced into a number of changes with a mounting injury list and ended up on the wrong side of a 6-0 drubbing from a rampant Celtic. 22nd September 2010 Celtic Park, Glasgow CELTIC 6 - Samaras (17,37,57), Hooper (21), Stokes (pen74,81) TEAM: Forster, Wilson, Majstorovic, Loovens, Izaguirre (Mulgrew 11), Juarez, Ki, Ledley (Crosas 66), Samaras (Maloney 75), Hooper, Stokes SUBS: Cervi, Rogne Booked: Wilson (35), Sung-Yong (52) INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 0 - TEAM: Tuffey, Proctor, Tokely, Munro, Golabek, Shinnie, Duncan, Cox, Hayes, Nick Ross, Sutherland SUBS: Esson, Duff, Foran, Rooney, McBain Booked: Foran (47), McBain (63), Tuffey (74) Referee Dougie McDonald Attendance 17,429 Alternative Maryhill has now recovered sufficiently from the drubbing to put this report together. For Terry Butcher, pragmatism took priority over any romantic notions of Hampden in the spring. For the supporters who travelled to this game, the consequences of that decision were painful to witness. Statistics will show that this result merely equalled Caley Thistle’s heaviest-ever defeat, but the reality was that this was probably the most one-sided game the team has ever been involved in. The Inverness manager chose to rest first team regulars Ryan Esson, Adam Rooney and Eric Odhiambo and leave recent signing Stuart Duff and injury recoveree Richie Foran on the bench. With Innes, Gillet and McCann all unfit, the team lined up with a central defence of Grant Munro, Ross Tokely and Stuart Golabek, with Graham Shinnie and David Proctor playing as wing backs. Last season’s regular central midfield pairing of Russell Duncan and Lee Cox was restored and Shane Sutherland played as a lone striker ahead of Nick Ross and Jonny Hayes. Celtic were set up to attack, with a front three of Anthony Stokes, Gary Hooper and Georgios Samaras playing in front of of a midfield of Juarez, Ledley and Ki. In the early stages the Inverness side was competitive, with Nick Ross running onto a good Sutherland pass in the left-hand side of the penalty area, only to see his shot forced behind for a corner by Ki. Ross continued to look tricky and tenacious going forward, but it was not long before Celtic began to dominate. From early on it was obvious that the Celtic players had been told to try to exploit the lack of pace in the Inverness defence, with Juarez running onto the first of numerous balls chipped beyond the Caley Thistle backline and sending a cross behind. After nine minutes, Jonny Tuffey had to make a fine diving save to his left to keep out a Ki free kick, but he had no chance eight minutes later when Georgios Samaras, six yards out, deflected a Ledley shot into his top right hand corner. Almost from the restart, Samaras again got beyond the ICT defence, but saw his shot rebound from the bar. In twenty-one minutes, however, Celtic went further ahead when Gary Hooper pounced on Stuart Golabek’s failure to clear a dangerous Samaras ball into the box and slid the ball beyond Tuffey. With the score at 2-0, Caley Thistle put together their most dangerous move of the first half when Nick Ross and Shane Sutherland combined to set up Jonny Hayes, whose shot from 18 yards was saved by the legs of Forster. Tuffey also saved well with his legs from Mark Wilson’s shot as Celtic continued to catch out the high Inverness defensive line with dinked passes, and one such ball in the thirty-seventh minute found Samaras, who seemed to have limitless time to send a languid chip over Tuffey with most of the ICT defence appealing for offside. David Proctor, bicycling through the air in a vain attempt at a last-ditch clearance, succeeded only in helping the ball into the net. Half time: Celtic 3 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0 For the second half Terry Butcher attempted to be more positive, replacing Stuart Golabek with Richie Foran. Foran’s ability to hold the ball up and make a nuisance of himself in the box did make some difference, and shortly after the break there was a scare in front of the Celtic goal when a clearance by Forster cannoned off Foran. Another thing that might have made a difference, had the referee acted properly, was Ki Sung-Yeung’s straight-leg, studs-up tackle on Lee Cox after losing control of the ball in the fiftieth minute. This was a reckless and unnecessary challenge that left Cox needing treatment for several minutes and lucky not to be more seriously injured, yet Dougie McDonald saw fit to issue only a yellow card. Any hope ICT had of making a game of it in the second half was extinguished, however, in the fifty-seventh minute, when Georgios Samaras cut inside from the left and pressurised David Proctor into a weak clearance which Samaras pounced upon and steered into the bottom right hand corner of the net. With the fourth Celtic goal, a lot of life went out of the game. The Inverness players never looked like they had given up, but it became increasingly difficult for them to get any of the ball, while Celtic slowed the pace down and played a relaxed game of possession. Richie Foran did have the ball in the net on sixty-five minutes after a neat chip over Forster, but the flag was already up for offside. Celtic’s fifth, on seventy-four minutes, came from a punted Celtic ball from their own penalty area which Grant Munro couldn’t quite reach. His backwards header fell into the path of Anthony Stokes, who ran into the penalty area and was taken down by Tuffey’s legs. The Caley Thistle goalkeeper escaped a red card but could not prevent the goal, diving to his left as Stokes stroked the ball into the opposite corner. Stokes finished the scoring seven minutes later with a powerful swerving shot from twenty yards. Apart from a David Proctor run that brought a corner in the dying minutes, ICT had little more threatening possession. Full Time 6-0 (Oh Bhoy) On the football front it was a miserable night for the few hundred travelling supporters, but as has become the case in the last few seasons, there were plenty who stood and sang and shouted encouragement throughout, and most applauded the team’s efforts at the end despite the scale of the defeat. Out of fairness, I should also mention the hard core of Celtic supporters in the corner of the north stand who kept up a steady stream of songs and chants throughout the ninety minutes. Whatever other prejudices they may harbour, no-one can accuse them of discrimination against anyone on the grounds of sexual preference, as evidenced by their rousing chorus of eighties gay dancefloor anthem ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’. We hoped they might follow this with their own versions of ‘Smalltown Boy’, ‘Master and Servant’ and ‘Heavenly Action’ but regrettably, they coyly reverted to ‘It’s a Grand Old Team...’ One cup over for another year, then, and if the team goes to Paisley and wins on Saturday, then Terry Butcher’s approach to this match will be entirely vindicated. It must be hoped, however, that the players can put the defeat out of their minds and do not allow their confidence to be affected by it; and it must be hoped that when the Scottish Cup comes round in January, the team is in a strong enough position that the manager does not feel it necessary to sacrifice that competition too. Cheers Maryhill, have a lie down now.