Scotty

Caley Thistle new season ticket sales are currently up 10 per cent on last year, a boost for Terry Butcher and his boys as they look forward to life back in the SPL. Meanwhile, the countdown is on for Caley Thistle fans to book their discounted season tickets for the new SPL season. If they fail to do so by June 30 they will miss out on the 10 per cent reduction, and their seats will go on general release. Commercial manager Darren Mackintosh reveals:"We're very encouraged at the 10% per cent leap in new season ticket purchases and our existing season ticket sales are also holding up extremely well. Assuming this trend is continued to the start of the season, fans who usually waited till later before booking their usual seat have flocked to take advantage of the discount. The fans are telling us they genuinely appreciate that the club resisted the temptation to hike prices and are instead charging below the SPL average. "But we remind those who have not renewed their tickets that they'd better not forget the end of month deadline, or they may find someone else has booked their favourite seat. We also ask that you don't get caught up in the normal deadline rush and remind you that you can renew your tickets either online or by telephone at www.mfr.co.uk or call the club hotline at 0844 847 1888 as we only have three outlets at the Stadium which we expect to be extremely busy over the next two weeks should you wish to purchase your ticket here in person" In a challenging economic environment, fans old and new are signing up for the club's 'pay as you go' special offer with no deposit and 10 monthly payments. They can go along to the stadium and complete the application. There is also encouraging interest in the new 'free kids under 12' incentive where up to two children in that category can accompany a paying adult free of charge. In addition to online and the club hotline number the stadium ticket office will be extending their hours to ensure every opportunity is given to fans to get their discount and to renew. The opening times are as follows: Monday 21st June – Thursday 24th June - Open till 8pm Friday 25th June – 9am – 4.30pm Saturday 26th June 9am – 2pm Sunday 27th June 9am – 2pm Monday 28th June – Thursday 1st June – Open till 8pm Friday 2nd June – 9am – 4.30pm

Caley Jags will make their greatly-awaited Clydesdale Bank SPL return when they welcome Celtic to Inverness on Saturday, August 14. Grant Munro, who attends an SPL media conference at theTulloch Caledonian Stadium today (Thurs) along with SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster, said:"It's an exciting opening day fixture and the unfurling of our First Division championship flag will make the occasion even greater. "Opening day games are usually nail-biting affairs and against such good opposition as Celtic the stage is set for a thriller as we bid to rack up our first points. Terry Butcher will also be looking to start with a win. The unveiling of the fixtures has our lads buzzing as it really brings it home that we're back in the top flight -- and I'm sure our fans will get the same buzz." Champions Rangers, seeking a title hat-trick, will make their first visit of the season to Inverness on December 11th with Neil Lennon bringing his new-look Celtic here for the opening game. This season sees resumption of our North derbies with Aberdeen , with Mark McGhee bringing them up the A96 on Saturday 2nd October. Our early away games are at Dundee United on Sunday 22nd August, Hibs on the 11th September and St Mirren on the 25th September. Dates and times may be subject to amendment The full Caley Jags fixture list is --- Day Date Home Away Kick Off Saturday 14-Aug-10 Inverness CT V Celtic 15:00 Sunday 22-Aug-10 Dundee United V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 28-Aug-10 Inverness CT V Hamilton Accies 15:00 Saturday 11-Sep-10 Hibernian V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 18-Sep-10 Inverness CT V Hearts 15:00 Saturday 25-Sep-10 St Mirren V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 02-Oct-10 Inverness CT V Aberdeen 15:00 Saturday 16-Oct-10 Inverness CT V St Johnstone 15:00 Saturday 23-Oct-10 Kilmarnock V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 30-Oct-10 Rangers V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 06-Nov-10 Inverness CT V Motherwell 15:00 Wednesday 10-Nov-10 Aberdeen V Inverness CT 19:45 Saturday 13-Nov-10 Hamilton Accies V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 20-Nov-10 Inverness CT V Hibernian 15:00 Saturday 27-Nov-10 Celtic V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 04-Dec-10 Inverness CT V Dundee United 15:00 Saturday 11-Dec-10 Inverness CT V Rangers 15:00 Saturday 18-Dec -10 Hearts v Inverness CT 15:00 Sunday 26-Dec-10 Inverness CT V St Mirren 15:00 Wednesday 29-Dec-10 Inverness CT V Kilmarnock 19:45 Saturday 01-Jan-11 St Johnstone V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 15-Jan-11 Motherwell V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 22-Jan-11 Inverness CT V Hamilton Accies 15:00 Wednesday 26-Jan-11 Inverness CT V Aberdeen 19:45 Saturday 29-Jan-11 Rangers V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 12-Feb-11 St Mirren V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 19-Feb-11 Inverness CT V St Johnstone 15:00 Saturday 26-Feb-11 Hibernian V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 05-Mar-11 Inverness CT V Motherwell 15:00 Saturday 19-Mar-11 Dundee United V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 02-Apr-11 Inverness CT V Celtic 15:00 Saturday 09-Apr-11 Kilmarnock V Inverness CT 15:00 Saturday 16-Apr-11 Inverness CT V Hearts 15:00 Saturday 23-Apr-11 Round 34 Saturday 30-Apr-11 Round 35 Saturday 07-May-11 Round 36 Wednesday 11-May-11 Round 37 Saturday 14-May-11 Round 38 Sunday 15-May-11 Round 38 License number 117 Copyright © and Database Right 2010[/11] The Football Association Premier League Ltd / The Football League Ltd / The Scottish Premier League Ltd / The Scottish Football League. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means, (including photocopying, recording or storing it in any medium by electronic means), without the written permission of the copyright/database right owner. Applications for written permission should be addressed c/o Football DataCo Ltd, 30 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8PL. Notes All fixtures subject to change. Fixtures 34 - 38 will be published at a later date.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have made an important piece of club history by signing nine players for their new SPL under-19 team for next season. This is the largest full-time recruitment the club has ever made at one time from their age group sides -- and five of the players first joined Caley Jags in their under-10s team! Seven of the new signings are from the Highlands, with four from Inverness , while the outsider is highly rated 17 year old striker Calum Dingwall, who has been two and a half years at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium since signing from Lewis United Boys Club. The youngest new recruit is 15-year-old Inverness midfielder Liam Polworth, son of Clach manager Iain Polworth, a former Aberdeen and Caley player. Liam was capped for Scotland at under16-level last season. There are three 16 year olds -- striker Kyle White from Nairn, defender Jack Sutherland from Drumnadrochit and midfielder Martin Laing from Inverness. Goalkeeper Robbie Donaldson from Carrbridge is joined by two 17 year old Inverness starlets, striker Adam MacLeod and midfielder Andrew Greig plus defender Tom Smith, from Dornoch, who is also 17. When the club was relegated, it became outwith the SPL Under-19 League but winning the First Division has re-opened that door for bright youngsters. Manager Terry Butcher has appointed former Celtic, Caley, Clach and Nairn County player Scott Kellacher as the new Under-19 team coach. Butcher said:"I've seen many of these lads play in reserve and age group matches and it's clear there is genuine quality in this group, who have benefited from excellent coaching. The fact that it is Highland-dominated is extremely encouraging and very much in line with the club's long-term strategy of bringing the cream of local talent through to the first team. "Maurice Malpas and I will be keeping tabs on these lads in action at SPL youth level and there may be the opportunity of a first team runout at some stage of the season." Charlie Christie , head of youth development, said:"It's a massive boost to the youth development department as it shows all our young players that there is a great opportunity to them if they work hard enough. We have a total of 130 lads from the ages of 8 to 17 working regularly with our team of age group coaches." "It is hugely pleasing for me personally as I took seven of these youngsters to the club -- six of them have been with us from the ages of eight and nine. So for them now to sign full-time contracts as SPL Under 19 players underlines that our system is working well -- and that the genuine talent is here in the North. "The timing is perfect as these lads have developed just in time for our return to the SPL Under-19 league. Now they have the target of following Grant Munro, a local boy who came to this club at 14 years of age and who is now club captain. I would dearly love to see two or three from this group emulating Grant's rise. The chance is now there for them." Club chairman George Fraser said:"We are very much a club with strong community roots and that is reflected in our significant investment in, and commitment to, youth development. All those associated with our various age group teams -- and their parents and families -- can feel satisfaction that these signings show the route to the first team is now more clearly established than ever." The club's youth development coaches are Charlie Christie, Fiona McWilliams, Ronnie Duncan, Craig Masterton, Jake Inglis, Calum MacAulay, Duncan Shearer, Martin Bell, Graeme MacDonald, Tommy Wilson, Gary Munro, Chris Macrae, Ian McArthur, Neil Fraser, Alan Cuthbert and Darren Urquhart.

Caley Thistle's goalmouth is in safe hands for the SPL campaign after Ryan Esson signed a new two year contract today. The 30-year-old keeper will thus return to the SPL 10 years after making the first of his 89 appearances for Aberdeen. Ryan, who made 45 appearances for Caley Jags last term, said:"I'm pleased everything is settled. It was always my first choice to stay at the club." Manager Terry Butcher said:"It is encouraging that Ryan has committed himself to us. He was outstandingly consistent last season and his experience will serve us well in the top flight. We are still looking to add another keeper to the squad, replacing Kyle Allison, who was released." Esson played for Scotland at youth and under 21 level and was unused substitute for the senior international team against the USA five years ago. He played at Shrewsbury and Hereford after leaving Pittodrie and joined Caley Jags in July 2008.