IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER

That is a yet another advantage that we had pre merger - decent pubs and ales within walking distance - even for a nifty half and half at half time.

Perhaps I should move to Toronto as I am afraid that good natured and slightly drunken behaviour can easily get you ejected from ICT games. I understand that you need to be sitting on a fence but the wording of your post is appreciated and reading between the lines clearly pronounces that Atom Ant and the rest of the Disney Corporation are sitting in The Director Boxes of reality whereas the true football fans, refuseniks or not, still stand on terraces like the Howden End.

What about Morrison. Would he be worth a shout taking back ?

Thank you - the defence rests

I am not shure how this has got deflected on to IF Caley had been funded etc., etc. The sore point that I initially responded to was in regard to attendances and the "loss" of a much larger number becos of the merger than was being argued. This led on to dismay and disgust at some of the comments made about loyal and respectable followers of both Caley and Thistle, some who have shown the same level of commitment to ICT. It would appear that some feel that you have to practically have had to attend every game pre 2004 to qualify to be considered to be a real supporter. At least I have clearly succeeded in winning that debate and hopefully have cleared up some of the myths previously published about the merger process. I am shure that many of the post merger affiliatiors to ICT will have a clearer understanding now.

Jhesus are you Bannerman in disguise ?

If the cap fits... I can't win - I attempt to be serious but I am abused and derided There are some issues that need to be stoutly defended.

I would rather peeple had a go at journalists rather than demeaning true football fans. The comparison with the playing staff is simply incredulous and again clutching at straws. When Caley played big games peeple from all over Britain came along - just as what happens with ICT. I only ever watched Caley when I was home on holiday or to see family or to the bigger games and I include Thistle and Elgin in that. I am not wallowing in old grievances and I evidently fully support ICT and have some great memories and made a lot of new friends. I am attempting to challenge some of the nonsense being spouted and the pathetic demeaning of true and loyal football fans. And if it was an egg scenario it would be a contender for the Worlds biggest omelette.

You've made a pig's ear of that reference. Boer - boar - bore. Simply off topic and infantile.

Buckett - I feel that CB unfortunately left his wording very open to misinterpretation but he did fortunately highlight an important group of supporters who I know have been lost to ICT. Of course the attendances fell near the end. That happens to any team that is not producing the goods. And thank you fer reminding us of the increasing population and the arrival of the supporters derided by Dougal. I wonder how many on this forum come in to the arrived in Sneck after the merger numbers. Laurence - it is I who has attempted to enter into a serious debate but CB merely appears content in utilising abuse which is a clear defence mechanism used when losing an argument. Plus two things - he is not knowledgeable about the merger - he is merely brainwashed by the INE and the supporters of his fairy tale publication. Secondly I do not need to attempt to make him look stooped - he is doing a fine job on his own.

He is close to the point of no return !!!!

And is it not apt that the above is a page header. And adding even more fuel to my argument. It was those large numbers of who you refer to as "glory hunters" who I am counting in the lost attendees. Going my your criteria I was one of those Caley "glory hunters" due to travel commitments - alongside three regular mates (who will not watch ICT). If we use that criteria today ICT have quite a lot of "glory hunters" living in Englandshire. Another slur on the football fans who spend a lot of money on trying to support their club from afar. I agree though that journalists not paying to get into matches has become very tiring and wearisome. Media and true fans in hospitality is two completely different things and again a slur on the ordinary fan who pays well for an irregular pleasure rather than a regular freebie. And why shouldn't the media pay towards it ? In conclusion I note that the Sun are looking fer two regular big tits for their Page 3 contribution - I have e-mailed and suggested Euan Murray and Charlie Bannerman - a squirrel and a mouse.

Pressure for Mr Bannerman - who only pays for matches when a Swan Vesta is lit

Kind if Blue - again I agree with a lot of that and especially the final sentence. But I do feel that much of the hostility and the opposition was becos of the death of two teams, both affiliated to councillors and a broad dislike of the INE. And I can only repeat that Atom Ant is clearly rattled and has consistently utilised abuse and personalisation as she has no valid response to proffer any more. And I can reassure you that there was more opportunity to make an erse of yerself at the BB camp at Carrbridge and A bottle of Pomagne was often the first prize for the quiz. It just seems like yesterday to life loving Peter Pans like ma good self.

That is exactly what I am trying to do.

Now that your argument has been lost ya really have become a bitter lot. Alex - the sponsorship in support of an established, historical club would have attracted many whereas ICT was clearly developed to suit the needs of some and eventually saved by others. 12th Man - the yoof are doing their best despite being strangled by moaning feckin sweetie rustlers around them. The Howden End sang in unison and as one. The scratch card whinge is truly pathetic. And CB's attempt at humour are equally reaching the pathetic level. You are clearly ridiculing passionate fans who would have been an asset. You as usual have totally misunderstood the statement.

Thats why it is important to create a home for ICT fans and a sense of belonging, we are the fans, we embrace the wind, hail and snow, its our home and onward we shall go. We are the Pride of the Highlands and that is what WE are. Caley always were !! Doubt if the Howden End will ever come near to being recreated.

Who is running this for us ?

I really do not understand why that question is repeatedly proffered. In many ways there would be more chance that it would have happened more quickly. Either club would probably have got the financial backing and the support would have been considerably better. Could you just imagine a Caley v Thistle SPL Derby !!

The answer to the question I posed was 4000 - 476 = 3524. 250 people voted for the merger - a number which included the management and the players. That is a significant number of peeple !! And what of the 226 that voted against ? And what of the 3524 + that were at Perth and what would that support have sounded like resounding from the North Stand ? And of course the crowd figures have increased - it is SPL attendances - plus the growing numbers of the yoof and peeple from around Britain and the globe. That would have happened to Caley and Thistle.

Translation - I agree with everything that you say IHE

Do you mean that Caley and Thistle have merged to face Ross County or is it Caley versus Dingwall Thistle or Dingwall Victoria United ? But seriously who are the "Caley" team ?

Just as I suspected - trying to utilise humour and smileys. Shure sign of a defeated man. Do they still have "Arithmetic" these days ? Again, as with Renegade, I agree with most of what Long Man says. But I am referring to generations of Caley and Thistle fans - not related to the attendance slumps prior to the merger. You will be surprised at exactly how many Invernessians actually do disown ICT becos of previous allegiances. A lot will follow on to the Old Filth. I also know of quite a few who continued to support ICT in the early days but have now returned to their "bigger" teams and been eclipsed !! The refuseniks are the minority and the ones more likely to be heard BUT the majority are ordinary older generation Sneck football families, now residing across the Globe. Here is a sum for you - take away the number of people who voted at Rose Street from the Caley away following at the Perth replay. And lets just say that the latter was 4,000 in case anybody gets Sevillian.

Good post Renegade and simply adds to the Merger debate. But there are mergers and mergers - don't feel that you can equate ours with your examples. And it really did take the supporters of bigger teams out of the picture and that is part of my argument. But it also took out a lot of Joe Soaps and peeple who had been more prominent attenders in the 60's and 70's and/or only chose to attend the bigger games. I have never talked about great numbers but I reckon that we have lost between 500 and 1K due to the long term dissenters. And there was never enuff funding to start off another FC United and again simply not on the same scale. Rose street was a bit like the Referendum - only peeple from the local area could become involved - how many votes would be "lost" if we did summat similar today ? I have been reassured by posts on Facebook as it would appear that the kids have in the main being allowed to choose their teams - even by Old Firm parents - and the clubs community drive has evidently been quite a success and our future depends on the yoof and SPL survival.

Have we jettisoned Thistle ?