Sneckboy

A couple of new fixtures: Clachnacuddin v Inverness CT (Saturday 27th June - 1pm) Brora Rangers v Inverness CT (Wednesday 1st July - 7.45pm) Fort William v Inverness CT U20s *CLOSED DOOR* (Saturday 4th July - 1pm) Forres Mechanics v Inverness CT (Tuesday 7th July - 7.45pm) Europa League Q2 - 1st leg - Inverness CT v FC Astra Giurgiu (Thursday 16th July) Draw for Europa League Q3 (Friday 17th July) Wick Academy v Inverness CT U20s (Saturday 18th July - 2pm) Nairn County v Inverness CT (Saturday 18th July - 3pm) Europa League Q2 - 2nd leg - FC Astra Giurgiu v Inverness CT (Thursday 23rd July) Europa League Q3 - 1st leg (Thursday 30th July) Premiership - Inverness CT v Motherwell (Saturday 1st August - 3pm) Europa League Q3 - 2nd leg (Thursday 6th August)

I know we're a bright bunch, but better just to clarify - tomorrow's game at Clach is a 1pm kick-off!

I think they took around 100 fans to Parkhead last season. Or, 85 allegedly, as a Celtic fan (I read on a forum and have no reason to doubt) decided to count them accurately, as there were so few of them! Reading an old SKYSports summary of that game, the reporter described the Astra support as "...there was no away support worthy of the term..."

I too am puzzled by this 'report'. As Alex has mentioned, above, Celtic are more of a buying-club and have developed fewer first-team squad players than we currently have. It's really only James Forrest and possibly Callum McGregor. I amn't agreeing with their criteria at all - whatever it may be. I've just looked at the most recent SFA licensing / standards / gradings publication (from 15th June 2015) and notice that Hamilton Accies are apparently also not quite 'up to scratch' with their youth development - which is a joke. They have a renowned, excellent system and have developed some gems in recent years. Remarkably, the town of Dingwall, with it's population of 5,000 seems no barrier to them having a conveyor-belt of Premiership standard Ross-shire youngsters breaking through...what an utter farce! For the record, the 'findings':

Yeah, I read somewhere it's a 10th July cut-off for new players to be eligible for the Q2 round. Still a fortnight, although I'm aware we're back playing again on Saturday!

Honest interview from Yogi! But, someone better tell him that we're not 'bringing them back here' for the 2nd leg (Astra)! And I'm sure we can forgive him for, "Where were you when JFK was shot?" - "Where were you when Caley Thistle played their first European match?" He's just sounding so enthusiastic and excited about the campaign ahead!

We've had some success with players from non-league in England before - definitely worth a look at him in our upcoming friendlies.

You haven't always said that, though!

Signed until the end of next season (2016-17): • Gary Warren • Richie Foran • Greg Tansey • Josh Meekings Signed until the end of this season (2015-16): • John Hughes - Manager • Russell Latapy - Assistant Manager • Dean Brill • Aaron Doran • Danny Williams • Ryan Esson • Ryan Christie • Carl Tremarco • Ross Draper • James Vincent • David Raven • Daniel Devine • Ali Sutherland • Liam Polworth • Lewis Horner • Calum Ferguson • Cammy Mackay • Nat Wedderburn ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Development Squad players available for this season (2015-16): • Calum Howarth • Jason Brown • Jaime Wilson • Kane Hull • Struan McArthur • Blair MacLennan • Chris Brown • Stephen Rennie • Chris Blackett • Daniel Hoban (goalkeeper) • Alasdair Stark • Andrew Macrae

^^^ Sorry, I deleted the picture from another thread. I'll put it up again here!

Ben Greenhalgh has joined Concord Rangers for a second time. They're in the National League South. Level 6 in England.

Aye, Aye Captain! You'll clearly argue black-is-white until the 'cows come home'! Football is incredibly 'tribal'. Leaving aside 'glory hunters', who attach themselves temporarily to the current successful clubs, one grows up supporting a particular club. You're clearly passionate about ICT, which is terrific. They're probably a fabric of your life - and their results literally affect your mood and self-esteem/identity for at least a few days anyway? Football is competing with far more distractions than it's ever been challenged with before - and I feel this will continue to be the case in years to come. It will simply become less relevant to folk with so many other 'activities' available. Over the next 20-40 years, more clubs will be going part-time as their income lessens, economics will dictate. Mergers, to sustain viability, will be the norm. Don't think we'll be immune to that. Fast forward 25 years and the interest will likely dwindled, as most folk will spend Saturday afternoons playing 3D Call-Of-Duty at home (for example) or other. There could be the formation of a British 'Super League' - inevitably a Highland club called 'Inverness County' would follow - formed to compete in the 3rd or 4th tier. Colloquially known as 'County'. I'm sure Inverness County would do fine, punching-above-their-weight....and you'd be a happy man, Captain! But then a poster who's never seen Ross county or Inverness Caledonian Thistle playing came on the forum to denigrate the level (in this case, SPL) we'd been playing at, or it was implied that the new club was just simply a continuation of Ross County, you'd take umbrage - as passions run deep! Don't belittle the feelings folk had for their club - as it may happen to your club one day.

Astra are actually quite 'fortunate' to be in European competition this season. They were warned in December (along with Cluj) that they would be banned from the next UEFA competition they qualified for, if they didn't settle unpaid monies by January 2015. Astra obviously managed to do this. Nevertheless, by finishing 4th in Romania, they should have started in Q1 but were elevated to Q2 as Cluj failed to comply and have been banned this year. Article (in English) http://www.thenational.ae/sport/uefa-europe/uefa-slaps-bursaspor-ekranas-cfr-cluj-and-astra-giurgiu-with-bans-and-fines-for-unpaid-bills

Thanks, CaleyD!

Clachnacuddin v ICT Saturday 27th June (1pm) -----------------------------------July------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brora Rangers v ICT Wednesday 1st July (7.45pm) Fort William v ICT U20s Saturday 4th July (1pm) Forres Mechanics v ICT Tuesday 7th July (7.45pm) Possible friendly? Saturday 11th July Europa League Q2 - ICT v FC Astra Giurgiu Thursday 16th July Draw for Europa League Qualifying round 3 Friday 17th July Europa League Q2 - FC Astra Giurgiu v ICT Thursday 23rd July (Europa League Qualifying 3rd round - 1st leg) Thursday 30th July ----------------------------------------August------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Premiership - ICT v Motherwell Saturday 1st August (Europa League Qualifying 3rd round - 2nd leg) Thursday 6th August

Preventing Brora from reaching the SPFL! But he's since turned down a contract extension at Montrose to sign for Formartine.

They had some really poor attendances in the Group Stages last year - should be plenty room!

It was just the odd red-card, interspersed here-and-there that prevented him from reaching 100. In fact, even 6 yellows totted-up over a season means a suspension. A player could go for two-seasons, playing every game, say 85 consecutive appearances, but a red card....and it's back to scratch! Meekings was unlucky to be rested for the pre-cup final game v Celtic, breaking a decent chain.

Jordan Gibbons has signed for Yeovil Town after being released by QPR.

Pre-season games start for Aberdeen & St. Johnstone Wednesday 24th June -----------------------------------July------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brora Rangers v ICT Wednesday 1st July (8pm) Fort William v ICT Saturday 4th July (1pm) Europa League Q2 - ICT v FC Astra Giurgiu Thursday 16th July Draw for Europa League Qualifying round 3 Friday 17th July Europa League Q2 - FC Astra Giurgiu v ICT Thursday 23rd July (Europa League Qualifying 3rd round - 1st leg) Thursday 30th July ----------------------------------------August------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Premiership - ICT v Motherwell Saturday 1st August (Europa League Qualifying 3rd round - 2nd leg) Thursday 6th August

Maybe get a hold of Gregory Tade and get the low-down on this team! His team, CFR Cluj beat Astra home-and-away last season with Tade getting a couple of goals. Marius Niculae too, if he's still on speaking terms with the club - he played against Astra at the end of April.

They play in Giurgiu, a city of 55,000, situated right on the Romania/Bulgaria border.

Still no word of the 'mini groupings' yet!

St Johnstone will play one of the following five teams in Q1 Aberdeen will play one of the following five teams in Q1

Draw for Europa League Qualifying rounds 1 and 2 Monday 22nd June Pre-season games start for Aberdeen & St. Johnstone Wednesday 24th June -----------------------------------July------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brora Rangers v ICT Wednesday 1st July (8pm) Europa League Qualifying 1st round - 1st leg Thursday 2nd July (Potential opponents to watch) Fort William v ICT Saturday 4th July (1pm) Europa League Qualifying 1st round - 2nd leg Thursday 9th July (Potential opponents to watch) Europa League Qualifying 2nd round - 1st leg Thursday 16th July Draw for Europa League Qualifying round 3 Friday 17th July Europa League Qualifying 2nd round - 2nd leg Thursday 23rd July (Europa League Qualifying 3rd round - 1st leg) Thursday 30th July ----------------------------------------August------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Premiership - ICT v Motherwell Saturday 1st August (Europa League Qualifying 3rd round - 2nd leg) Thursday 6th August