Sneckboy

I see both sides here. Scotty makes good points with his recent post, Inverness is very much on the football map due to the success of the merger. 'Success' meaning the club has seen a level of success few could have foreseen. But I also see IHE's stance that there was a large latent support for the clubs before the merger. Agreed they'd fallen away somewhat but it was likely apathy - same old Highland League teams etc.: but Scottish Cup games fairly brought out the crowds. What's annoying is the 'blazers' that ran Scottish football denied Northern teams access to the closed shop of the Scottish League until recently. Scottish Football League places were at a premium and opportunities to join were limited. Thistle famously denied in 1974 by Ferranti/Meadowbank/Livingston - rumoured soon to be re-named West Lothian FC - a joke club, built on shifting sands that's effectively a franchise. Caley and Inverness Thistle had longer, richer histories than that joke outfit. What's particularly poignant is that this season introduces the first year of inclusion - whereby, if you're good enough, you get a shot at the Scottish League via a play-off system. Only minor adjustments are needed to join - such as floodlight brightness, tannoy volume and possibly a match-day qualified physio to be present. Obviously, 20 years ago, we couldn't have forseen the opening-up of Scottish football. Younger fans, who only know ICT, must wonder what all the fuss is about - but, again as mentioned by IHE, It's like Inverness and County now merging to get admission into a British League - as Highland United. Could you support them with the same fervour? It just irks me that other, dare I say, lesser, Highland teams like Buckie Thistle, Deveronvale, keith and Brora can get a crack at it whereas caley and thistle were denied that chance. With the subsequent growth of Inverness over the past 20 years, there's every chance that if we hadn't merged, Caley and Thistle would both eventually be in the SPFL. Derbys would attract huge crowds. The interest would be huge. Both would likely develop into Championship sides with Premiership football the obvious target. Championship games, Caley v Raith Rovers and Inverness Thistle v Falkirk, would certainly, even on the same day, have a greater combined attendance than ICT v Hamilton, for example. If Ross County can make the highest level of Scottish football (top 6 of that, no less), I see no reason why Caley or Thistle couldn't have done likewise. Our clubs would still exist if the blazers had 'opened up' the league to all clubs years ago. I support Caley Thistle because they're my home-town team and are effectively the merger of my team with another, but, I can honestly say that even the League Cup final didn't invigorate me as much as a Scottish Cup game (any round) at Kingsmills! As an interesting side-note; of the 6 guys I used to regularly meet-up with at the Corrie before games, only 2 of us now go to ICT games. The 'refusnik' estimate is always played down!

Without having researched it, I may well be wrong, but I'll bet they took the suffix 'Caledonian Thistle' as a quaint, Scottish-sounding alternative to just 'Thistle'. "What'll we use as the 'bit after' Hamilton.....United?...City?...Wanderers?...Rovers?...Thistle?...yes! ...NO!...even better....Caledonian Thistle!.. After all, Inverness use it!" Typical, ignorant central belters!

Anyone remember Hugh Robertson? Ex-Aberdeen & Dundee, a left-footed player we had on loan in the late 90's. He's been appointed as manager of North Junior king-pins Culter FC - where he's been playing the past few seasons.

I notice that Dundee United are reported to have rejected an offer of £1 million for their highly-rated left-back, Andrew Robertson. He's had international recognition and still has 2 years to run on his contract - just trying to gauge how much we should expect to get for Shinnie if the worst happens and a concrete offer comes in for him. The Daily Mail are reporting that Swansea have agreed a deal to sign Falkirk's little-known left-back Stephen Kingsley for £400k. If that's the going-rate for a relative rookie, with one-year left on his contract - who's untried at a level higher than the Scottish Championship, we should be looking at quite considerably more than that for Shinnie.

04.54am - 12th Man still buzzing with enthusiasm! At a game once, they guy who sold me my programme looked very similar to the man I saw later, busily taking the hot pies out of the oven - who bore an uncanny resemblance to the fellow who poured my pint before the game! What was really uncanny was the lad sweeping the stands as I left the ground looked just like the above mentioned - who also happened to be the out-of-breath chap cashing up In the club shop, before almost knocking me over as he pulled on his high-visibility steward's vest on his run to the car park.

League

Ben Greenhalgh's confirmed departure is the latest activity, leaving the squad at present: Signed up until the end of season 2016-17: • Gary Warren • Richie Foran Signed up until the end of next 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 Signed up until the end of this season (2014-15): • Greg Tansey • Daniel Devine • Graeme Shinnie • Nick Ross • Marley Watkins • David Raven • Josh Meekings • Billy McKay • Liam Polworth • Calum Ferguson • Jaime Wilson (U20's) • Kane Hull (U20's) • Jason Brown (U20's) • Struan McArthur (U20's) • Blair MacLennan (U20's) • Calum Howarth (U20's) • Chris Brown (U20's) • Ali Sutherland (U20's) • Stephen Rennie (U20's) • Cammy Mackay (goalkeeper) (U20's) • Chris Blackett (U20's) • Daniel Hoban (goalkeeper) (U20's)

Dean McDonald has left Whitehawk and signed for Dulwich Hamlet. Level 7 in the English game.

Yeah, it normally is and will likely be the case for that Clach game. It looks like the Highland League programme's starting earlier this season due to the potential end of season play-off scenario re. SPFL qualification.* But, as the North Cup fixture coincides with our pre-season, I thought it would be 'eligible' to appear in the list. * I note that Brora are undergoing a series of ground improvements, including upgrading their tannoy system and increasing the 'lux' (brightness) of their floodlights, to comply with SPFL regulations. A strange development for a club who allegedly have no interest in the Scottish League (according to certain fans)!!!

If we're to take the recent confirmation as literally true, I suppose it still leaves open the opportunity to sign a player after the season starts, as the 'window' is open until the end of August ( I think). We've lined-up a good few pre-season games - taking in a few trialists would surely make sense? Nothing to lose.

Wed 2nd July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin Sat 5th July - 1.00pm (Claggan Park)…Fort William (ICT U20’s) Wed 9th July - 7.30pm (Mosset Park)...Forres Mechanics Sat 12th July - 3pm (Borough Briggs)...Elgin City Wed 16th July - 7.30pm (Dudgeon Park)...Brora Rangers Sat 19th July - 1.00pm (Mackessack Park)…Rothes (ICT U20’s) Sat 19th July - 3.00pm (Stark’s Park)…Raith Rovers Wed 23rd July - 7.30pm (Princess Royal Park)...Deveronvale Tues 29th / Wed 30th July - (7.30pm)? (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin (North Cup - 1st Rnd) Sat 2nd August - 3.00pm (St Andrew’s stadium)...Birmingham City ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 9th August - Season starts

Good find, Renegade. As you say, not a friendly as such, but still a pre-season game, so I'm going to add it to our list! I note County have forgotten their roots and elected not to compete! North of Scotland Cup draw Elgin City v Strathspey Thistle Thurso v Brora Rangers Lossiemouth v Fort William Rothes v bye Golspie Sutherland v Wick Academy Halkirk v bye Clachnacuddin v Inverness Caley Thistle Nairn County v Forres Mechanics

According to yesterdays Courier, Yogi's maintaining his stance regarding not bringing in any new faces. The Inverness manager said he has not made any additions to his squad over the summer and does not plan on making any before the start of the season.

My replies aren't showing up correctly, caleydawson so i'll just post the link. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/216747/cove-sign-daniel-park-on-three-year-deal/

Ah, that answers my query, cheers Yngwie! You beat me to the 'return' button! But on the topic of TV pundits at the stadium - Neil Lennon. There's a water bottle still floating about in the firth, last seen passing Cromarty!

Nice hotel but an odd venue for a football match. Typo aside, I didn't know that about Lineker. Can you remember the year? I have no recollections of seeing Leicester City up here.

In that vein, I'm sure when the players return for pre-season training they'll enjoy reminding Yogi of his prediction from this short clip! http://sport.stv.tv/fifa-world-cup/news/278615-scottish-premiership-managers-give-stv-their-world-cup-predictions/ The 2 minute clip ends with Strachan's customary sarcastic put-down to a journalist - I don't think it was because a female asked the question - it's just Gordon! On a side note, well done to Cameroon. Not many had them down to reach the same stage of elimination as Spain!

Getting a tingle of anticipation looking at the fixtures! As much as I enjoy the World Cup, nothing beats the weekly gamut of emotions of following your league club - for me anyway! Those games will soon be here. We've a full month of pre-season friendlies coming up, starting in just a fortnight. Looking at our fixtures, we start with a bang, playing 3 games in 8 days, followed by two home matches, taking us up to the end of August. Then there's an International break and we don't resume until mid-September. Those 5 games could be viewed as the first 'checkpoint' - I hope we'll be on at least 7 points.

Yeah, that game will steal all the media attention on the opening day. And The Rangers fans will, I'm sure, take great glee in letting us all know they had more supporters at Ibrox that day than the entire Premiership put together.

Frog

Daniel Park has signed a 3 year deal with Cove Rangers. From this archived thread, it seems he was highly rated as a youth with us but suffered a serious injury which probably hindered his development.

What a lot of drivel! Reguero was a good keeper for us and effectively ousted Esson from the No 1 jersey. He left of his own accord. We certainly didn't want rid of him! I agree that County have had a number of ex-ICT players through the years, but it works both ways. There are loads of guys who've played for both clubs and we've taken a fair few from them ourselves! We maybe more 'guilty' than them - not going to check, but off the top of my head, we've had ex-County players that include: Barry Wilson, Nicky Walker, Lionel Djebi-Zadi, Roy McBain, Richard Hastings, Steven Hislop, Gary McSwegan, Don Cowie, Andy Barrowman, John Rankin, Richie Hart, Stuart Golabek...

They're playing Buckie Thistle and Brora - that's it. Then they go to North America.

Oh dear, oh dear, Od-eon!

Wed 2nd July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin Sat 5th July - 1.00pm (Claggan Park)…Fort William (ICT U20’s) Wed 9th July - 7.30pm (Mosset Park)...Forres Mechanics Sat 12th July - 3pm (Borough Briggs)...Elgin City Wed 16th July - 7.30pm (Dudgeon Park)...Brora Rangers Sat 19th July - 1.00pm (Mackessack Park)…Rothes (ICT U20’s) Sat 19th July - 3.00pm (Stark’s Park)…Raith Rovers Wed 23rd July - 7.30pm (Princess Royal Park)...Deveronvale Sat 2nd August - 3.00pm (St Andrew’s stadium)...Birmingham City ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sat 9th August - Season starts