Sneckboy

Wow! That's a belter...well done to the club on getting this arranged. I'd say it's our highest ever profile fixture, south of the border. Could it be due a little-known clause in the Andrew Shinnie deal? Perfect timing too, the Saturday before the competitive stuff starts.

Reluctant to 'bump' this thread, but stumbled upon this article when looking for something else ICT related. It's not your usual Barry Wilson or John Robertson piece in one of the 'Red-Tops', but rather our from our old stalwart Mike Noble doing an article for The Daily Telegraph, no less! Granted, it was in the lead-up to our League Cup final but nevertheless gives an interesting insight, from a (then active) player's perspective, into the mood at the time. Were there really 'no go areas' in Inverness for the players!? Inverness Caledonian Thistle should be embraced by the people, says Mike Noble Inverness Caledonian Thistle's first final is a source of pride for their former midfielder Mike Noble Back in 1994 Mike Noble was a well-regarded midfielder with a wealth of experience in the Highland League, where he represented Inverness Caledonian. On Sunday he will be at Celtic Park to watch Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the club created when Caledonian merged with – you guessed it – Inverness Thistle – take on Aberdeen in their first major cup final. Yet Noble reveals that the decision to pool the two clubs’ resources two decades ago was fiercely opposed at the time and confesses that he believed that the experiment was doomed to failure. Indeed, he was convinced, when the new entity was admitted to the Scottish Football League, that implosion was more likely than promotion. “Twenty years ago I never envisioned us seeing the end of the season, let alone reaching a cup final in 2014,” said Noble, who played in their first-ever senior fixture, a 2-0 League Cup victory away to East Stirling. “It was a difficult time for the club and the first couple of years were tough. When Steve Paterson came in and got better players on board that turned things round and then he got that iconic win over Celtic in 2000. “But the support wasn’t there that they envisioned we would get in the Scottish Football League. I think they expected us to get figures of around 1,500 but it was less than a third of that. So it was difficult. “We also had a really small squad and it was difficult when we got injuries. Without Dougie McGilvray putting his own money in we could have gone under quite quickly. “There was a lot of hostility between the club and the supporters. There was a pitch invasion and a sit-in when we [inverness Caledonian] played at Rothes. “It was a really difficult time but it wasn’t the older people wanting to keep the status quo. The older guys were looking at the future and the younger guys fought the merger. “It got nasty at times and, on a night out, there were no-go areas for players. It was that bad. There were certain establishments you knew would be full of people who were against the merger. We knew not to go to those places. “That alienated a few players. One of them, Alan Smart, who went on to play for Watford, got particular stick for it. “I remember our last final for Caley in 1993. Alan scored the only goal and got booed by the anti-merger fans, although we beat Forres Mechanics 1-0 to win the North Cup. “That summed up the strength of feeling. The fans were against the merger, but they still came on the pitch at the end and tried to get our tops!” While Aberdeen were able to sell over 40,000 tickets for Sunday’s final, Inverness have struggled to reach the 7,500 mark and Noble attributes that meagre figure to the simmering resentment to the merger which still persists in pockets of the town. “There are still fans who go to Dingwall and support Ross County instead of Caley Thistle,” he said. "It’s one of those things but, for me, there is no point in looking back. “It’s done, it’s dusted and where the club has come in a short period of time is remarkable. The club should be embraced by the people of Inverness but it’s not really happening that way.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/inverness/10696616/Inverness-Caledonian-Thistle-should-be-embraced-by-the-people-says-Mike-Noble.html#disqus_thread Edit - adding link

Confirmed on the County website. Blimey, has Prestwick airport been moved! The 'Caley curse' strikes again. He becomes yet another player to be on the books at both clubs. Little to choose in the goalkeeping departments between them and us, although I marginally prefer Brill/Esson over Brown/Reguero.

That actually rings a bell with me! I'm sure you haven't dreamt it!

I can't think of any others. I don't think Gattuso ever faced us.

The squad re-assemble for pre-season a-week-on-Thursday (July 26th). The Highland News reports John Hughes as giving Billy McKay a bit longer away! Phew! He hasn't had a proper break!

Clach have signed goalkeeper Ally Ridgers from Brora and have also taken ex-ICT youth, Ryan Watson from the Highland League champions. Elsewhere, our released U20 player, Jay Cheyne has gone back to Buckie Thistle.

I was wondering what you were confident about, Gavroche, but I looked back in the thread to see that you tipped Italy! A cliché it may be, but Italy are 'always there-or-thereabouts'. For me, both teams played better last night than in the 0-0 draw at the 2012 Euros. England are still very much in it. Despite all the media pundits proclaiming that the Uruguay game is a 'must win', it needn't necessarily be the case. It's more of a 'must not lose'! A draw followed by a win against Costa Rica could well be enough. But, overall, it's been an excellent tournament so far. I actually watched 5 football matches yesterday...went to the Muir of Ord United v. Golspie Stafford, Highland Amateur Cup game and got home just as the first of the 4 World Cup games was starting. Football heaven!

Barry Wilson is slowly assembling his own team at Elgin. Will be interesting to see how they go this season particularly with the threat of demotion from the Scottish League hanging over all the clubs now. The appointment of Barry Ferguson at Clyde adds extra spice!

Great start to the tournament. The only complaint can be some of the refereeing decisions. I really hope that football will soon employ technology and have referrals to a video referee like in some other sports. Rugby and cricket utilise available technology. Obviously, to prevent abuse, there would have to be a limit to the number of challenges, like in tennis with HawkEye. Clearly, it could only be an option for major tournaments at present, but with the rapid advancement of technology, who knows, it might even be feasible eventually at all games at any level.

Whatever happened to the one-guess-at-a-time 'rule'!! Right, that's it...I'm going to the Word Association thread and put flower power Rangers Celtic connections joins.......

Chinese

Paul Sheerin has been recruited by Aberdeen to coach their U20's. It's an interesting development in that after presiding over Arbroath's relegation to the 4th tier, I felt his job might be in jeopardy - instead he gets what's effectively a promotion. Funny old game!

Not sure what he'll do with a St. Johnstone v. Dundee United shirt, but there's always ebay! Sarcasm and pedantry in one line, I'm getting the hang of this.

Fort William now added, although will be predominately U20's. https://twitter.com/FortWilliamFC/status/477069278823604225 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 9th August - Season starts

He must curse Mark Brown! He (Brown) was a virtual ever-present for us with Michael Fraser his understudy for ages. When Brown moved to Celtic, he finally got his chance, but I was never a huge fan. Was surprised Motherwell moved for him - probably on the back of his great save against Celtic! Didn't work out for him there, though and eventually found himself back in the Highlands - as understudy to Mark Brown again! Still, at 30 years old, as a 'keeper, he's got a number of years ahead of him. Probably land at Elgin City next!

We should get the Corriegarth to be 'bottom of shirt' sponsors! Then we'd have Korrie at the top and Corrie at the bottom. Maybe we could look to sponsor Coronation street? Then Corrie would be sponsored by Caley who are sponsored by Korrie and the Corrie!

I noticed that the author of that report also tended towards the YES campaign with his reporting. He describes a hypothetical 8% point 'win' for YES as being 'comfortable', whereas earlier he claimed the actual 6% lead for NO was 'neck and neck' and 'wafer thin'!!

Forres game is the latest addition, confirmed in yesterdays P&J. Here's a scary thought, our first game (Clach) is only 2 weeks and 6 days away! Wed 2nd July - 7.30pm (Grant Street)...Clachnacuddin 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 9th August - Season starts

Already noted in the U20's thread. There is a SEARCH facility. Why start a 4th thread on Conor Pepper? I tried to start a thread for this very purpose...Ex-ICT players' news.

fragrance

Yeah, it'll be interesting to hear Terry's 'take' on it all, when he eventually goes public! I hope he can find the dignity to admit that he made a mistake in moving from here. Pele, Brew and Robbo all swallowed their pride and have, at one time or other, conceded that they left too soon and regretted it. Unfortunately (for Butcher), the manner of his leaving means that he's burned-his-bridges and he will never be a candidate for a return here. I will however, miss his after-match interviews on Radio Scotland which were often amusing and certainly different to the often cliché-ridden tripe offered by the likes of Danny Lennon and others. Not sure if Terry would be a very good poker player as his tone of voice always betrayed what he was feeling! - a win and his ebullient mutterings were delivered with witty enthusiasm but after a loss his demeanour was markedly different - his observations being spoken in a much slower, almost depressed manner. But always entertaining. For the record, Butcher lasted 7 months at Hibs; Robertson survived 6 months at Hearts; Brewster was gone from Dundee United after 9 months while Paterson was fired from Aberdeen after 15 months ( I didn't realise it was that 'long' until checking)! However, I feel it's maybe premature to be writing Terry's football obituary - I have a feeling he'll 'remain in the game' in some capacity.

Totally agree, Renegade. The notion that 13 is somehow 'unlucky' strikes me as utterly ludicrous!

That strip for Bayern just looks all wrong! For me, they traditionally have all red tops!

Many posters on here like to take what Richie Foran says as being as gospel. For example, Graeme Shinnie's going nowhere, says Richie and, the boys have bought into Yogi's training methods and style of play. So we can assume he was also telling the truth when describing Terry as 'a great motivator' - this, being after Butcher had left and Richie didn't have to necessarily toe-the-party-line. "We're fully focused, training has been excellent in the past few days - the boys here have a great attitude. The gaffer was a great motivator, but our players motivate themselves. It's not going to be a problem at all." http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24924203