absent friend

I agree with the above comments on the game and, in particular, the passing out of defense to the opposition created another wave of attack - even more hard work for the defenders. A simple pass could have worked wonders. The two best players on the park, I thought, were Black and Smith but Black had no chance as the high balls kept passing him by and Smith was isolated for the bulk of the game - thank Heavens.

Queensgate Cafe Mrs Bergamini(?) owner - Model like and dressed to match - made even the young guys heads turn! Eastgate My home from home still not mentioned - the Crown Bar - George McKay the owner with Alex Smith as his right hand man. This was opposite the Highland Restaurant (Ronnie and Henry were the sons in those days) So out of the Crown, over the road, and home except for a Friday night when it was the Crit, the dance bus to ???.. whereever the nurses were going to, Beauly, Strath, Drum etc. - then back on Saturday lunchtime to the Crown to get a wee reviver. Life as it should be lived!

I was also in the Fourth BB and it contained the Holmes brothers, Allan brothers, Sutherland brothers, McLellan brothers and, I think, maybe eight from Culcabock and not one from the Ferry that I can remember!

This is only OK on this board!! I learnt to drive in an ex- police car ST9999 - a Wolsley 16hp - (most modern cars would fit inside the bonnet) - running boards - real leather and teak all round. It was owned by the MacLeod family at the 'new houses' at the Culcabock entrance to the Barracks. Stretch limo before they came into fashion. I have had a big Volvo and also a big Rover in the recent past and I do feel that it was only trying to enjoy the thrill from way back then!!

I do feel he shone at a time when the team was not as fit as he was. His injury and the teams ongoing improvment left a gap that he had difficulty bridging, in my opinion. However, he was the most exciting player on the park back then and indeed we are entitled to remember him as such. Good luck to him in the future and, I think, he will always be seen as a part of the ICT success story!

On the park, on a good day, Brewster offered something other than goals that is missing from the current team. A battle hardened, mature player, to steady play, lay off good passes and have the younger fitter players do the leg work. If they can also finish- even better. Rodwell Clyne in his latter years commanding the park and spraying passes to his young team mates, Jim Bett in his Aberdeen days, a later version of Rodwell, and I feel there must be more of this type becoming available to bring on the younger lads. Maybe however an (almost) past it player is now a luxury in the SPL with such a pressure on every manager every game. Having just watched Zola weave his (past it) magic on the TV - the above, for me, makes sense.

Alex, I would assume that if an offer from the club for free/discounted kids seats IF accompanied by a PAYING adult would be for selected games where they know that there will few bums on seats, but I take your point for the bigger games. It is also a good sale if the adult is dragged along initially and then becomes a regular either by choice or child choice and therefore the initial loss you refer to could result in a gain for the club. I also think that another plus would be the noise generated by a bunch of kids could at least drown out the silence so often evident at the stadium. This last point could maybe address the area made by others that the team do not seem to perform at home - fear factor maybe, in front of critical fans - yes I accept they are pros and should be above that, but look at the Aberdeen teams performance when the fans turned on them and the change when they got a few good results. It is a chicken and egg situation and the fans pay good money to shout if not satisfied - but the guys on the park are human and their feelings must percolate to the top at times and result in laying the ball off instead of trying a constructive move that may bring a howl if it does not come off. The kids could drown some of the agressive howl out or maybe provide a balance. Just my thoughts!!

Well, what can I say... Over to you ICT!!

We now have overwhelming(?) support for a reduction in the kids ticket cost or to be accurate an attack on parents via kids power, in some way. Someone also brought up the kit sales revenue if the children become interested as an additional benefit. The bus idea is not just good, it is so necessary, you feel someone somewhere has overlooked this source of revenue. Not everyone has a car and has a problem in the car park, some use shank's pony but maybe can't manage the distance to the park or enjoy a wee dram but don't fancy the walk to and from the park.(yes I accept that some pubs put on transport) Competitions can only be enjoyed if we get the kids in, in the first place, unless they are the competitors. Cheerleaders - that's a no no then? This is the point, I suppose, where the club will now respond explaining their direction with the inherent reasons for so doing.''Weer no reely sure, erly days yet. Ya know yersel, its no easy to make a decision!'' However, I feel, there is still LATENT talent out there who can pass on successful schemes in other clubs.

I take on board your points - on the subject of the (bar)stewards are they, in your opinion, losing us support or are they just a pain in the butt that has to be lanced in some way. I thought that they only affected specific people and supportive sympathy, like a growing ripple in a pond, was now touching others. I felt they were making the game unpleasant for some only. Do you feel that that is not the case and indeed revenue in the way of potential supporters not showing up, is been lost due to them?

I was hoping that some teacher would reply with the intention of inviting the club to his/her school but maybe the club already have an active involvement with the schools. The cost for the children ( if more than one) is high but does not appear to be much different from other grounds. The difference for us is that we are trying to elevate our spectating base from such a low starting point that the loss of a few kids tickets could be more important to our financial position than to other clubs so maybe the club does not have all that room for a sales manoeuvre. CD has stated a fact but maybe at this time offering a positive solution would be of more help. I do feel that we already enjoy a rich mix of men/women/children in comparison to most other clubs(From memory PT had a similar mix) and therefore it is from this healthy base we should be able to grow given the correct incentive. The product is excellent (4th highest points total/superb defencive record/great goal scorer) - the venue is acceptable( a bit airish) - Inverness is booming(fastest growing house prices) - surely this can be sold to a larger number of people at this time.

This board enjoys, although it does not always show, a latent talent that could be tapped into for the good of the club by suggesting options for consideration re increased home crowds. Postings on here are from far and wide and therefore maybe it is possible to benefit from some good scheme that has/are been used elsewhere that some one has experienced. . I have already posted that my feeling is that it could be via the school children dragging along parent and parent then becoming interest in their own right. It is a selling game and the correct work would have to go into planning by the powers that be, reduced cost/cheer leaders/ player awareness/own section. Having watched the Gretna FC documentary, I wonder if we are as involved in the schools as they are? If we are not we should be as all the little ones on the TV appeared to enjoy the players banter and no doubt urge their parents to go to the match as a result. I do feel that this is something that should be addressed now as spectating in sunny September is more enjoyable than frosty November for a novice supporter, if we want to retain them.

CD, you appear to have made a very valid point, concealed somewhat in the historic hurt you show in your writing. Perhaps this thread could be used to lay out the facts without the hints of 'he said/ she said'. The content of the approach - the reply and from whom - would open the debate up and perhaps your point could be reinforced on here. As Alex has stated, using another thread, as you did, only reduces the force of presentation. It would appear that you have a case and surely with the close season upon us, now is the time for correcting things for next year.

To echo Alex MacLeod's point about Pittodrie, I was with Colin and Bronson at the first game of the season and the hospitality extended to Colin was great. He was seated at the front of the Merkland stand in a special enclosure, slightly raised with a super view. He was taken and welcomed into the 'Home' dressing room and was fussed over by players and management alike. Robbo asking Colin which player would score first and when Colin gave his answer Robbo turned to the player and said he was lucky as if he had not been Colin's choice he was on the bench! Good fun and not reflective of the bad craic from the posts above. However I have no doubt that the statements above re the behaviour are correct - you only have to accept the mentality of the few - checkout I Jnr for instance.

Colours to the mast! I think the wee man is/was marvellous so I hope he returns to his past level of ability at the Sneck or elsewhere. He deserves it - a wee gentleman. Rig had two quotes from Hamilton, both using the word luxury, they must both be incomers, not much use for that word in Hamilton.

I feel it is a sign of immaturity to have thread with this nonsense on it!! They are hero's - one and all. You can not have the position in the league - sorry the points in the league - without the whole unit working. Points - wonderful Goals against - wonderful Dargo goals - wonderful And you have the audacity to have a thread with a heading like this!! Grow UP!!

DOLLY MIXTURES Big family, lots to share, Heaven! Sherbet Lozengers(?) caught the back of your throat if you were too greedy. 1p Daintys - kept you quite for hours, must have be a mothers delight.

Well I would like to echo Alex MacLeod's comments - well said. The doubters of CC are still there - 'I'll wait till next year' says RIG. Well with this wee team and the limited budget, if we were in the central belt we would be hailed as hero's! Accept this feat for what it is BLOODY WONDERFUL!! Last years split, great young manager, the result, an embarrassment. This year - a Tina - Simply the Best!! Well done to CC the staff and the team, my only concern is that ICT is not being sold to the local public. The locals can read about the game but there must be some way to get them off their bums onto seats. An incentives like all school kids free with an adult, into an area for them away from sweary words - because they are needed at times - and have cheer leaders leading the youngsters in their support. We see and hear it at the rugby matches at Murrayfield so why not at the Tulloch Stadium? Loss of revenue, aye right, if wee Johnny is enthused Dad's Saturday golf or whatever will be replaced with football and maybe Dads other 3 golfing pals will join him and play on Sunday instead.

Now the site has a short history, how does the postings compare to the old site for the equivalent time? I feel they are down but that is perhaps because they are shared between the different headers making them feel less.

It is my opinion that the'spirit' within the squad has an effect on the form of players. When a player comes into the team it would appear that they play above their ability, or above the ability that was apparent at their old club. The reverse could also be the case that leaving ICT could impact on their form and they could be relegated to the bench or even the reserves. The team that played in ICT colours at Pittodrie and gave a good account of themselves did not include, IMO, a player that would have been fielded by any other SPL club and yet, as a unit, they were great to support! We can do the same again if some of the squad does go, provided new players want to come North and the scouting system alerts CC to players that could be converted into ICT stars.