sipage

A view from afar here, someone who has no real investment in your club other than enjoyment at its very existence and frankly phenomenal achievements. Always liked Scotland and Scottish football from being a kid growing up in the 70s. Blame Corby's ex-pats, Andy Gray and the Scottish roots of my club. Had a team I looked out for in every division in Scotland (Aberdeen, St Johnstone and Queens Park if you care) and in the Highland League it was the Jags. Saw a game at Kingsmills as a kid and, despite also going to Claggan Park back in the day, Thistle was who I really looked out for. Mixed feelings about the merger in that if anyone suggested merging Aston Villa with anything I'd demand a burning, but loved the idea of Inverness being a city of recognised substance. Having a club in the big leagues spoke a bit of the regrowth of the Highlands. That said, I understand and respect anyone who bemoans the loss of their club to merger. I am still amazed at what ICT have achieved. Even the current position is as high as you could reasonably expect of a small club outside the Central Belt and in a world so obscenely dominated by two extremely odious institutions. To spend so long in the top flight, actually compete there and win the big cup is beyond any kind of wild fantasy. It has been an absolute joy to watch your club rise. Conversely, my actual club is currently at its lowest point for nearly 50 years but I enjoy it more than the drudge of avoiding relegation or being best of the rest; listening to ill-informed cliche merchants pour over every meaningless stat. Competitive football is so good to watch and outside the top flight it's about the game rather than the televising of and paying for it. The not knowing what will happen as opposed to the certainty that Celtic will win the title, or the same over-financed clubs in England will carry off the silver, is the thing that makes sport great. Football at the top can be astonishingly dull, and the Caley Jags have never been that.