bluesbrother

Memory of New Year derby 1993, at Grant Street v Caley. Both sets of supporters were in the wine sged with a police presence separating them. clach go a goal up after 5 minutes - Grasser, I think was the scorer. clach fans burst into song "Whats it like to follow *****?", Telford Streets finest respond with "Whats it like to smell off *****?" Poetry!

My first Caley season ticket was for 70-71. Cost...a princely 7/6! Still have it.

Thank you that man

One of my happiest memories of the 69-70 season was Caley in their striped strip as they beat Ross County 5-0 in the Scottish at Telford Street. Two goals apiece from the late Sandy Finnie and the great Freddie Nield, with Davy Johnston getting the other.

I had a mail from a chap asking if the stripes from 69-70 and 72-3 were Caley's change kit or main kit. I'm afraid I couldn't help him. Anybody remember?

They were the change strips.

This thread is a spin off from the Hotels one and I am wondering if anyone can supplement what I have gleaned about "Catch My Pal" in Inverness?

In a sentence, Catch My Pal was a Temperance (ie Total Abstinence) organisation in the town, best now remembered for its football team.

The Catch My Pal Temperance network was founded in Ireland in 1909 and the idea was that members would be dedicated to getting their friends off the drink. A branch was set up in Inverness in 1911 and the Catch My Pal Hall was at the Merkinch end of Academy Street, possibly at the acute angle where it meets Church Street. The site I have in mind now, I think, must belong to Brian MacGregor since in the fairly recent past I have seen displayed on it abusive signs about David Sutherland and Innes and MacKay the Solicitors.

I believe that this hall in days gone by was part of the considerable property in that immediate area owned by the Anderson family who had Anderson's the Bakers (anyone over about 45-50 remember the red vans with "Been doing our best for you since 1892" on them?) whose shops and bakery were across Academy Street where Blythswood is now. The Andersons were, I believe, very much involved with Catch My Pal who also held rallies in the larger Dr. Black Hall on Bank Street, part of St. Columba High Church of which they were members.

However a Google search of "Catch My Pal Inverness" principally yields a number of references to the Catch My Pal football team which won the North Caledonian League in 1924-25. All that can be said with certainty about that particular victory is that they would not have gone on the p!ss afterwards!

The only other significant intelligible reference I can find is to the fact that when a faction split away from the Free Prebyterian Church (presumably because even it was not extreme enough ) it met in the Catch My Pal Hall before eventually moving into Greyfriars Church (now occupied by the extortionate Mr Leakey). The only other reference I can find is a potentially valuable one in Am Baile but annoyingly it is in Gaelic although there are further references to dated Courier articles which might be worth some further research.

I have a feeling that Catch My Pal did not survive World War 2 so there is not likely to be anyone here who remembers it directly but some of our older subscribers (Scarlet, Jock, Canuck, Exgrover) may know more than I do by more immediate word of mouth.

Any takers?

The "Catch my Pal" team took part in the Scottish Junior Cup one season in the mid 1920's. I posted a question on the North Caledonian league forum ages ago asking if there were records of any other NC league team also playing in the national Junior tournament but no response

Marios in Fortrose in the 1970's made great ice cream, very light to their own recipe

A few psotings have mentioned the chippies in Fortorse. That was Marios in my younger days and a damned fine chippies it was. Its still a chip shop but haven't sampled the delicacies of the current owners

I think Joe Toal died at a very young age.

David Shearer, Clach to Middlesboro. He is of course Duncans brother, and was a better player in my opinion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Shearer

And what about the guy that played for Bolton and Scotland, thingamyjig, John McGinlay, he started at Nairn County before ending up at Bolton via numerous clubs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McGinlay

Both born in Inverness according to my mate wiki.

Cant dispute whether or not they were born in Inverness, may have been cos it was the nearest mattie hospital, but they were brought up in Caol, Fort William as was another two I could add to the list.....Donald Park and George 'Pele' Cambell both went from Caley. Parkie to Hearts and Pele to Aberdeen then on to Australia where he's still involved in football.

"Pele" Campbell was never on Caleys books. Caley signed two other Lochaber based youngsters around that time - Stuart McKinnon, who was a schoolboy international played season 72-73 before going to Edinburgh Uni to study maths and Joe Toal, a striker, who packed in football shortly after to concentrate on shinty.

Nairn County centre forward, Davie Johnstone, went straight into Aberdeen's first team, playing in Europe, if I remember correctly.

He then got homesick and returned to Nairn before again joining the big boys, this time with Hearts.

Don't know the chronology but he also played with Caledonian, where he broke the record for the number of HIghland League goals in a season. A record that still stands. I have no idea of the exact number, but I am told it is astonishing. Any HL stattos?

Davie Johnston went from Nairn to Hearts, returning to Nairn before joining Aberdeen. Signed for Caley in summer of 1969 and in his first season at Telford Street, hit 52 goals; his strike partner that season, Chic Allan, scored 49.

Have many great memories of being in the Howden End. The Scottish Cup, thrashing Ross County 6-1 in the North Cup in 77-78, last minute winner against the Jags in 92-93 but a cup game against Keith in 71-72 also stands out. Caley, 3 -0 down at half time, were shooting towards the Howden End in the second half. Gordie Fyfe pulled a goal back in a scramble a minute into the second half, he got a second direct from a corner 10 minutes later. With 25 minutes to go, Donnie Park equalised and then he grabbed the winner in the last minute with a half volley from 15 yards. Voctory made sweeter as a couple of school mates had come to the game as well, Ross County fans. One of them was Daniel Moores (County player) father.

Caley usually had good keepers in my time supporting them - Andy Beattie, Ken McKenzie, Chris Galloway, Billy McDonald, Hamish Morrison all come to mind. Rod Mackie was truly awful

Andy Beattie I remember from my kidhood. He used to do this special gather of cross balls using one hand and pull them down to his body. He was also number 1 choice for the British Army team for a while, whilst playing with us. Some accolade.

Andy Beattie came to Caley from Lewis United in the Aberdeen juniors and was a bit smaller than your average goalie. The keeper who was in the British Army team was Andy Beatties understudy at Telford Street, cannot remember his first name but surname was Green. He played for Caley in a Scottish Cup tie at Motherwell in season 69-70

Aaron Copeland - "Appalachian Spring"

Caledonian F.C. never forgotten . Always in my heart . Caley til I die .

Poetry

For me Caley were and always will be the greatest football team ever. What I would give to be in the Howden End again, even on a miserable Tuesday in February against Fort William.

Caledonian FC - we have not forgotten.

"Primus Inter Omnes" indeed

Was that the same Walter Wright that played for Clach in the early/mid 70's?

Well done Roarer its nice to see 2 old codgers still able to do jigsaw puzzles! Good days to remember. We also had a contingent of islanders playing - Donald J MacDonlad (the last I heard he was head of PE at Portree High) - a flyer! We also had a real bear at centre forward and a wee curly hair winger whose names escape me but again they were from the islands. Peter MacDonald at centre half ( poor Peter took his own life many years ago), Aly Fraser (retired cop). Any more names to jog the old memory?

Caleyboy you've really floored me with that news about Peter. I remember him very well. He was always a really nice guy. Other players were Walter Wright, Robbie Munro and Roddy Webster. I remember Roddy asking me who scored for us, as he couldn't see properly without his glasses! Davie Williamson also from the High School as I recall and didn't Eric Mackintosh play for us aswell? That's probably as much as the Wolf Blass will let me stretch to at the moment. I hope it can open some doors in your memory bank.

Was that the same Walter Wright that played for Clach in the early/mid 70's?

Caley usually had good keepers in my time supporting them - Andy Beattie, Ken McKenzie, Chris Galloway, Billy McDonald, Hamish Morrison all come to mind. Rod Mackie was truly awful

"In a Silent Way" - Miles Davis

I remember Thistle with a couple of Orange away tops. The worst was the very light blue with splashes of purple and I am sure it had purple shorts as well.

In the early 70,s Caleys change/away strip was red and white vertical striped shirt, white shorts

Remember the red and white stripe shirt but was it not blue shorts and red socks?

It might have been at one time, but I can certainly remember them in white shorts with the red/white striped shirts. Have not got a clue as to the colour of the socks. Can also remember Caley in blue and white vertical striped jerseys as well and I think I have a photo of Andy Sinclair in this strip so that dates it about 72-73

Aye - the man from wick - nice guy but seen milk turn quicker!

You summed him up pretty well. He was signed early on in 72 as a someone who could play centre half or centre forward having had good reviews as an Aberdeen University player. Did not look anywhere near good enough for Caley and far too cumbersome, but I remember him playing for Brora a few seasons later and he looked OK. Became a history teacher, I think

I remember Thistle with a couple of Orange away tops. The worst was the very light blue with splashes of purple and I am sure it had purple shorts as well.

In the early 70,s Caleys change/away strip was red and white vertical striped shirt, white shorts

Remember the red and white stripe shirt but was it not blue shorts and red socks?

It might have been at one time, but I can certainly remember them in white shorts with the red/white striped shirts. Have not got a clue as to the colour of the socks. Can also remember Caley in blue and white vertical striped jerseys as well and I think I have a photo of Andy Sinclair in this strip so that dates it about 72-73

My father's job took us back to Sneck in mid '89 I had been to a few Caley games previously as the coach of my school team in Kingussie was Freddy Neild and he had given me an interest in the club but the Airdrie match was the first real vivid memory of being in the Howden end and as far as I remember it was the first time I was allowed to take my bro to a match without a responsible adult. I think I remember helping clear snow off the pitch prior to kick off but I could be wrong. The atmosphere in the Howden end was superb that night better than any match I had been at before, and I had been a regular in the jungle at the piggery before then, I think that's the night I really fell in love with Caley.

Now there's a player for both Jags and Caley - Fred Neild and brother Bobby. Caley probably had the bet out of both but what a dream Freddie was. Haven't seen him for many years but hope he is still going strong down Speyside. Howden legends!!!!

Freddie would be in my all time great Caley team, fantastic left peg. Bobby had two spells at Caley and was initially signed as a striker, however, he will be best remembered as a sweeper in the double cup winning team of 71-72. Contrasting players, Freddie was classy laid back at times and made it all look so easy; Bobby was a determined, hard working player who lacked his brothers ball skills but could read a game very well. Both gave up playing in the Highland League just after the start of 75-76 season, I think to concentrate on their business. Freddie would have been in his late 20's and Bobby a couple of years younger.

I remember Thistle with a couple of Orange away tops. The worst was the very light blue with splashes of purple and I am sure it had purple shorts as well.

In the early 70,s Caleys change/away strip was red and white vertical striped shirt, white shorts

The reason being that he scored a couple against them in a 6-3 loss. I'm sure it was Greig that signed him though. I think Wallace had just won the treble and retired.

Correct

Anyone remember "Satisfaction" three piece from the sneck in early 70s? Played Hawkwind/Free/Argent covers and had an.....oil wheel