dougal

In my opinion Caledonian Fc had outgrown the Highland League long before the merger happened and that is the reason why crowds were down, there was no interest in run of the mill games at home to the likes of Rothes, Fort William, Lossie or Thistle, the game had become stale As a result there were a lot of dormant Caley fans in Inverness who would come out in numbers for your Elgins, Countys or Scottish cup ties Thistle always had sh1te crowds and the ones that did go were more than likely rugby fans that also frequented Murrayfield for the home internationals I'm quite saddened to say this but by merging the two clubs they ripped the football heart out of the average Invernessian hence why ICT suffer badly now when it comes to getting punters through the turnstiles The fact County have a higher average home attendance this season as we are challenging for the honours while they are fighting relegation only backs up my point I've said it before and I'll say it again ICT have been lucky that Inverness has had a huge influx of incomers to the city and what with the emergence of youth who were not scarred by what happened almost 20 year ago It's going to take a generation or two to build the fan base, let's face it Rome wasnt built in a day Dougal

Well if there was ever any proof needed to back up the alleged number of refuseniks in our City or for that matter further a field this Facebook page has it This is a new page created only a few days ago yet the number of likes is steadily increasing Bannerman and his new best mate CaleyD can try and spread their lies regarding their phonebox or a handful of rebels but this blows their theories right out of the water Dougal

I wouldn't be surprised that the original poster is ;

1. The writer of the said article

2. A Charles Bannerman alias

3. Both the above

Dougal

As a book collector and staunch ICT fan If anyone is looking to sell a copy Of Caley all the way, Hub on the hill or against all odds please get on touch.

A copy of Caley all the way is on eBay at the moment so check out the link

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COLLECTABLE-BOOK-CALEY-ALL-THE-WAY-CALEDONIAN-FC-CENTENARY-HISTORY-1886-1986-/110990858826?pt=UK_SportsMemorabilia_Football_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item19d7921a4a&_uhb=1

I got a copy a while back but at a fraction of the cost this seller is looking for, don't think I've ever seen hub on the hill for sale but I'd buy one too if I got the chance

A bit of advice I'd give "Against all odds" a miss to be honest as it's full of keech in my opinion

Dougal

One thing Section E and Section G were good at other than creating a good atmosphere at games was playing the victim card

To be honest I blame films like Green Street or Football Factory which only promotes anti social behaviour at the football, it only takes one or two impressionable youngsters like the clowns who threw the smoke bombs or invaded the park to spoil it for the rest

I'm afraid heavy handed stewarding or policing will continue until this sort of behaviour is eradicated

Dougal

I thought County played well. There is no way that team will be relegated

Ross staying up will be good for us and our gate money

I agree Laurence

ICT need County in the top flight with them and likewise County need ICT purely from a financial perspective

The ICT fans on here who want County relegated are merely blinded by short sighted hatred

There is no doubt that ICT as a club have been given a huge lift this season because of the return of the highland derby and the extra excitement it brings not only to the fans but also the players

Dougal

It wasn't pretty at times and I thought we weren't really at the races in the second half but we grinded out the win and that's all that matters

Billy McKay must be getting closer to getting a full international call up for Northern Ireland as each game goes by and he keeps scoring

I do worry that we will see offers coming in for him next month though as the lad has really put himself in the shop window this season so far

Dougal

What I find extremely disturbing is the amount of County fans that live in Inverness, I've heard a rumour that they nearly have as many season ticket holders with an Inverness address as we do

The question id like answered is where are Inverness and Nairn enterprise now? Should they not have had a plan B to encourage more Inverness punters through the turnstiles?

Dougal

understood that perfectly heilandee. must be the upbringing or something, eh dinna ken.)

More like the lack of schooling if you ask me

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?v=993o4UCzLgE

For a club that is supposed to be distancing themselves from their cousins from Govan I found it a bit ironic that they belted out the dam busters tune over the PA at half time on Sunday

Dougal

Before today's game I decided to go for a bite to eat in the Castle Restaurant on Castle Street

Now this establishment is still my no1 favourite eatery in town and I have dined there many many times over the years

Delicious food, great portions, reasonably priced and always busy with hungry customers

Does anyone know when the Castle Restaurant opened in Inverness I'd guess it would have been the 1970's but my first memories were the early 80s?

Over the years many restaurants have opened and closed their doors in Inverness but the Castle Restaurant keeps out serving the lot

What memories do others have of restaurants from the great days of yore? (past or present)

Dougal

Yep a poor mans Tich McCooey

Dougal

I'm hearing ticket sales are slow from both camps which is surprising since the they are reduced and the importance of the game

As Laurence states doesn't look like the forecast is the best from Monday onwards, -5 on Tuesday night could feel like -20 at TCS

I'm going to wait to see what Tuesday brings weather wise before I make the decision

I reckon we will see between 3000-3500 regardless which is still reasonable for a Tuesday night game in mid winter

Dougal

 

 

Fair weather supporter? 

I guess I could be accused of this but after today's performance I'm definitely going on Tuesday night regardless of the weather

Hopefully today's result should encourage a few more through the turnstiles still reckon 3500-4000 but I'll be delighted to be proved wrong if theres more

Dougal

My advice would be leave your handbags at home if you are going to the footie as there is no need for them at TCS

I've never understood why women carry handbags anyway but if they insist in doing so they should take them to the Eastgate while they do their shopping

Dougal

Huge win for us today against a vastly improved Hibs team

Without doubt the best home performance of the season

If we keep playing the way we are and if we keep injury free we will be still competing at the end of the season for the big prize

The way things are looking we look like Celtics only challenger

Roll on Tuesday night now another performance like today and there's no doubt we will be the ones progressing to the next round to face Killie

Dougal

It would only be a success though if away fans behave so it will be interesting to see how the Derry Boys get on, let's hope they refrain from singing some of their Ulster numbers

 

Go on Dougal, i'll have a wee bite. Yer inference that there is any real bigotry in the Dundee support is at least 30 years out of date. I accept the origins of the use of "the Derry" were from a different time when a misguided and less enlightened generation hung on to the coat tails of West coast led bigotry, but was thankfully short lived, and quickly fizzled out.The term is now survives merely as a term of reference for the singing section that sits in the Dens road area.Ulster numbers?? you'll need to enlighten me!

Head down to Dundee on Sunday pre derby and enter any pub where you will see supporters of both clubs mingling in every one and trouble will be very rare. Come along to TCS for the Dundee game and i'll mebbes even get you a pint!  I wouldn't be stupid enough to say there would never be trouble when you mix opposing groups of football supporters ( we all have some hotheads ) and alcohol, but this sort of control allows a better than average chance of success where banter and bevvy can be enjoyed instead of the the stringent cattle like herding of all supporters that is eroding the match day experience for all. 

Hear what your saying Heilandee but surely Dee fans would be better distancing themselves from all references to Londonderry and the apprentice boys of Derry then?

Correct me if I'm wrong but the Dee fans sing these three that I know off the top of my head

1. Hullo hullo we are the Dundee Derry Boys to the tune of the Orc anthem

2. Derrys Walls

3. Derry Rumba

From my experience of Scottish football over the years Dee fans were of the Orc persuasion while Dundee Hibernian(Utd) were Orish

Dougal

I'm hearing ticket sales are slow from both camps which is surprising since the they are reduced and the importance of the game

As Laurence states doesn't look like the forecast is the best from Monday onwards, -5 on Tuesday night could feel like -20 at TCS

I'm going to wait to see what Tuesday brings weather wise before I make the decision

I reckon we will see between 3000-3500 regardless which is still reasonable for a Tuesday night game in mid winter

Dougal

Heard on mfr terry got manager of month

billy mackay player of the month

aaron doran young player so well done all 3

Can't argue with any of these awards

Congrats to all three very well deserved

Dougal

Been hearing we have sold 3200 so far,still a weekend of ticket sales left ,so looking like there is going to be a decent crowd to watch the county get pumped...again

Sounds promising if that's how many has been shifted already despite the horrible weather

I'd imagine with the reduced costs it will hopefully encourage more non regulars or neutrals as well

Anything over 5000 on a Tuesday night would be a bumper crowd in my opinion what with money being so tight on the run up to Xmas

Dougal

Now I'm not really wanting to go over old ground regarding the good, the bad or even the ugliness of the stewarding that we experience at TCS, but I can't help but think that our support last Saturday has done us no favours whatsoever

I wasn't aware of this but apparently the security firm that do our stewarding are the same people that do Ross County

Ok I realise it was a minority who tarred the reputation of our support by throwing flares and entering the field of play but the actions of these so called supporters have probably made the relationship between fan and steward a lot worse

My point being we can't have a go at the stewarding unless we start eradicating the bad boys amongst ourselves

Cmon boys let's keep the flares at home and keep to the stands no-one should enter the field of play no matter what the circumstances

Dougal

A definite step in the right direction if the club is indeed looking into ways of giving away fans access to eating and drinking facilities

Due to the remote location of TCS must admit I'm surprised it's taken nearly twenty years to do so but this could be a real money spinner for the club as I could see it taking off and it might even encourage more away fans through the turnstiles

It would only be a success though if away fans behave so it will be interesting to see how the Derry Boys get on, let's hope they refrain from singing some of their Ulster numbers

Dougal

Really the hate spewing from these posts about rangers decision not to take a ticket allocation is only fuel for them. If they dont want to take the tickets then that is their right. If you felt your club had been wronged you would also consider retaliation. Right or wrong its their choice, and dundee united selling out the ground I think not, they barely fill half as it is.

^^^^^^

Orc

If you ask me Dundee Utd will be celebrating the fact that there will be no hate filled bigots at Tannadice at the cup tie

Pretty sure Utd will shift more tickets than they normally would as a result, let's hope this is the case and they humiliate them in what should be a party atmosphere

My prediction Utd 3 Orcs 0

Dougal

If we've only sold 2/3rds of the allocation that's shameful and the excuse of the game being on tv doesn't cut the mustard I'm afraid

The way we are playing and our position in the league I'd thought this would have been a sell out long ago, I shudder to think what ticket sales would have been like had we being playin sh1te

Dougal

How exactly could the club have done that Dougal?

Are you being deliberately stupid?

I'd hazard a guess that the would contact Scotrail to enquire about availability and costs

Football specials have been on the go for decades it would be the ideal way to get the majority of both sets of fans to the game seeing there is as many County fans based in Inverness as there are ICT fans

You could even segregate the carriages if need be but due to the friendly relationship I doubt it would be an issue

Dougal

The point being when I go to watch ICT play I go to support ICT not to hurl abuse or boo an opponent just for the sake of it

If anything you come across like an old firm fan with that kind of medieval attitude

Defend the booing of Tokely all you want but you know it and I know it that it was wrong for you to boo him in the first derby

Dougal

I would have thought the club would have looked into organising a football special train for this one

I'd imagine traffic congestion tomorrow will be a big problem and this could have possibly eased or prevented it

Maybe Caleyjagsforever should be looking into such worthwhile ventures?

Dougal