rogerkettle

Okay, a view from the other side. Having left Inverness-shire for Dundee a long time ago, I kind of have mixed emotions. I became a United fan because of some friends down here and I've been lucky enough to see some great football from the likes of Sturrock, Bannon, Narey etc. Despite that, I have retained my fondness for ICT and have witnessed some truly wonderful performances from them---and a level of football that was a joy to watch. Today was dire. Neither team played well but United were playing their 5th game in 12 days. To their credit, they were also fielding eight Scottish players under the age of 23 which, these days, has to be commended. On today's evidence, the neat football that has been played by ICT over the last few seasons appears to have gone but you guys will know better than me if this is true. There also seemed to be a lack of togetherness. Foran appeared to be mumping about everything and, once again, I have no idea if this is how he always is or if this was just a one-off performance. As I said earlier, not a great game but I was disappointed in the way my old team played. I still have my IRA leaague and cup medals....

Ah, the Neild brothers! As I lived just down the road from them (Dalwhinnie as compared to Kinguussie) we were friends and I used to go to the odd game with them. I remember a dramatic match at Telford Street when Bobby got punched in the face during a penalty box stramash and Freddie fell to the ground! I guess this was around 1971 so anyone who thinks "diving" is a recent innovation....

No problem, Gordy---I've been a cartoonist for a long time and your comment was milder than a lot I've had! Thanks for the welcome, guys. I still have a lot of friends around Inverness and one of them emailed me say that I'd been mentioned on here so I thought I'd take a quick peek. Really glad I did---it's a great site. I hope to pop in on a regular basis.

I wrote the strip out of fondness. As has been mentioned, I spent my secondary schooldays at the Academy---six happy years for a Highland laddie from Dalwhinnie. For three of those years, I stayed in digs directly across the road from a certain football ground in Telford Street. I'm glad that the majority of you took no offence from the strip---absolutely none was intended. Gordy, I can't argue with your summation of my career but I HAVE written the odd cartoon without bathos!

I remember me well. A stylish number ten with both Ness Rangers and the Academy double-winning side of '69. When, inexplicably, not one top European side came in to sign me, I turned to writing cartoon strips, which I've been doing ever since. I am 59 ish.