My first visit to the Caledonian Stadium

[James]

Hi all. First post. Looking for some information. 

I'm travelling up from Staffordshire tomorrow night to watch the home game v Stenhousemuir. I visited the stadium last year and have visited a few other Scottish stadiums but this will be my first Scottish football match.

I've been a long time follower of Scottish football and I love the genuine connection and passion that fans have to their clubs, a million miles away from that of the English Premier League and more comparable to that of the English lower leagues.

When I visited the Caledonian Stadium in 2023, the people there were very accommodating and were helpful in allowing me to take photos (some of which are attached).

I'm fascinated with the history of the club and some of the more recent drama brings back a lot of memories of going through administration and fearing for the future of my own club, Port Vale, in years gone by. We have been taken over by some good owners with local connections and it seems that the same has happened with Caley.

The reason for this post really is that I'd be interested to meet and speak to people about what it means to be a Caley fan while I'm there. I will be doing a YouTube video of the whole trip (I don't have a big channel or anything), but I don't necessarily need to speak to people on camera if people aren't comfortable with that.

Otherwise, I'd just be interested in any tips about what to do while I'm there, like places to go before and after the match, general things to do in Inverness (this will be my third visit but the first time I've stayed over)

Thanks for reading if you got this far, apologies for the long post and fingers crossed for a win on Saturday. 

[The Hammer]

Hi James,

What is your YouTube Channel - I'd be interested to see your video when you upload it?

[James]

The channel is called Midlifetrippin'

https://youtube.com/@jamessalt13?si=HWaV38CMKqQ5eydQhttps://youtube.com/@jamessalt13?si=HWaV38CMKqQ5eydQ

The current video on there most relevant to this post is the one where I visited Truro City earlier this season. This adds another dimension to my visit on Saturday - 2 of the furthest separated UK professional teams in one season. There are also a few short videos taken at Port Vale games.

[Robert]

Bar 94 at the ground is open from 1100 and will probably be quite busy from around 1200 so it would be worth going there. If not driving, the beer is good.

There’s a lot to see around Inverness. It depends what you are in to: most tourists go to Loch Ness but there are also interesting places like Fort George and Culloden Battlefield with a lot of history.

[James]

19 minutes ago, Robert said:

Bar 94 at the ground is open from 1100 and will probably be quite busy from around 1200 so it would be worth going there. If not driving, the beer is good.

There’s a lot to see around Inverness. It depends what you are in to: most tourists go to Loch Ness but there are also interesting places like Fort George and Culloden Battlefield with a lot of history.

I'm coming up on the train, so I'll definitely be good for a pint in Bar 94. That sounds like it would be a good place to chat to some fans too

[Yngwie]

Note that this game is a 2pm kickoff.

[+Gringo]

Beware James, I happened across Caledonian FC back in 1978 and have been hooked ever since. I've been to over 200 games. Doesn't sound a lot but when you live in Coventry (formerly known as Coventry Nil) it's quite an effort. The natives are extremely friendly so I doubt you will have any problems talking to other supporters. The club is getting back on it's feet again and is reconnecting with supporters after a torrid five year period under a useless CEO etc.

I've not had the pleasure of visiting Bar 94 yet but I understand it is very popular. The bar was brought to life by excellent volunteers and is also run by volunteers.

As for the area, you'll be fairly restricted without wheels to visit the nooks and crannies. You say your travelling by rail so, I recommend a ride out on the Kyle of Lochalsh line. 

Enjoy your trip...oh...and welcome to the forum.

[James]

1 hour ago, Gringo said:

Beware James, I happened across Caledonian FC back in 1978 and have been hooked ever since. I've been to over 200 games. Doesn't sound a lot but when you live in Coventry (formerly known as Coventry Nil) it's quite an effort. The natives are extremely friendly so I doubt you will have any problems talking to other supporters. The club is getting back on it's feet again and is reconnecting with supporters after a torrid five year period under a useless CEO etc.

I've not had the pleasure of visiting Bar 94 yet but I understand it is very popular. The bar was brought to life by excellent volunteers and is also run by volunteers.

As for the area, you'll be fairly restricted without wheels to visit the nooks and crannies. You say your travelling by rail so, I recommend a ride out on the Kyle of Lochalsh line. 

Enjoy your trip...oh...and welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the info and it's good to hear from another long distance fan.

Hopefully I'm still going up there in years to come and tomorrow's game gets me hooked the same as you.

Do you also go to watch Coventry? Club legend Mark Robins has recently gone to my team Port Vale's rivals Stoke City. He's not had a great start, but every manager they've had in most of the last decade has had a nightmare there.

The golden rule for me in supporting a second team (which isn't something I've ever done before) is that there's no chance of both teams ever playing each other in a competitive game, which seem to be the case here unless both teams ever get into Europe (less likely for Port Vale than Caley I would think here!).

Another question - where would be the best part of the ground to sit for a good atmosphere? I'm currently swaying towards the North Stand

[+Gringo]

3 hours ago, James said:

Thanks for the info and it's good to hear from another long distance fan.

Hopefully I'm still going up there in years to come and tomorrow's game gets me hooked the same as you.

Do you also go to watch Coventry? Club legend Mark Robins has recently gone to my team Port Vale's rivals Stoke City. He's not had a great start, but every manager they've had in most of the last decade has had a nightmare there.

The golden rule for me in supporting a second team (which isn't something I've ever done before) is that there's no chance of both teams ever playing each other in a competitive game, which seem to be the case here unless both teams ever get into Europe (less likely for Port Vale than Caley I would think here!).

Another question - where would be the best part of the ground to sit for a good atmosphere? I'm currently swaying towards the North Stand

My team of youth was Birmingham City but haven't been for a good while, in fact, the last game was Blues v Caley in a pre season friendly so don't rule out a Caley v Vale game one day. They dubbed it the Shinnie derby as Andy Shinnie was playing for Bham and Grahame for Caley. Both are (were) ICT superstars back in the day.

To be honest atmosphere at Caley stadium isn't the best but the North Stand is the place to be. There seems to be a lot more singing at away games which are well worth a date in your diary. 

[ICTPaisley]

22 hours ago, James said:

The channel is called Midlifetrippin'

https://youtube.com/@jamessalt13?si=HWaV38CMKqQ5eydQhttps://youtube.com/@jamessalt13?si=HWaV38CMKqQ5eydQ

The current video on there most relevant to this post is the one where I visited Truro City earlier this season. This adds another dimension to my visit on Saturday - 2 of the furthest separated UK professional teams in one season. There are also a few short videos taken at Port Vale games.

Hi James, unfortunately the game has been postponed due to a frozen pitch. (Just found out while on the A9) 

[bishbashbosh]

James if you have started your journey and will still be in Inverness tonight you are unlucky the game is off and also that 12 miles north of Inverness is Dingwall home of Ross county who play in the Scottish premiership but they are away to Motherwell.

there is another game on in Inverness on Saturday clachnacudden v Huntley in the highland league a few minutes walk from the town centre. You will meet some interesting people there and see a game of grass roots footie. 
if your luck changes it may be called off also.

[James]

Thanks for the messages about the cancellation. I did notice it myself pretty shortly after the announcement, literally as I was logging on to buy my match tickets and pre-order some things from the club shop!

I've been frantically making arrangements over the last couple of hours to reorganise my trip and I'm now staying in Aviemore instead which should be an adventure in itself. Unfortunately it will be a football free weekend though

I will endeavour to return to Inverness another day. An early season trip would mean I could combine it with a camping trip in the late summer, so this seems the most likely right now.

Thanks for all the help everyone 

[CaleyCanary]

Hi James, thankfully the game has been called off early enough for you to make alternative arrangements despite missing out on the match itself.

 I had a barren trip some years ago for the same frozen pitch scenario when we were due to play Ross County in Dingwall - unfortunately I had driven as far as Nairn from Norfolk when I heard the announcement on Moray Firth Radio a couple of hours before kick off.

I was a bit miffed to say the least and phoned the club to double check. Upside was I got invited to call in at the stadium for a cuppa and met the management team - you wouldn’t get that at one of your Premier League clubs!

Enjoy your weekend and hopefully you’ll get back for a game sometime.

[big cherly]

James, Pity your match planned visit has been unpicked due to the weather.  Avimore is a good idea and if you haven’t already been, it’s a lovely town and wider area. Worth a trip to loch Morlich if you can!! 
bc 

[James]

On 2/14/2025 at 10:56 PM, CaleyCanary said:

Hi James, thankfully the game has been called off early enough for you to make alternative arrangements despite missing out on the match itself.

 I had a barren trip some years ago for the same frozen pitch scenario when we were due to play Ross County in Dingwall - unfortunately I had driven as far as Nairn from Norfolk when I heard the announcement on Moray Firth Radio a couple of hours before kick off.

I was a bit miffed to say the least and phoned the club to double check. Upside was I got invited to call in at the stadium for a cuppa and met the management team - you wouldn’t get that at one of your Premier League clubs!

Enjoy your weekend and hopefully you’ll get back for a game sometime.

Wow! Thanks for sharing this story with me. Sounds like I wasn't anywhere near as unlucky as you were.

By coincidence, I've got family in Norfolk and Suffolk. One of them plays for Beccles Town and I'm planning to go and watch him play before the end of the season. This, combined with my Truro City trip earlier in the season and the ill-fated Caley Thistle trip was part of a bigger plan to watch teams from the far corners of the UK in one season.

I will be back to the Caledonian Stadium, but it's likely to be next season now unfortunately. 

[James]

On 2/15/2025 at 8:48 AM, big cherly said:

James, Pity your match planned visit has been unpicked due to the weather.  Avimore is a good idea and if you haven’t already been, it’s a lovely town and wider area. Worth a trip to loch Morlich if you can!! 
bc 

This was my fourth time in Aviemore. I've always found it to be a pretty special place. We took the bus up the the Cairngorm ski centre yesterday and went past Loch Morlich before going on a mad walk up one of the mountain paths!

I've walked on Loch Morlich in the winter of 2008 when it was -13ºC! Slightly foolish I know but it was pretty solid and we stayed close to the edge.

If I manage a camping trip in August/September to watch an early 25/26 season game for Caley then there could well be another stop off in Aviemore on the way.

Oh and we watched a great Johnny Cash tribute act in The Winking Owl last night just to nicely round off the unplanned visit!