Pre-Season 2025-2026

[tm4tj]

That might explain it...

Under 19s Friendlies

Our Under 19s are in action this Saturday as they face Strathspey Thistle at Seafield Park in a friendly match.

 

They will also face Wick Academy on Friday 4th July, 7.30pm kick-off, Harmsworth Park

[CELTIC1CALEY3]

Who would have thought that we would start the 2025/26 season at Kelty Hearts!!!

[CaleyTennis85]

First game tomorrow afternoon against Strathspey so I'd imagine we'll see trialists as well as the Under 19s get match time.  

 

I'd imagine Alonge and Lukiama to be 2 of the trialists if they are currently training with the first team squad .

[ICTPaisley]

10 hours ago, CaleyTennis85 said:

First game tomorrow afternoon against Strathspey so I'd imagine we'll see trialists as well as the Under 19s get match time.  

 

I'd imagine Alonge and Lukiama to be 2 of the trialists if they are currently training with the first team squad .

I’m thinking this will only be under 19s

[tm4tj]

Strathspey Thistle 1-4 Inverness CT XI

A Caley Jags XI made up of u19's, trialists and Academy players were at Seafield Park Grantown on Spey on Saturday 21st June to kick-start the pre-season circus. The Caley Jags won 4-1 with one familiar name on the scoresheet. Unfortunately not for us but Aaron Doran scored a second half goal for the Strathy Jags. Ben Gardiner had opened the scoring with a penalty after 26 minutes before trialist No10 knocked in a pair just before the break. Roddie's brother Sam Thompson fired in from a free kick before Doran notched his goal. That ended the scoring

• 25. Szymon Rebilas
• 2. Trialist
• 3. Trialist
• 4. James Clark
• 5. Jack Walker (C)
• 6. Sam Nixon
• 7. Sam Reid
• 8. Sam Thompson
• 9. Trialist
• 10. Trialist
• 11. Ben Gardiner
• SUBS: 21. Logan Ross, 12. Archie Kerr, 14. Kenzie Harkness, 15. Leo Walker, 16. Ellis Leighton, 17. Gavin Thomson, 18. Archie Beaton

 

[Yngwie]

Trialists 4-3 Sams 

[+snorbens_caleyman]

6 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

Trialists 4-3 Sams 

So one more Sam or Ross and we could play 4-3-4?  

[Yngwie]

Dumbarton’s team v Stenny today.

[tm4tj]

26’ | 0-1

GOAL! ICT U19s have the lead through Ben Gardiner’s penalty pic.twitter.com/8xTPxCsGyY

— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) June 21, 2025

[+snorbens_caleyman]

Had to check that you weren't joking 

They also had a match against Stirling Albion, with a changed team, but still all Trialists. 

Stlrlingshire Cup - 60 minute games - 3 games at Ochilview and 3 at Falkirk today.

https://dumbartonfootballclub.com/fixtures/stirling-albion-v-dumbarton/ 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0k786vj1x7o 

""Amazing day for the Trialist family," one X user replied to the club..."

[tm4tj]

Carlos Heredia was No10 trialist scoring twice. Dominican Republic player

Charlie Frost was trialist No9. A North West Counties side, Nelson, scorer of 34 goals last season.

 

 

[IBM]

2 hours ago, tm4tj said:

Carlos Heredia was No10 trialist scoring twice. Dominican Republic player

Charlie Frost was trialist No9. A North West Counties side, Nelson, scorer of 34 goals last season.

 

 

I wonder if one of them could end up a marquee signing 

[bishbashbosh]

11 hours ago, tm4tj said:

Carlos Heredia was No10 trialist scoring twice. Dominican Republic player

Charlie Frost was trialist No9. A North West Counties side, Nelson, scorer of 34 goals last season.

 

 

Yes, looks like he knows where the goal is. Few hat tricks.

the cups to the right denotes MOM.

wonder why a goal scorer has no club though.

edit: he rejected a new contract offer.

CHARLIE FROST

Current Club: None

Player Appearances This Season

Date	Match	Score	Goals	CS	SB	YC	RC	MoM
Sat 27/07/24	Thornton Cleveleys v Nelson	2-3
Wed 31/07/24	Nelson v Steeton	3-1
Sat 03/08/24	AFC Blackpool v Nelson	0-2
Mon 05/08/24	Daisy Hill v Nelson *	2-3
Sat 10/08/24	Nelson v Skelmersdale United	5-0
Wed 14/08/24	Nelson v Droylsden	1-2
Sat 17/08/24	Holker Old Boys v Nelson	4-1
Wed 21/08/24	Nelson v Darwen FC	3-0
Sat 24/08/24	Nelson v Bacup Borough	5-1
Mon 26/08/24	Garstang v Nelson	0-1
Sat 31/08/24	Maine Road v Nelson	1-3
Sat 07/09/24	Nelson v Euxton Villa	2-0
Sat 21/09/24	Nelson v AFC Blackpool	2-1
Sat 28/09/24	Ashton Town v Nelson	2-2
Sat 05/10/24	Bacup Borough v Nelson	1-0
Sat 12/10/24	Nelson v Route One Rovers	5-1
Wed 16/10/24	Darwen FC v Nelson (CUP)	2-4
Sat 26/10/24	Droylsden v Nelson	1-0
Sat 02/11/24	Nelson v Thornton Cleveleys	2-1
Tue 12/11/24	Steeton v Nelson (CUP)	2-3
Sat 16/11/24	Skelmersdale United v Nelson *	0-5
Tue 19/11/24	Southport v Nelson (CUP)	1-1
Sat 23/11/24	Euxton Villa v Nelson *	2-0
Sat 30/11/24	Nelson v Ashton Town	4-2
Fri 13/12/24	Lower Breck v Nelson (CUP)	5-1
Thu 26/12/24	Nelson v Garstang	6-0
Sat 28/12/24	Route One Rovers v Nelson	0-4
Sat 04/01/25	Maghull v Nelson	0-5
Sat 18/01/25	Nelson v Maine Road	4-2
Sat 01/02/25	Nelson v Maghull	2-1
Sat 15/02/25	Ashton Athletic v Nelson	1-3
Sat 22/02/25	Atherton LR v Nelson	1-3
Sat 01/03/25	Steeton v Nelson	0-1
Sat 22/03/25	Darwen FC v Nelson	3-1
Sat 19/04/25	Nelson v Euxton Villa (CUP)	1-1

 

Edited Sunday at 06:34 AM by bishbashbosh

[bishbashbosh]

Caley Thistle’s international trialist makes case with friendly double – while striker with high goal tally also gets a chance

Under-19s and four trialists help get Inverness off to a fine start with a 4-1 warm-up win at Strathspey Thistle. 

by Paul Chalk

June 21 2025, 7:20 pm

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Inverness trialist Carlos Heredia in action against Strathspey Thistle. Image: Sandy McCook/DC Thomson.

A Spanish-born flair player – capped 15 times for the Dominican Republic – caught the eye with a brace as a Caley Thistle trialist on Saturday.

League One side Inverness, who are weeks away from exiting administration under Alan Savage’s ownership, kicked off their pre-season as their mainly under-19 team were 4-1 winners at Highland League hosts Strathspey Thistle in the baking heat.

ICT fielded four unnamed trialists and all were given the full 90 minutes at Seafield Park against the Jags, bossed by former Caley Jags goalkeeper Ryan Esson.

We can confirm though that Barcelona-born Carlos Heredia scored a quick-fire double after livewire Ben Gardiner had scored from the spot.

After being three goals up at the break, a free-kick from academy graduate Sam Thompson made it four before – ex-ICT star Aaron Doran – who will have a testimonial match for his old club next month – scored Thistle’s consolation.

Spaniard was star of the afternoon

Another player on trial for ICT was forward Charlie Frost, who scored 34 goals across all competitions with North West Counties side Nelson last term. He was a danger and, with a little luck, could have got on the scoresheet too.

The other trialists played at left-back and right-back.

Heredia, 26, has scored twice for the Dominican Republic and is trying to win a deal, backed by his experience at Miedz Legnica in Poland, Wolverhampton Wanderers and MK Dons and Dominican professional team Cibao FC.

Inverness trialist Charlie Frost rises for a header. Image: Sandy McCook/DC Thomson.

The attacking midfielder, who was also a threat on the left wing, kicked off his career in 2016 at CE Europa, a Catalan side in Barcelona, before moved to England to join MK Dons before Wolves.

His last period of note was with Miedz Legnica and he impressed in Grantown with smart footwork, and eye for a pass and two goals, especially the second one which was a rifled shot high into the net.

Under-19s urged to rise to challenge

Head of youth and first-team coach Ross Jack took the team along with Gordon Nicolson and his message to the existing crop of under-19s is to rise to the challenge from any potential – or new – arrivals.

He said: “It’s an exciting time for the younger lads, for all the players.

 

“I’ve said to them rather than fear for their places in the team, just go and prove how good they are.

“They should say ‘the club are taking bodies in, well I’ll show I’m better than them’. It’s all about believing in themselves, because we do.

Strathspey Thistle’s Jordan Laidlaw (No 4) heads the ball into the ICT box.  Image: Sandy McCook/DC Thomson.

“Fitness is going to be key this season for the first-team and the 19s. It’s massive.

 

“The fitter you are, the better you play.

“The trialists who came in acquitted themselves very well. They all got good game-time and I’m delighted with them all.”

High tempo impress coach Jack

Inverness will split their squads twice this week, with friendlies at Rothes and Nairn County on Wednesday, then on Saturday away to Clachnacuddin and Forres Mechanics.

And Jack says the high energy shown by the team is an ideal starting point for the week ahead.

He added: “You could see the fitness levels are very good.

“Some of the football we played at times was also very good.

“Fair play to Strathspey, I thought they played very well in the second half and put us on the back foot a bit.

“We’ve come through unscathed and scored four goals. We were disappointed to concede one, but both teams had more opportunities to score. It was a great exercise.

“The high tempo we showed here is how we aim to go on. We were pushing forward and putting pressure on.

Sam Reid, of Caley Thistle, on the ball against Strathspey’s Filip Franczak. Image: Sandy McCook/DC Thomson.

“We have a busy programme of games this week, but that’s the way it has to be.

“The first-team boys have taken the younger lads on, and made them welcome. They know they are pushing for places, but they are encouraging them. It will make them better.

 

“Everyone is pushing one another one and looking out for one another.”

[STFU]

Good to have football again and it was a nice day out at Strathspey. Be nice for us to get back to having a fan pre season open day with a few things on in future.

[Yngwie]

4 hours ago, bishbashbosh said:

Yes, looks like he knows where the goal is. Few hat tricks.

the cups to the right denotes MOM.

wonder why a goal scorer has no club though.

edit: he rejected a new contract offer.

CHARLIE FROST

Current Club: None

Player Appearances This Season

Date	Match	Score	Goals	CS	SB	YC	RC	MoM
Sat 27/07/24	Thornton Cleveleys v Nelson	2-3
Wed 31/07/24	Nelson v Steeton	3-1
Sat 03/08/24	AFC Blackpool v Nelson	0-2
Mon 05/08/24	Daisy Hill v Nelson *	2-3
Sat 10/08/24	Nelson v Skelmersdale United	5-0
Wed 14/08/24	Nelson v Droylsden	1-2
Sat 17/08/24	Holker Old Boys v Nelson	4-1
Wed 21/08/24	Nelson v Darwen FC	3-0
Sat 24/08/24	Nelson v Bacup Borough	5-1
Mon 26/08/24	Garstang v Nelson	0-1
Sat 31/08/24	Maine Road v Nelson	1-3
Sat 07/09/24	Nelson v Euxton Villa	2-0
Sat 21/09/24	Nelson v AFC Blackpool	2-1
Sat 28/09/24	Ashton Town v Nelson	2-2
Sat 05/10/24	Bacup Borough v Nelson	1-0
Sat 12/10/24	Nelson v Route One Rovers	5-1
Wed 16/10/24	Darwen FC v Nelson (CUP)	2-4
Sat 26/10/24	Droylsden v Nelson	1-0
Sat 02/11/24	Nelson v Thornton Cleveleys	2-1
Tue 12/11/24	Steeton v Nelson (CUP)	2-3
Sat 16/11/24	Skelmersdale United v Nelson *	0-5
Tue 19/11/24	Southport v Nelson (CUP)	1-1
Sat 23/11/24	Euxton Villa v Nelson *	2-0
Sat 30/11/24	Nelson v Ashton Town	4-2
Fri 13/12/24	Lower Breck v Nelson (CUP)	5-1
Thu 26/12/24	Nelson v Garstang	6-0
Sat 28/12/24	Route One Rovers v Nelson	0-4
Sat 04/01/25	Maghull v Nelson	0-5
Sat 18/01/25	Nelson v Maine Road	4-2
Sat 01/02/25	Nelson v Maghull	2-1
Sat 15/02/25	Ashton Athletic v Nelson	1-3
Sat 22/02/25	Atherton LR v Nelson	1-3
Sat 01/03/25	Steeton v Nelson	0-1
Sat 22/03/25	Darwen FC v Nelson	3-1
Sat 19/04/25	Nelson v Euxton Villa (CUP)	1-1

 

Impressive scoring record that suggests he is way too good for the level he is at, but how good is that level? There’s a team called Route One Rovers, and I don’t think it would be difficult to get the better of Daisy Hill!

[ICTPaisley]

6 hours ago, Yngwie said:

Impressive scoring record that suggests he is way too good for the level he is at, but how good is that level? There’s a team called Route One Rovers, and I don’t think it would be difficult to get the better of Daisy Hill!

Route One Rovers sounds like a fives team down the Power League

[Yngwie]

Heredia sounds interesting and by all accounts looked impressive on Saturday. But who else remembers the last time we signed a player with international caps for a Caribbean island?! 

[ICTPaisley]

36 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

Heredia sounds interesting and by all accounts looked impressive on Saturday. But who else remembers the last time we signed a player with international caps for a Caribbean island?! 

Think Susan could have done a job in League One though? 

[Yngwie]

I’d say there’s no evidence that he was good enough for League 1, based on what I saw of him. After leaving us he’s spent the last few years playing at amateur level back in the Netherlands.

[Scotty]

Will leave it to Kells and the coaching team to evaluate our trialists as we approach the start of the season, but one the one hand you have an international AM/RW/FWD player and a striker coming off a 34-goal season which sounds really good ... but on the other hand, if you scratch the surface, the international is for Dominican Republic, ranked 136th in the world, and who does not appear to have played internationally since around 2018, and the striker is several tiers down and currently without a club. Maybe they are uncut diamonds who will be the finds of the season ... or maybe .... not. 

[LisleRightPeg]

I was very impressed with the no2 on Saturday he looked a real threat going forward. Jack Walker cruised it and the big striker no 9 looked a handful at times. 

Edited Monday at 02:12 PM by LisleRightPeg

[tm4tj]

The squad lists for tonight’s pre-season friendlies against @NairnCounty and @RothesFC pic.twitter.com/vWheOHRCM5

— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) June 25, 2025

[+Moogthurso]

So nairn county squax has Remi....see you there. 

[+Moogthurso]

 

Wheres adam mackinnon and Danny D . Having a recovery?