Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.

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Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Logo
Club Crest
Full name Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club
Nickname(s) Caley Thistle, Caley Jags, Inverness Caley Thistle, ICT, The Jags, Caley
Founded 1994 as Caledonian Thistle
Ground Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
(capacity: 7,918)
Chairman Kenny Cameron
Manager Terry Butcher
League Scottish Premier League
2011–12 Scottish Premier League, 10th
Website Club home page
Home colours
Away colours

Current season

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club (also known as Caley Thistle , ICT or Inverness CT) are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas. Having won the 2009–10 First Division title in their first year back in the division since 2003–04, Inverness competed in the SPL again for the 2010–11 season, in which they finished seventh.

Caledonian Thistle F.C. were formed in August 1994 following the merger of Caledonian and Inverness Thistle, both members of the Highland Football League. The new club was formed with their target being an application for one of the two vacancies in the Scottish Football League, created when the league restructured in 1994 to four divisions of ten teams each. They were successful and were elected to the Scottish Third Division along with Highland derby rivals Ross County. The club's name was amended to Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. in 1996 at the request of Inverness District Council, who had contributed £900,000 towards the development of Caledonian Stadium.

Their home ground, Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, is situated beside the Moray Firth, in the shadow of the Kessock Bridge. Its construction was promised in their election to the Scottish Football League, with the former ground of Caledonian, Telford Street, being used until it was complete.

Contents

History [edit]

See also: List of Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. seasons

The club first came to national prominence after their Scottish Cup victories over Celtic in 2000 and 2003: winning 3–1 at Celtic Park,[1] resulting in the headline "Super Caley Go Ballistic Celtic Are Atrocious" in The Sun which is now framed in the foyer of Caledonian Stadium,[2] and 1–0.[3] Inverness also knocked other SPL teams out of cup competitions, including Motherwell[4] and Hearts.[5] Over the first ten years of their existence the club had been responsible for a total of 12 'shocks' and as a result had gained themselves a reputation as being "giant killers". On 25 February 2007, Inverness's run of cup victories over Celtic came to an end following two goals in the last two minutes of their fifth round tie at Caledonian Stadium. Having led 1–0 for the majority of the game thanks to a Graham Bayne goal, Steven Pressley equalised before Kenny Miller netted the winner in stoppage time.[6] However, another victory against Celtic occurred on 16 December 2007, this time in the league, when the team came from being 2–0 down to win 3–2, with goals scored by John Rankin, David Proctor and Don Cowie.

A significant event in the club's history was the signing of Romanian international Marius Niculae.[7] Niculae was involved in the club's 2007–08 campaign and played at UEFA Euro 2008, before leaving for Dinamo Bucureşti. He later became involved in a dispute with the club over a share of the transfer fee that was not paid to him when he left. As a result, Inverness were ordered by FIFA to pay £133,000 to the player.[8] The club appealed against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,[9] and in November 2011, the club won their appeal.[10]

Third Division [edit]

  • 1994 – 1997

After a promising start to their inaugural campaign in 1994–95, the club eventually finished sixth in the Third Division. The following season, Inverness CT showed improvement with a third place finish. In Season 1996–97, they won the Third Division Championship following a 4–1 home win over Albion Rovers in front of nearly 3,000 fans. This was just 5 months after moving into the Caledonian Stadium.

Second Division [edit]

  • 1997 – 1999

The club spent two seasons in the Second Division. After a closely fought campaign, they finished runners-up to Livingston in Season 1998–99, thereby securing promotion to the First Division.

First Division [edit]

  • 1999 – 2004

Season 2003–2004 could be regarded as the club's most successful up to that point. In November 2003, they defeated Airdrie United 2–0, with goals from Steve Hislop and David Bingham, to win the Scottish Challenge Cup, and also reached the Scottish Cup semi-final, losing a replay 3–2 to Dunfermline Athletic after a 1–1 draw at Hampden Park. However, the greatest achievement was on the final day of the season, when Inverness defeated St. Johnstone 3–1, with goals from Paul Ritchie, David Bingham and Barry Wilson and, as a result, pipped Clyde to the First Division title. This made the club eligible for promotion to the Scottish Premier League (SPL). However, SPL rules at that time stated that all member clubs must have a stadium with a minimum capacity of 10,000 seats. Caledonian Stadium did not meet this criterion, leaving the club's Board with a dilemma: either to remain in the First Division (like Falkirk the previous season) or to groundshare with Aberdeen, over 100 miles (160 km) away. After consulting with supporters, the Board decided the 'sacrifice' of one season in Aberdeen would be an acceptable compromise to ensure Premier League participation for the club.

Scottish Premier League [edit]

  • 2004 – 2009
Inverness playing St. Mirren in May 2008 at the Caledonian Stadium.

A change in SPL rules during the 2004–05 season reduced the stadium seating requirement to 6,000 seats for SPL membership. The Caledonian Stadium was rendered a valid SPL venue after a rapid ground expansion, with two new stands added. The stadium was renamed as the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium in honour of the local building firm that completed the work in only 47 working days. The chairman of Tulloch, David Sutherland, was also chairman of the club at the time and remains a major shareholder.[11] The club returned to playing in Inverness, defeating Dunfermline 2–0 in their first SPL game in their own ground on 29th January 2005, thanks to goals from Barry Wilson and then player-manager Craig Brewster.[12]

During season 2008–09 season, the team incurred a number of bad results and struggled near the bottom of the SPL. Eventually, manager Craig Brewster was sacked after a run of seven consecutive defeats, ending with a 1–0 loss to Hamilton Academical.[13] This was the first time the club had sacked a manager, and the fans had previously voiced concern about Brewster's ability.[14] Brewster was replaced by former England international Terry Butcher, who was unable to prevent the club's relegation, despite an initial improvement in results. Inverness Caledonian Thistle's tenure in the SPL eventually ended in May 2009 after suffering a 1–0 home defeat to Falkirk.[15] Their final total of 37 points remains the highest ever for a team finishing bottom of the SPL.

First Division [edit]

  • 2009 – 2010
The team celebrating winning the First Division title in May 2010 at the Caledonian Stadium.

After a slow start to their first season back in the First Division, which looked set to be won at a canter by runaway leaders Dundee who were 15 points ahead in January, Inverness put together an astonishing run of form which saw them go on a 21-match unbeaten run. On 21 April 2010, Inverness secured promotion back to the SPL with two games to spare after Dundee lost to Raith Rovers. Inverness became the first team in ten years to secure an immediate return to the SPL. The team went on to celebrate their promotion with a 7–0 win at Ayr United, their biggest ever away win. On the final day of the season, Inverness beat Dundee 1–0.

Return to the SPL [edit]

  • 2010 – present

As part of the push for promotion in the 2009–10 season, Inverness went on an unbeaten away run in the league that continued through the entire 2010 calendar year, culminating in a 1–1 draw against Hearts at Tynecastle on 18th December.[16] This extraordinary sequence ended in defeat at St. Johnstone on 2nd January 2011 when the Perth side won by a single goal. At the split, Inverness narrowly missed out on a top six spot, eventually finishing in a club record-equalling 7th place. However, two years later, they would finish even higher.

During the 2012–13 season, a 3–0 win over Hibernian on 8th December 2012 saw them rise to second place in the SPL (behind Celtic), their highest ever league position.

Continued good form over the course of the season consolidated the club's position in the top-half of the table. Victory over Highland derby rivals Ross County[17] on 16th March elevated Inverness CT onto an almost unassailable points-total in their quest for a maiden 'top-6' finish. This achievement was confirmed the following day as the club benefited from a favourable result in the Sunday SPL fixture.[18] This guarantee of a 'top-6' place ensured that the 2012–13 Scottish Premier League season would see Inverness CT record their highest ever finishing league position.

Current squad [edit]

As of 16 May 2013

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Scotland GK Ryan Esson
2 England DF David Raven
3 Scotland DF Graeme Shinnie
4 Wales MF Owain Tudur Jones
5 England DF Gary Warren
6 England DF Chris Hogg
7 Northern Ireland FW Billy McKay
8 England MF Ross Draper
9 Republic of Ireland MF Richie Foran (club captain)
10 Scotland MF Andrew Shinnie
11 Scotland MF Nick Ross
12 Spain GK Antonio Reguero
14 England DF Josh Meekings
15 England DF Simon King
No. Position Player
17 Republic of Ireland MF Aaron Doran
18 Scotland FW Shane Sutherland
19 Scotland MF Gavin Morrison
20 Scotland MF Martin Laing
21 Scotland MF Liam Polworth
22 Republic of Ireland MF Conor Pepper
23 Republic of Ireland FW Philip Roberts (on loan from Arsenal)
26 England MF Jordan Gibbons (on loan from Q.P.R.)
27 Republic of Ireland DF Daniel Devine
28 England DF Charlie Taylor (on loan from Leeds United)
31 Scotland GK Scott Mathieson
32 Scotland DF Matthew Cooper
38 Scotland MF Ryan Christie
40 Scotland MF Kyle Whyte

For recent transfers, see List of Scottish football transfers winter 2012–13

International players [edit]

Players who have represented their country whilst contracted to Caley Thistle are:

Managers [edit]

Terry Butcher receiving the congratulations of fans at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, Inverness in May 2010.

Sergei Baltacha had been manager of Caledonian prior to the merger and he carried on as Caley Thistle manager after the merger in 1994. He remained in charge for only one season, leaving in 1995 to be closer to his family in Perth.

Baltacha was replaced by Huntly manager Steve Paterson, who to date is the club's longest-serving manager. During his seven and a half years as manager, from the summer of 1995 to December 2002, Paterson succeeded in taking the club to the Scottish Football League First Division. He also steered ICT to their famous 3–1 Scottish Cup victory against Celtic in 2000. In November 2002 Paterson was strongly linked to the vacant manager's position at Dundee United. However, he chose to stay with Inverness for another month, after which he left, along with assistant Duncan Shearer, to become manager of Aberdeen.

Paterson was replaced by former Hearts player John Robertson, whose two-year reign as manager was an exceptionally successful period. Under Robertson, Inverness won the 2003–04 Scottish Challenge Cup, gained another Scottish Cup victory over Celtic, this time 1–0 thanks to a goal on the stroke of half time by club record scorer Dennis Wyness and won the First Division Championship, taking the club into the SPL. Robertson eventually left to become Hearts manager and was replaced by Dunfermline's Craig Brewster as player-manager.

Brewster succeeded in keeping the club in the SPL. He also introduced new training regimes to increase player fitness and was successful in steering the club to good results against a number of established Premier League sides, including Rangers, Celtic, Motherwell, Hearts and Hibs. After a period of just over thirteen months at the club he left to become the new Dundee United manager after the sacking of Gordon Chisholm.

Former player Charlie Christie was appointed manager on 27th January 2006, after a successful spell as caretaker manager following the departure of Brewster, during which time Inverness achieved three wins out of three games played, including a record victory for the club in the SPL as they beat Falkirk 4–1 away from home. He resigned on 19th August 2007 due to the pressures of the job, and because he believed it to be the correct decision for him and his family.[19] He has now resumed his former role, running the club's Centenary Club lottery.

A short time after Christie resigned, Craig Brewster was reappointed. This was a controversial decision by the club, as Brewster had left to manage Dundee United only 18 months previously. He was eventually sacked in January 2009, after a run of seven league defeats.[20] Prior to this, the ICT supporters had become increasingly concerned about poor performances and rumours of dressing room unrest, leading to a protest by fans at the team's 1–0 defeat by Hamilton on the weekend before the sacking.[21]

Brewster's successor, the former England international Terry Butcher was appointed on 27th January 2009, along with Maurice Malpas as his assistant. Since then Terry Butcher has managed 100 matches for the club, the 100th taking place on Friday the 6th of October 2012, in the 3–1 win over Ross County[22] in the first SPL Highland derby.[23]

The club also had a Director of football, with former player Graeme Bennett appointed while Steve Paterson was manager.[24]

Honours [edit]

Major [edit]

Minor [edit]

  • Inverness Cup (7):1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2004–05, 2009–10
  • North of Scotland Cup (4):1999–00, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2011–12
  • North Caledonian League Winners (2):1994–95, 1997–98
  • Chic Allan Cup Winners (2):1994–95, 1998–99
  • Football Times Cup Winners (1):1998–99
  • PCT Cup Winners (1):1998–99

Records [edit]

Overall [edit]

  • Biggest home victory: 8–1 v Annan Athletic, 24 January 1998 (Scottish Cup)
  • Biggest away victory: 0–7 v Ayr United, 24 April 2010. (First Division)
  • Biggest home defeat: Six times lost by 4 clear goals. [see Note 1]
  • Biggest away defeat: 6–0 v Airdrieonians, 21 September 2000 (First Division) and 6–0 v Celtic, 22 September 2010 (League Cup)
  • Goal Milestones The club's 1000th goal was scored on Saturday 9 February 2008 by club captain at the time, Grant Munro in a 1–1 draw away to St. Mirren.[25]

SPL [edit]

  • Record home victory: 6–1 v Gretna, 3 May 2008.
  • Record away victory: 0–4 v Gretna, 27 October 2007 and 0–4 v Dundee United, 22 August 2010.
  • Record home defeat: 1–5 v Motherwell, 18 November 2012.
  • Record away defeat: 5–0 v Celtic, 15 September 2007 and 5–0 v Rangers, 1 November 2008.
  • Most points and best league finish: 2005–06, finishing 7th on 58 points.
  • Fewest points and worst league finish: 2008–09, finishing 12th on 37 points.
  • Most goals scored in a season: 51, in 2005–06, 2007–08 and 2010–11
  • Fewest goals scored in a season: 37, in 2008–09
  • Fewest goals conceded in a season: 38, in 2005–06
  • Most goals conceded in a season: 62, in 2007–08

Scottish Cup [edit]

  • Best run: Semi-finals twice: 2002–03 (lost 1–0 to Dundee) and 2003–04 (lost to Dunfermline Athletic 3–2 in replay after 1–1 draw).
  • Worst run: First round: 1994–95 (lost 2–1 at home to Queen of the South).

Scottish League Cup [edit]

  • Best Run: Semi-finals: 2012–13 (lost 5–4 on penalties after 1–1 draw (a.e.t.), (1–1 @ 90 mins) to Heart of Midlothian).
  • Worst Run: First round twice: 1995–96 (lost 5–3 on penalties after 1–1 draw (a.e.t.), (1–1 @ 90 mins) away to Berwick Rangers) and 2003–04 (lost 2–1 at home to Queen of the South).

Highest attendance [edit]

Caledonian Stadium, shot from Kessock Bridge, looking east during a Scottish Cup tie versus Partick Thistle.

The club's highest 'home' (league) attendance actually occurred while they were groundsharing with Aberdeen at Pittodrie. With Inverness fans in the traditional home end, and Aberdeen fans filling the away end, a record attendance of 9,530 was set on 16th October 2004. This record may stand for some time, as the crowd that day was bigger than the current capacity of Caledonian Stadium. The club's highest 'home' (cup) attendance was also recorded in a venue other than their home ground. A crowd of 11,296 watched Inverness play Rangers on the 9th March 1996 at Tannadice in Dundee. The game had been switched to Dundee as the club's home ground (Telford Street Park at that time) was deemed unsuitable for the Scottish Cup quarter-final tie.

The highest attendance recorded at the Caledonian Stadium is 7,753 set on 20th January 2008 against Rangers.

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ Biggest home defeat: (Third Division) 0–4 v Queen's Park, 19 August 1994; 0–4 v Montrose, 13 February 1995; 0–4 v Forfar Athletic, 2 May 1997; (First Division) 1–5 v Airdrieonians, 15 April 2000; 1–5 v Ross County, 24 February 2003; 1–5 v Motherwell, 18 November 2012.

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Caley's minnows slay Celtic". BBC Sport website. 8 February 2000. 
  2. ^ Grant, Michael (2002-10-02). "A Second Chance to Go Ballistic". Glasgow Herald. 
  3. ^ "Super Caley do it again". BBC Sport website. 23 March 2003. 
  4. ^ "Motherwell 0–1 Inverness CT". BBC Sport website. 6 March 2004. 
  5. ^ "Super Caley shock Hearts". BBC Sport website. 26 January 2002. 
  6. ^ Lindsay, Clive (25 February 2007). "Inverness CT 1–2 Celtic". BBC Sport website. 
  7. ^ "Romania Striker Joins Inverness". BBC Sport website. 17 July 2007. 
  8. ^ "Inverness told to pay Niculae £130,000". Press & Journal. 15 October 2009. 
  9. ^ "Angry Caley Ready to fight Niculae ruling". The Scotsman. 15 October 2009. 
  10. ^ "Caley Thistle win £130K Niculae transfer case". Highland News. 24 November 2011. 
  11. ^ "David Sutherland Biography". University of the Highlands and Islands website 2012. 
  12. ^ "Inverness CT 2–0 Dunfermline". BBC Sport website. 29 January 2005. 
  13. ^ "Inverness sack manager Brewster". BBC sport website. 19 January 2009. 
  14. ^ "Inverness support voices concerns". BBC sport website. 31 December 2008. 
  15. ^ McDaid, David (23 May 2009). "Inverness CT 0–1 Falkirk". BBC Sport website. 
  16. ^ Winton, Richard (19 December 2010) "Equal opportunity goes unseized". Glasgow. Sunday Herald.
  17. ^ "Inverness CT 2-1 Ross County". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 16 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013. 
  18. ^ "History as ICT top six spot confirmed". Highland News (Scottish Provincial Press). 18 March 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013. 
  19. ^ "Christie quits as Inverness boss". BBC Sport website. 24 August 2009. 
  20. ^ "Craig Brewster axed as boss of SPL basement boys Caley Thistle". London: Mail Online. 19 January 2009. 
  21. ^ Hannah, Roger (20 January 2009). "Give him the boot dad". London: The Scottish Sun. 
  22. ^ "Terry Butcher says derby win will boost game in the Highlands". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012. 
  23. ^ "Highlands 'buzzing' ahead of first SPL derby of the season". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012. 
  24. ^ "BOARD OF DIRECTORS". Inverness Caledonian Thistle website. 25 October 2009. 
  25. ^ "SEASON 2007/08". Inverness Caledonian Thistle website. 25 October 2009. 

External links [edit]

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club
History
Home stadium
Rivalries
Notable matches
Related articles
2012–13 teams
Former teams
Scottish Football League
First Division
Premier Division
Premier League
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