The Mantis

Spartans. Including this howler:

Bit disrespectful to Grimbo imo, I think he’s moved house anyway

I don’t really like that site, the guy’s obviously focussed on English football, especially the 92 and everything else seems to be an afterthought so looks incomplete. I can recommend the groundhopper app by Kepermat which is run by two Norwegian guys. It lets you input grounds including demolished ones, and you can add photos. They can be a bit slow to respond at times but usually get round to it - not sure if they gave up their jobs as the app has really taken off.

Naw, Fay Fife. Ya Lassie.

We ken, you’re Fay Fife

One of the highlights of supporting the Welfare was to go to the Vale back in the Curries time and get called toonie b*****ds

I think the city’s colours were black and white, mind you that was what Elgin wore Again, it’s easy to say it was classless, but these men were being pulled all over the place by the business side that wanted the city to be on the football map, and the Caley diehards who wanted to withhold the club’s assets, and nearly succeeded. The book ‘Against All Odds’, if you haven’t read it, is available on the ICT fans forum as a free download. It shows how near the formation of the club was to a miracle...

The away strip was red and white stripes, while the reserve strip was Thistle colours. Not ideal if you're of that persuasion, but there you go. Caley had 5 on the board to Thistle's 3 if I remember rightly. The other 3 were from Inverness and Nairn Enterprise. So everything was negotiated, not decided by Caley, but the rebels who wanted Caley to go it alone had an organised campaign which put a lot of pressure on the board, and even got one fan elected to the board. Only 2 Thistle players were part of the initial squad in 1994. Thistle were very much the minor partner. Harsh but true. Remembering how tribal football is, before you go dragging out words like 'scum', imagine there was a rare chance for Falkirk to get back into the Premier, and the only way to do it was to merge with Stenny

At the end of the day, it gets dark.

12/8/94 - the first ever League goals scored in Inverness as Caley Thistle defeat Arbroath 5-2 and Alan Hercher scores a first half hat trick. Sadly, Herch passed away last week at the age of 52.

Clubs certainly have to submit annual accounts to the SFA, I know that much.

Should’ve said, I would have told you to look out for Rab B. He’d be wearing a string vest.

Thing is, we got him from you lot in 1986. Apparently he was born in Dingwall, although we always thought he was from Beauly. Played shinty as well as fitba.

Just heard Herchie’s gone. R.I.P. big fella.

Sad indeed. R.I.P. big man.

I’m sure the Fergie Park Faithful will happily buy the Shire players a few drinks before the game.

Great stuff Michael.

Get a room guys

Plus his dad used to wind up the Caley fans.

“The horse that needs no hay”

That's my mate John Gilchrist. OK you've talked me into putting up one of mine

No surprise he popped up somewhere with an enforced day off

Absolutely. Got that on the intro to my blog. You’ll get your eyes opened if you go to anything on the groundhopper weekend

David Knox is no your man Rab Nicked one of my pictures once and said he was on holiday, must’ve been somebody else. I see Brain Kerr is the EK manager.