Inverness Clachnacuddin FC legend stunned to find group of Lilywhites fans in during visit to Perth, Australia
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A LIVING legend of Clachnacuddin FC was stunned to encounter a group of Lilywhites fans on the other side of the world.
Robbie Giles was out with his wife Helen in Perth, Australia – where he now lives – when he spotted the three holidaymakers and immediately recognised that it was the uniform of his beloved Clach that some were wearing.
He approached them and introduced himself and the group were delighted to chat with such a stalwart of the club.
The visiting Clach fans were Gordon Leslie and Chris Stewart, as well as Gordon’s son Martin, who also lives in Perth.
Among Robbie’s claims to fame was leading the Grant Street club to Highland League title success in 1974/75 under manager Sandy Wallace, and also going on to win the Scottish Qualifying Cup in the same season.
News of the coincidental encounter was relayed quickly back to Inverness when Helen contacted a Facebook friend, Billy Corbett, a long-time stalwart of the Lilywhites.
Billy told the Highland News: “Being a former committee member and director of the Lilywhites for many years, I of course knew Robbie well, and was involved at the club during Robbie’s playing days.
“Helen told me that the lads were over the moon to meet Robbie, and to hear all his tales from his football days at Grant Street Park, in particular the day in 1972 when he played in a benefit match for Ally Chisholm and Ernie Latham, and Chic Allan of Caley, in an Inverness Select against the Glasgow Rangers team that went on to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup the same season, beating Moscow Dynamo 3-2 in Barcelona.
“The lads were thrilled to hear this, and to have met one of the all-time Clach legends so unexpectedly.”
