FOOTBALL MEMORIES: As Caledonian FC's 'Invincibles' of 1982/83 prepare to reunite in Inverness, Gordon Fyfe remembers the distinguished career of club hero Raymond Mackintosh
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Caley’s high energy striker Raymond Mackintosh brought the curtain down on a wonderful career in style.
Not only was he captain for the last game of the 1982-83 season against Fraserburgh but he played a skipper’s part by scoring a late equaliser to ensure that Caley completed the season undefeated, equalling a record set in 1913-14 – by Caley.
Caley won the league by 15 points from Elgin City – winning 23 and drawing 7 – and for a second year in succession won the Rothman’s Non-League Team of the Year.
The late goal against Fraserburgh to make the score 2-2 was Raymond’s 32nd goal of the season – one that sparked wild celebrations at Telford Street.
Earlier in the season, he had scored two goals in Caley’s 3-2 win over Peterhead in the final of the Scottish Qualifying Cup at Elgin and had represented the Highland League Select in a challenge match against a Scottish Junior Select.
Caley also won the Inverness Cup that season, beating Nairn County 4-0 in the final.
The game against Fraserburgh was Raymond’s last for Caley as he had decided earlier in the season to focus his career on coaching/management and hang up his boots.
Manager Alex Main, who had won 14 titles with Caley, was ready to retire after the most successful career in Highland League history and he was sure that Ray was the man to fill his shoes.
His confidence was well founded as Ray, assisted by Peter Corbett, led Caley to their third league success in a row the following season and their third Scottish Qualifying Cup win in a row.
Raymond decided to stand down after just one season due to increased responsibilities in his job at Ardersier Oil Rig Yard. He felt he was unable to commit the time required to manage such a big club as Caledonian due to his increased work load.
Raymond is currently living in New Zealand but is returning for a reunion of the Invincible side on Saturday April 22.
From Nairn, Raymond was a fitness fanatic, who was skilful at basketball as well as football.
His football career kicked off at Nairn County when he was still at school. And would you believe it, Ray fancied himself as a goalkeeper, being understudy to first team Nairn keeper,
Kenny Mackenzie, who went on to play for Caley.
As he was not getting a regular start, Ray moved to Nairn St Ninian and began enjoying his game as a striker. In 1967, while playing for St Ninian, Raymond was asked to play two trial matches for Arbroath FC who played in the Scottish First Division.
He recalls: “I played two games, scored one goal resulting in Arbroath Manager Albert Henderson contacting the club and me saying the club wanted to sign me. I gave the offer a lot of thought but I turned them down thinking I was just too young to take that big step at 17 years old. I have no regrets.”
At that time, he was also playing for Nairn Basketball Club and was so good at the game that he was chosen to play for Scotland.
In season 1970-71, Raymond refocused on football and had a spell with Elgin City before moving to Clachnacuddin, under the leadership of Sandy Wallace. Forming a striking partnership with Charlie Kennedy, he helped the Grant Street club win their first Highland League title for 37 years in 1974-75 as well as the Scottish Qualifying Cup.
In 1976, he moved to Caley and made an immediate impact, helping the Blues win the Highland League in 1976-77 and 1977-78. This time he teamed up with Billy Urquhart to form a deadly strike force.
His next move was to Ross County in 1980 but after playing there for only one season he was reunited with Alex Main at Telford Street, initially returning as first team coach and assistant manager, having gained coaching certificates on both sides of the border.
He rekindled his striking partnership with Billy Urquhart, who had returned from spells at Rangers and Wigan Athletic and three more league titles and three more Qualifying Cup medals were to follow in the next three seasons before Raymond decided to call it a day.
Billy said: “Raymond was brilliant to play with. He was one of the fittest players around and worked tirelessly every game, making lung-bursting runs into the corners to create chances for others. He was great in the air, held the ball up well and could score goals with either foot.
Most of all he had a great desire to win and played a huge part in our success between 1976 and 1984, when we won five league titles.”
Raymond emigrated to New Zealand and made a big impact on the football coaching scene on the North Island. Between 1988-1991, he was Player Coach of Cambridge FC and guided them from Northern League Division 3 to Division 1. In his final season, he celebrated the birth of his
first daughter by scoring all four goals in a convincing win of 4-0 over Forest Hill Milford.
In 1995, at the age of 45, Raymond was head-hunted to become player/coach of Te Awamutu FC, who were in the Northern League 4th Division. Raymond successfully took the team straight to the First division from the fourth in successive seasons. Winning a championship for TA was the first time for the club in 70 years.
In 2011 Raymond was asked to coach the Melville United Women’s Senior team. The team won the treble and finished the season undefeated. Played 22 games, won 21 games, drew 1 game. Goals for 134, goals against 15. Over the three competitions the team averaged 6.3 goals per game.
Raymond has now retired from coaching but still keeps fit by playing tennis twice a week and mountain biking 150 kilometres per week.
• Gordon Fyfe is joint chairman of ICTFC Community Trust, which is promoting the Inverness Football Memories project along with the backing Am Baile, the Highland history and culture website, Clachnacuddin FC and High Life Highland.
