Inverness Football Memories project involving Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Trust, High Life Highland and Clachnacuddin FC seeks old photos and memorabilia
Former players and supporters are recalling their memorable moments of football down the years in Inverness for a project to be launched on Friday.
Inverness Football Memories is producing an online catalogue of photos, film and memories and is appealing to the public for memorabilia with the ultimate aim of staging a public display.
The project is being promoted by Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Trust and builds on the monthly meetings held at Caledonian Stadium when older people meet to recall football memories.
The trust is being supported by Clachnacuddin FC and High Life Highland in carrying out in-depth research of the senior clubs which have played in Inverness since the game began to be played in the Highlands in 1885.
They include Citadel FC which was one of the first teams formed but folded in 1937, Inverness Thistle and Caledonian, which merged in 1994, Clachnacuddin and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
High Life Highland is advising on the project through its management of the Highland Archive Centre, Inverness Library, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and Am Baile, the community web site.
The first phase of the project is an Inverness Football Memories feature on Am Baile, featuring photographs, film and stories.
Gordon Fyfe, joint chairman of ICT Community Trust, said it builds on the success of the monthly Memories Club which aims to revive memories in a friendly, social setting.
“There are excellent sources of information in existence through the books written to record the histories of the various clubs,” he said.
“We aim to bring all the information together and provide a well-researched history of the game in the city in an entertaining way.
“The first phase of the project is the launch of Inverness Football Memories on the Am Baile web site and over the coming months we will continue to populate the site with more stories, photos and film.
“Then we will roll out other elements of the project as and when funds become available.”
Mr Fyfe, who played for Caledonian in the 1970s, has been working with fellow ICT community trustee, Dave Milroy, who played more than 900 games for Inverness Thistle, Peter Corbett, who played for all three Inverness sides and managed Caley and Clach, and Alex Chisholm, chairman of Clachnacuddin.
Mr Chisholm, who played for Clach, comes from a family steeped in the history of the club - his grandfather being George B Rodgers and his father, Ally Chisholm, the tough-tackling left half and former chairman.
Mr Chisholm said the club was delighted to be involved in the project.
“It has been fun looking out the photographs of the Clach teams down the years and the trophies won,” he said.
“It highlights the rich history of this club and I’m sure many Clach fans will enjoy reviving memories of some great times when they view Inverness Football Memories on Am Baile.”
Steve Walsh, chief executive of High Life Highland, said his organisation was also delighted to be involved.
“This is an excellent project which will be of huge value to our community,” he said.
Research is being carried out by Inverness Courier columnist Bill McAllister, who has covered Highland League football for more than 50 years and wrote the The Highland Hundred to mark the centenary of the Highland League in 1993.
Anyone with a photograph they would like featured on Am Baile should contact ambaile@highlifehighland.com or mail/deliver it to Am Baile, Highland Archive Centre, Bught Road, Inverness IV3 5SS. It will be returned. Am Baile can also be found on Facebook @ambaile and Twitter @HighlandHistory.
The ICT community development team is keen to hear from people about the gifting or loaning of memorabilia and will safely store any item ahead of a display. Email mark.watson@icttrust.org.uk.
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