INTERVIEW: Legendary striker Raymond Mackintosh on why he travelled halfway around the world to rejoin the Caledonian FC 'Invincibles'
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A legend of one of the greatest feats in Highland football history has journeyed halfway around the world to attend a reunion with old Inverness team-mates.
Striker Raymond Mackintosh was part of the all-conquering Caledonian FC side that earned the ‘Invincibles’ tag by completing season 1982/83 without a single league defeat.
The 73-year-old set off yesterday from his home in New Zealand to fly to the other side of the planet, arriving in Glasgow today ahead of Saturday’s special 40th anniversary celebration.
Most of the squad that racked up an incredible run of 23 wins and seven draws en-route to the Highland League title will attend the event at the Caley Social Club in Greig Street.
Organised by team-mate Peter Corbett, the reunion – part of the Inverness Football Memories Project – will see 12 players and several past committee men get together at the Caley Club in Greig Street before taking a half-time bow as Caley Thistle play Dundee in the Championship.
The group will then return to the Caley Club where any supporters wishing to meet and chat with past heroes will be welcomed along.
Former player Derek Dewar and trainer Alec Young are unable to attend, while organisers failed to trace team-mate Robbie Baxter, who is believed to be living in the London area.
The Caley Invincibles were inspirationally managed by the late Alex Main, the renowned journalist and future Courier editor, and became the first team in 70 years to finish the league campaign unbeaten.
Since then, the achievement has only been matched once, by Brora Rangers in 2014/15.
Mr Mackintosh emigrated in February 1987 after accepting what was meant to be a one-year coaching post Down Under. He has lived and worked there ever since.
The natural goalscorer netted 32 times that famous season as he brought down the curtain on an illustrious 16-year playing career.
But the Invincibles label was almost lost on the final day.
Caley trailed Fraserburgh 2-0 before Neil Mackintosh quickly clawed back a goal and it was only with 14 minutes left that namesake Raymond pounced with a point-clinching header.
Preparing for the flight back to Scotland this week, Mr Mackintosh shared his excitement at the prospect of being reunited with a special group of players.
“There was no way I would have missed this event," the dad-of-four, who is married to Maggie, stressed.
FOOTBALL MEMORIES: Gordon Fyfe remembers the distinguished career of club hero Raymond Mackintosh.
“I saw some of my team-mates when I was last back in the Highlands in 2014, but the majority I haven’t seen since 1984! I’m so excited.
“Our Caley team equalled a 70-year record and it was the commitment and the will-to-win that won us the title and a place in the record books.
“We’re all a lot older and our fitness levels have maybe dropped a little bit since those days, but the bonds remain.
“The feeling of comradeship was very strong throughout the team.
“The team always showed a united front. The morale of the team is the barometer of the atmosphere within the club and the players.
“These days, we have a WhatsApp group which consists of most of the Invincibles team.”
Mr Mackintosh still clearly remembers the sheer drama of that final day of the 82/83 season and the joy of the aftermath.
“For me, the most important thing at the time was to win the title, not so much to remain undefeated,” he recalled.
“That had never really entered my head until the final game against Fraserburgh and I don’t think it really sunk in until well after the game.
“It was a fairytale ending for me in my final game to score the late equaliser and save the club’s unbeaten record.
“The header from a corner kick was a ploy we regularly practised in training and it paid dividends several times that season.
“The celebrations and scenes after the game were just unbelievable. I remember lots of supporters pouring onto the field and the players carrying our manager Alex Main shoulder high.”
The manager’s absence from the reunion will add poignancy to the evening.
Mr Main, who guided Caley to 14 trophies, passed away at the age of 86 in September 2018.
He shared a powerful bond with Mr Mackintosh, who he lined up as his successor after the Invincibles season.
“The team delivered the league undefeated, which was awesome, but the real hero was Alex,” Mr Mackintosh asserted.
“Alex ensured he knew all about his players - their likes, dislikes, fears and problems.
“He treated players as individuals as well as members of a football club and their feelings mattered.
“Alex would always step in at the right times, calm everyone down and get the conversation moving in a positive direction.
“He developed an understanding with his players and the players knew they could turn to him for advice, moral support or even just a listening ear. He was amazing.
“That last game against Fraserburgh was a fitting end to Alex Main’s managerial career.”
It was in the latter 1980s when a surprise telephone call took Mr Mackintosh’s life in an unexpected direction.
“I moved to New Zealand in February 1987. I received a call when I was at work in Nairn from a football club in Hamilton, NZ,” he explained
“They wanted me to come and be their manager and coach, and I turned them down.
“However, they called me again two weeks later and I agreed to come for one season only.
“After the season was finished, we went back to Nairn to make a decision and decided to move to NZ permanently.
“I still have family connections in Scotland, who I will be visiting when I’m over and I have a family wedding in Cyprus towards the end of June before flying back to NZ.”
