Inverness Caley Thistle legend Charlie Christie swaps stories with one oldest-living Highland League footballers for Inverness Football Memories project launched on Am Baile website
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One of the oldest-living Highland League footballers in Inverness is among those who has shared his footballing memories for a project which is officially launched today.
Former Inverness Thistle right-back Gordon Inkster (90) added recollections of his playing days and players from his 12-year career to the
Inverness Football Memories project which is also being backed by former players including Caley Thistle legend Charlie Christie.
The project is creating an online catalogue on High Life Highland’s Am Baile website of photos, film and memories based on interviews with players, officials and supporters while an appeal is also being made for memorabilia with the aim of staging a public display.
It is being promoted by Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Trust and builds on the monthly meetings held at the Caledonian Stadium where 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 started being played in the Highlands in 1885.
Mr Inkster, a retired motor mechanic, grew up in Bunchrew and attended Inverness Royal Academy.
He has fond memories of his career with the Jags, which began as a 16-year-old in 1947 when he was signed from Hill Rovers.
One of his strongest memories is a bitter sweet one from when he played in every round of the 1955-56 Scottish Supplementary Cup (North).
Although he helped Thistle reach the two-legged final against Nairn County, unfortunately injury ruled him out of the big games.
But he still shared in the delight of seeing Thistle lift the cup and he also got a winner’s medal as his replacement – Johnnie Christie, father of Charlie – kindly gave him his medal in recognition of him playing in every round leading up to the final.
Charlie Christie, head of the ICT Football Academy, said he was hugely proud of his father as it was a superb gesture.
“I know he loved every minute of playing for Inverness Thistle during the 1950s and for him to help in winning this trophy would have been a massive moment for him personally and to follow it up with the handover of the medal to Gordon was terrific,” he said.
“He was also lucky enough to win the North of Scotland Cup with the Jags in 1953 and I have the medal in the same box as my own North of Scotland Cup winners medal from exactly 40 years later in 1993 with Caley!
“It’s great to know that Mr Inkster has kept the medal safe all these years and it has always been nice over the years to meet up with former teammates of my dad.”
Charlie, who began his career when he made his debut for Caledonian in the 1982-83 season, recalled one of his earliest memories was attending a football match at Clach Park in Grant Street.
“I was a Thistle fan and my father and brother played for Thistle,” he said.
“Thistle were playing Clach in the Bells Cup final – I think it was 1974/75.
“It was one of my first ever Highland League matches.
“I got taken down there and Thistle actually won the game 4-1. It was a good night to be a Thistle fan.”
Not surprisingly, one of his most abiding memories was the night in 2000 when Caley Thistle beat Celtic 3-1.
“It was the best result in what was the biggest upset in Scottish Cup history,” he said.
“It was great for the club. It really put the name of Inverness on the map.”
He felt Inverness Football Memories was a great project and that anyone involved in football – from former players and coaches to supporters – loved reminiscing about matches.
“I think it’s a fantastic initiative and something which will catch the imagination of all people interested in football in this area,” he said.
The project has also sparked memories for Merkinch-born Peter Corbett, one of a small number who played for all three Inverness sides – Thistle, Caledonian and Clachnacuddin.
He recalled Clach beating Thistle 2-1 to win the Highland Football League for the1974-75 season.
“The atmosphere was great and there was a great crowd,” he said. “So many people came out who didn’t normally go to football. I went into the social club on the night and there was a real community feeling.”
Project rekindles memories of football down the years
