Unsung hero of Inverness to be honoured for his tireless community work
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A man who has fostered youth football and helping the wider Inverness community for over seven decades is to be honoured by the city.
Only three City of Inverness medals have previously been awarded and 90-year-old Jackie Sutherland is to be the fourth recipient.
Working alongside the late John Beaton, Mr Sutherland was instrumental in producing a conveyor belt of local footballing talent. It was mostly for the then Highland League club Caledonian and its successor following the merger with Inverness Thistle to create Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Mr Sutherland will be presented with his medal at ICT's home game against Queen's Park on August 5 by Inverness Provost Glynis Campbell Sinclair.
She said: "Jackie has given long standing and life long support and commitment to Inverness Youth League and Inverness Street League by raising funds and widening local players' horizons with trips to tournaments abroad.
"I hope the ground will be jam-packed with people wanting to say thank you and applaud his work.
"Jackie is now 90 years of age, and he has not been formally recognised before for his unselfish commitment to Youth Development. We are keen to right that wrong.
"There are thousands of boys who hail from the Inverness area who were inspired to be better men by having contact with Jackie."
In typical humble fashion, Mr Sutherland said: "I was embarrassed when I received the Provost's letter. It came out of the blue. But it is a great honour to be recognised by your own people.
"I love what I am doing. Being involved in youth football keeps me young and active. I am still out several nights a week at Milton pitches doing what I can. I am very much looking forward to August 5 and seeing faces, old and new."
The drive to recognise Mr Sutherland's contribution began on social media when former Highland League player Willie Aitken suggested that he should be honoured.
He said: "I was amazed by the response my post got. Hundreds of people supported the suggestion and Provost Campbell Sinclair helped make it happen.
"When myself, Caley legend Peter Corbett, ex player Steve MacLaren and past Caley vice-president David Love, went to meet the Provost, she immediately agreed to act and for that we are grateful."
Head of ICT's Youth Academy, Charlie Christie, said: "I have so many great memories of being coached by Jackie from my time playing in the Inverness Street League select matches in the late 1970s, travelling to Toronto under his guidance in 1983 to play in an International Youth Festival and progressing through the youth set up at Caledonian FC where Jackie was an integral part.
"Having trained under Jackie’s guidance I then worked alongside him in the Inverness Caledonian Thistle youth academy where he continued his decades long work in developing the north’s young football players.
"The word 'legend' is often bandied about in football and make no mistake Mr Jackie Sutherland is and always will be a true legend of north football!"
Apart from the Highland League and Scottish League clubs, other lower league clubs also benefited from Mr Sutherland's keen eye for good players.
Some of the players who have gone on to greater things in the Highlands and beyond are Charlie Christie himself, his son Ryan, ex Leicester City and Liverpool stalwart Kevin Macdonald and former Rangers striker Billy Urquhart.
Despite his advancing years, Mr Sutherland retains his enthusiasm for the game by doing treasurer duties for the Inverness Street League.
But away from football he also devoted a lot of his time to the Boys Brigade, being a boy and officer for over six decades, including serving as Captain of the 7th Queen Street Brigade.
He was also a voluntary driver for SNAP, a local club for handicapped children.
