Raise the Roof Inverness Caley Thistle will unite the cinch Championship club's supporters in a drive to cover the West Stand
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
CALEY Thistle are set to Raise the Roof – by teaming up with supporters to create a new covered stand at the Caledonian Stadium
The Championship club will tomorrow launch a fan-driven fundraising initiative after reaching agreement on a plan to redevelop the West Stand.
That section of the Caledonian Stadium was left barren when the new £5.2 million ground opened in November 1996.
The terracing remained completely open to wind, rain and snow when two new stands were built behind the goals in 2004/05 for top-flight football.
A new 400-capacity section was built with seating in 2007, but again remained exposed to the Moray Firth gales.
Adopted by younger fans in the last few years, Caley Thistle wanted to reward their loyalty with a warmer, drier – and noisier – experience.
Chief executive officer Scot Gardiner and sporting director John Robertson have met with the ICT Supporters’ Trust, the Section 94 fans’ group and other fan-base representatives to hammer out a way forward.
The first phase of the project is likely to require £20-25,000 in funds raised by supporters.
Robertson has driven work on costings and options for a first phase project to cover half the West Stand with a full, permanent steel structure.
“Basically what we need to do is put a roof over the West Stand,” CEO Gardiner said.
“It is great having our ‘young team’ trying to create an atmosphere, but at times it just goes up into the clouds.
“We’ve been working on options. We don’t need a new stand over there, but we need a proper structure and roof.
“Particularly John has worked on this along with manufacturers and fabricators. We have a two to three phase project there and on Saturday we’re going to launch a fundraising plan.
“The fans will be driving the Raise the Roof campaign, but we’re facilitating it with the groundwork they need.”
Gardiner believes a successful completion of a covered West Stand would have a knock-on boost for attendances at the often three-quarters empty 7,512-capacity ground.
“It is hard to encourage younger fans to come along and fill their own space – and that’s what it is about, giving their own space – when they are standing totally open to the elements,” he stressed.
“It is about letting them support the team how they want to support the team.
“We think, then, making it more inhabitable would encourage more people to go over there as well.”
Fundraising amid the cost of living crisis is never easy, but Gardiner added: “We will be arranging different events to raise money, but it is going to be completely fan-driven with the club helping wherever it can.
“It will be a case of everybody with Caley Thistle at heart coming together to work on a significant ground improvement.”
