‘Gloves off!’ in goalkeeper fight at Inverness Caledonian Thistle
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IT will be the friendliest of fights between two close pals – but no less ferocious for it.
Mark Ridgers admits the gloves are off between him and long-serving understudy Cammy Mackay in the battle for first team starts at Caley Thistle.
Gone are the days when Mackay wore the ‘L’ plates and was content to learn his trade in the shadows.
Ridgers, Caley Jags’ clean sheet record-breaker and experienced first choice, had to endure a spell on the bench last season as Mackay stepped in and held the position for a sustained period from mid-February into April.
“That’s what you want, especially in the goalkeeper’s position where it can be easy to become complacent and assume you’re going to play every week,” Ridgers said.
“Cammy, in the last year and a half, has been brilliant and pushed me all the way. When he came into the team, he showed he was more than capable of stepping up.
“For me, while out of the team, I didn’t change the way I trained or approached things. I feel I’ve always consistently trained at a high level, even when assured a start.
“From Cammy’s perspective, he has absorbed that mentality and it pushes him on which, in turn, helps me as well.
“It is great for the club because if I was to get injured, leave or drop off in form, they know they have a very good goalkeeper capable of coming in and doing a job.
“That’s something we need throughout the squad if we’re going to be serious about challenging at the right end of the table.”
While Mackay took the jersey last season, Ridgers felt a mix of emotions – pride at his friend’s performances and a natural, competitive frustration at not playing.
The success of the partnership stems from trust and camaraderie.
“For Cammy and I, it is important that we get on so well,” Ridgers said.
“That helps us off the field and in training on the field.
“I said to Cammy I was delighted for him when he took the gloves for a spell.
“It is hard to step into a position where there is an established player. I experienced it before with Jamie Macdonald at Hearts.
“You’re always compared to the goalkeeper in front of you who has been playing at a high level, but even in training you see it – Cammy’s improved no end in the last two years.
“He realises, if he works hard, little opportunities will come his way.
“You get a taste for it and want more and, I don’t doubt he does want more.
“It is important for me to see it and we speak to each other about it. That’s the kind of relationship you want.”
Ridgers is full of optimism for the season ahead and while the close season was a tight four weeks, has shrugged off last season’s disappointment.
“I don’t really dwell too much on past games. We have to dust ourselves down, regroup, build on last year and hopefully go that one step further,” he said.
