Inverness Caley Thistle head coach Scott Kellacher remembers watching club’s historic night beating Celtic in 2000 Scottish Cup
HEAD coach Scott Kellacher had one of the best seats in the house for what was one of Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s greatest ever results.
He was unavailable for selection in Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s 3-1 victory over Celtic in the Scottish Cup third round in 2000 due to injury.
Steve Paterson, who was manager of Inverness at the time, invited Kellacher on to the bench at Parkhead to watch the match in what turned out to be a historic night.
Kellacher says he could not believe what he was watching, but said it was a night he will never forget watching.
He said: "I had come back to the club as a player, and I was injured at the time.
"Steve "Pele" Paterson, the manager, asked whether I wanted to come down and sit on the bench. I wasn't fit - I had done my medial ligament, but it was great to get that chance.
"I could not believe what was happening that night. Stewart Kerr, the Celtic goalkeeper, was in the other dugout, and I knew him very well and we looked at each other, we didn't see this coming.
"It was incredible. It really put this club on the map. The team were absolutely brilliant. “
"Pele deserved that as a manager, because he was fantastic for this club. Every player who played that night played a massive part in their time here.
"I remember coming back on the bus that night. It was unbelievable.”
Barry Wilson scored the opener and despite Mark Burchill’s equaliser, an own goal from Lubomir Moravcik and a Paul Sheerin penalty gave Inverness a famous 3-1 victory.
Given how Inverness had started the game, Kellacher said there was a feeling that an upset was on the cards as the game progressed.
He said: "There was just a feeling within the game, even early on, that we were in control.
"We were not intimidated by Celtic. The boys who played that night were absolutely fantastic.
"It was a massive part of this club's history, and I was lucky to be there to see it.”
Kellacher says the result is also tribute to what Steve Paterson did as a manager at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
He said that the contribution he made to the club and the players that he brought in was massive.
He said: "Steve brought in some great players, some of whom moved on to bigger and better things.
"It was great the way he wanted his teams to play the game. It was an attractive, attacking style.
"That's what people come to watch. You look back at Pele's time here, it got our fans excited.
"Players loved playing for him and what he did for this club was absolutely brilliant.
"Steve set the bar really high.
"Every manager after him had to step up to try and take the club to the next level.
"A few managed to do that, while there were wee setbacks too.
"We've been really lucky with the managers we've had here and what they have achieved.”
Inverness Caledonian Thistle have arguably gone on to achieve bigger results, notably beating Celtic in the 2015 Scottish Cup semi final and then beating Falkirk in the final.
Despite Inverness being at a low point in their history and going into administration, Kellacher says there is still a lot to celebrate what the club have achieved in the last 30 years.
"We've been involved in some really big games, such as the Nick Ross, League Cup semi-final against Hearts at Easter Road.
"It has been one rollercoaster, and the fans have been up and down.
"What we've created unbelievable history in just 30 years as a club.
"Teams will go 75-80 years without winning what we have. Hibs, for example, went 114 years without winning the Scottish Cup.
"I never take the success for granted. If we were told when we came into the leagues 30 years ago, this is what was going to happen, everyone would have taken it - Scottish Cup, promotions to the Premiership, playing in Europe, top six in the Premiership.
"We've had great managers and players at this club. It has been a great story. We've punched well above our weight, even in some big games.
"I've been very fortunate to have been part of a lot of them. This club has been very good for me and that's why I try to give it everything I've got.
"If we managed to stay in League One, I'd rank that up there with any of the successes.
"I won the Scottish Cup as a coach and made it into Europe, but if we achieve what we're trying to do this year, it would be up there with them all.
