Inverness Thistle set for return after being accepted in North Caley ranks for 2025/26 season over 30 years after former Jags played their final game
Inverness Thistle will be playing North Caledonian League football next season after their application to join the organisation was accepted.
The name was resurrected a little over a year ago, with Martin Mainland named as the new club’s chairman in July last year and the intention quickly set out to be playing in the North Caley ranks.
It will be the first time in over 30 years that a team has taken to the pitch under the Thistle banner, led by co-managers Drew Martin and Ryan Macleod, who have been at the helm of Culloden in the Inverness and District Amateur Leagues for the past decade.
There, the pair won a league and cup double in 2023, and now they can officially begin to look towards a maiden campaign in North Caledonian football.
Thistle chairman Mainland hailed the achievement as a group effort, commenting: “I’m delighted to be honest, slightly relieved but also proud of our team behind the scenes who have got us to this point.
“It’s a team effort and our committee have been nothing short of amazing.
“It has been a long journey, and a few bumps in the road is normal. Under normal circumstances I may have begun to doubt that we’d get in, but with the team we have have and their professionalism it was never in doubt.”
North Caley FA chairman Niall Harkiss also commented: “We're delighted to be able to welcome back all 12 clubs from last year, along with our newest member Inverness Thistle.
"The name Inverness Thistle has a long-standing history with the league dating back to its origins in the 1880s, and it's great to be going into the season with our highest number of members since the 1990s.
"We have an exciting calendar to look forward to this season. We had previously announced that we would be bringing back the Jock Mackay Cup to join the Football Times Cup and North Caledonian Cup, as well as the league championship.
"Our season begins on Saturday, August 9, and we eagerly anticipate a hotly contested season, and wish teams all the best for the campaign."
Inverness Thistle will be playing their home games in North Kessock, with the pitch there being freed up by Inverness Athletic moving to Muir of Ord temporarily.
As for what the future holds, Thistle will now set about building a squad they believe is capable of competing in the division.
“Given the landscape of football up here we haven't signed players yet,” Mainland added.
“The IDFA is still ongoing so we will not be able to until we can get agreements with players about their current situations.
“We do have targets, and we’ve held many talks with them all. We also have a trial day on the horizon so that others will get the opportunity to try out to play for the jags.
“We have ambitions to compete, but beyond that we will take it one game at a time – I realise that is a cliche, but its true.
“Our aims are on creating a pathway for youth development. We also take into account that we need to build infrastructure and a solid foundation before anything else.
“These things take time, and we are not getting any illusions of grandeur. We will not be a bust and flush, sustainability and stability are the main targets and the management team are well aware of this.”
