Inverness Caley Thistle goalkeeper Mark Ridgers hopes under-18s take 'massive opportunity' at Hamilton in SPFL Trust Trophy
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Mark Ridgers says Inverness Caledonian Thistle's under-18s have a "massive opportunity" ahead of them against Hamilton this afternoon.
The first of two trips in-a-row to New Douglas Park, the Caley Jags confirmed at the start of this week that a very youthful team would be taking to the pitch for today's SPFL Trust Trophy tie.
In recent years, Inverness have been no strangers to giving breakthrough prospects a chance in the senior side, but today's match will be an extreme example of that.
Given their development record, though, Ridgers believes it is a chance for the youngsters to show what they can do without too much pressure.
"It's a massive opportunity," Ridgers said.
"Some of these boys are 15, some are a little bit older, and it's a first team fixture.
"They are representing Caley Thistle, they have the chance to make their debuts when the pressure isn't on them at all, so it's a great opportunity to go and try to earn full time contracts for next year.
"They're being thrown in at the deep end, and they will have to sink or swim.
"I will be there to try and help them, and I'll probably bring the average age up to 15. I want to win games, and these boys will be the same. It's an unbelievable opportunity, so hopefully they enjoy it.
"It's a bit of exposure for some of these guys. Dan MacKay is one example of that. I was playing when he came up from a Scotland schoolboys' match to play in the final, so if they're looking to get into full time football this is a chance to do that.
"We don't know what kind of team Hamilton put out, so we'll have to be prepared for whatever, but this is a great chance for our boys to show the potential they've got.
"It's not an under-18s game, it's a first team game, but I'm looking forward to it and I'm sure they will as well."
Balancing expectation with success
Ridgers is no stranger to success in the Challenge Cup.
He was part of the trophy-winning squad in 2018, and again when Covid-19 forced the silverware to be shared between ICT and Raith Rovers for the 2019/20 season.
While the age of Caley Thistle's squad this afternoon may mean most outside the club are expecting a Hamilton win, then, Ridgers says it is still a balancing act between wanting to go all the way one more time and being realistic.
"I've won this competition," he explained.
"I said that to a few of the young boys. In football, winning trophies – no matter what it is – doesn't happen often unless you're playing for an Old Firm team. When you get to a final and win a trophy, it's a brilliant moment.
"These guys are going to be nervous, there's no doubt about that. Their parents, friends and family will be coming down, and I think there's a supporters' bus as well which is great to see.
"It's an opportunity for them to go out there and enjoy the occasion. We'll be going down on the bus and having a pre-match meal, so we're treating this as a first team game and these guys will get to experience that.
"Also, Ryan Esson is my goalie coach, but he's their outfield player coach, and I know how much work he puts in with them.
"It's an opportunity to reward him as well for the hard work that he puts in with them, to go out and show what his team is capable of doing."
Getting behind the team
Part of the reason Inverness put out that statement at the start of the week was to prevent frustration among fans when the line-up was revealed before kick off.
Caley Thistle felt it was only fair to be transparent with supporters and save them the expense and journey if they felt it was not worth going.
However, a supporters' bus is heading to Hamilton this afternoon, and while Ridgers can understand why some may stay away he believes every fan in attendance will be valuable.
"It's good that they put out the statement, I completely understand why that happened," Ridgers reasoned.
"Some fans might have paid money and then got there and been frustrated when they saw the line-up.
"The other side of it is that you're seeing the support that the fans are giving us. Caley Thistle have always had a very good away support, the fans travel when they could be cutting costs at this time of the year.
"It's great to see the fans there, and win or lose they will be able to see one or two of the future players for the club, because there are some very good players in that squad.
"For the young boys, it's an experience to play in front of fans like that. We know there's not going to be a mega-crowd, but the pressure is still different.
"I go back to saying it's sink or swim, the pressure on these young boys will be completely different to an under-18s game, because this si a first team fixture, a cup game, that I want to win.
"I know for sure that Ryan Esson wants to win, so these guys have a chance to go out there and do themselves proud.
"They will anyway. Whatever happens, win or lose, they will go out there and put a performance in that I think we'll be talking about for a long time afterwards."
