Teenager says starting for Inverness Caledonian Thistle was decade in the making
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Last Saturday’s match against Arbroath may not have gone Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s way, but it was a moment over a decade in the making for one of their starting line-up.
Robbie Thompson was handed his first start for his hometown club, where he has played since he was eight years old.
Now 19, he lined up in a youthful midfield alongside 17-year-old Keith Bray in the Challenge Cup clash – something he felt helped calm his nerves and settle into the game.
“It felt amazing – it’s something I’ve been looking to do all my life to be honest,” Thompson said.
“It has always been my aim to start for Caley Thistle. Hopefully I’ll have more starts in the future, but this one felt different. I was really delighted to do it.
“I got told on the Friday that I would be starting, so I was a bit nervous, but it was good. Pre-match all the boys settled my nerves down a wee bit, so I enjoyed it.
“Keith has had a few starts now and he’s done well in all the games he’s played. That definitely helped me feel like I could cope, and we have a good connection in training so it was good to play with him.
“Being mates off the park helps as well. Me and Keith go and play golf together a lot, and we have a good connection.
“We always sit beside each other on the bus, and we enjoy each other’s company, so I think that helped on the park as well.”
When on opposite sides of the pitch in training – and on the golf course too – Thompson and Bray have a friendly rivalry to see who can outperform the other.
With Bray having had his share of praise this season, then, it was Thompson’s turn at Gayfield as head coach Billy Dodds picked him out as one of the highlights from the defeat.
The former Inverness Royal Academy pupil seems to have earned the confidence of the Caley Thistle coaching staff, who opted against sending him back out on loan this season.
“We didn’t get the result we wanted, but hearing the gaffer say that was nice,” Thompson reasoned.
“It helped my confidence. Coming back to pre-season, it was an aim of mine to not be sent back out on loan and to try and break into the first team.
“Having the gaffer trust me has been really good – I felt it was a compliment to how I’ve been training.
“After that it’s about trying to get on the pitch as much as I can. I’ve made a couple of appearances, and now I’m looking to kick on and get more game time.”
Time spent on loan at Clach got Thompson used to the physicality of men’s football, and back at the Caledonian Stadium he has had to step up to the pace of play in the Championship.
While Thompson is confident of the impact being back at ICT has had on him personally, though, results have not gone the team’s way so far this season.
Homegrown stars, he feels, could be key to turning things around – ideally at Raith Rovers tomorrow.
“I definitely think it can turn around, we’re not far away,” Thompson added.
“I’ve got mates who have supported the club for years. Having them talk about the game, you always want to do the best you can if they’re watching – it definitely gives you an extra 10 per cent.
“We’re good enough to win these games, and I think if you’re watching us you can see that – it just hasn’t quite clicked for us yet. Hopefully it will on Saturday.
“It happened last year, we won about six in-a-row after we got the first one, so we can definitely turn it around.”
