Thurso teenager aims to keep improving after signing Inverness Caledonian Thistle professional contract - He was included in first team squad against Cove Rangers
Sam Reid is determined to “improve every day” after earning a professional contract with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The 16-year-old striker from Thurso was included in the senior squad for the first time when he was an unused substitute in Saturday’s League One encounter away to Cove Rangers.
Sam has been part of Caley Thistle’s youth system since 2022. He signed a one-year contract on October 1, just three weeks before the club went into administration.
He admitted it was “a big relief” to be among those kept on after several members of the first-team squad were released.
“I’m not going to get too ahead of myself,” Sam said. “I’m going to take the whole year just to improve every day and hopefully break through.”
He has shown his commitment by making the journey between Thurso and Inverness three times a week for training and games over the past couple of years.
Sam is grateful to his parents, Stevie and Lynne, for their support. Stevie is well known on the local football scene as a former player and manager of Thurso in the North Caledonian League, and until recently as manager of Swifts in the Caithness summer league.
Sam will continue to play for Caley Thistle’s under-18s and the family recently took on a flat in the Highland capital to reduce the travelling commitments.
Sam attended Pennyland Primary School before going to Thurso High. He caught the attention of Caley Thistle at a coaching camp hosted by Alyn Gunn’s Thurso Football Academy.
Sam was also part of Caithness United, the youth football club founded 25 years ago with the aim of developing young footballers from the county.
In his last season with Caithness United, Sam banged in 46 goals in 17 games. His prolific form up front has continued in Caley Thistle youth teams, scoring 25 in 18 matches in his first season with the under-15s.
“In the under-16s I’ve only played half the season so it’s 25 goals in 12 games,” Sam added.
He is grateful to Caithness United and the coaches he played under – Steve Bain, Kevin Miller, Ross Sutherland and Alan Kennedy.
“Big thanks to Alyn Gunn as well because this wouldn’t be possible without him,” Sam said.
Dad Stevie said: “He’s just got to work hard and keep trying to improve and see what happens.
“We’re maybe a bit biased, being his parents, but you could see there was something about him at the football.
“I always thought that there was something there for him. If you work hard, and have that bit of talent about you, it’s a lot more accessible now for Caithness folk.
“We’re all fair proud and delighted for him. His brother Sean and sister Naomi are both happy for him.
“It has been a lot of hard work to make this possible and thankfully so far it has paid off for him. Now basically it’s down to Sam to continue working hard and showing the club that they were right in signing him.”
Having got this far, Sam will be forgiven by Caley Thistle for having favoured the opposition the first time he attended a match at Caledonian Stadium.
“The first ever professional game I went to watch was Inverness versus Celtic,” he said. “However, I was supporting Celtic!”
