After the SPL honeymoon of 2004-05 this season was expected to be all about survival. It started that way but great performances and results led to a push for a top six finish and Europe via the Intertoto Cup. In the event seventh place was achieved, one better than 2004/05, the points total was considerably higher at 58 but Hibs took the one allocated Intertoto Cup spot. This was not quite the end of the Intertoto saga. UEFA announced that Scotland (therefore ICT) were first reserve in case any club pulled out. The bad news was that this would not be known until 5 June, 16 days before pre season training started. The first match could even be on 17 June which would throw the schedule haywire. A pre season tour of Italy’s Tuscany area was planned instead of Intertoto involvement but now everyone was left in doubt.

The league cause was helped by the decline in fortunes of Livingston, Dunfermline and Dundee United and also Falkirk’s difficulties in adapting to the top flight. On the managerial front, in the words of US baseball star Yogi Berra, it was déjà vu all over again. A young manager was lured south to a ‘bigger’ club where he had ‘legendary’ status and the salary was higher. It was a racing certainty that Craig Brewster would eventually move on but the early call to Dundee United led to much heart searching by the player/manager. He eventually decided to go and the duo of John Docherty and Charlie Christie took temporary charge of team matters. After three wins in a row Christie was appointed to the top job (with the title of Head Coach) on a permanent basis with effect from 27 January. It was a popular choice made even better when he brought back Donald Park as his assistant.

Pre season training started on 29 June with two new faces – ex Raith Rovers and Kilmarnock striker Craig Dargo and defender Tom Parratt who came directly from Birmingham City but formerly played in the USA. In a break from tradition Craig Brewster took his side to Denmark on 5 July for three pre season matches. They were based at the ground of premier league side FC Nordsjaelland at Farum, half an hour north of Copenhagen, with superb training facilities on hand. Their first match took place 24 hours after arrival in Denmark on the southern island of Falster. First division side Nykobing F Alliancen beat ICT 2-1 with the honour of scoring the club’s first goal on foreign soil falling to Liam Fox. The match was shown live on local TV and a small band of ICT supporters was there to cheer on their side. On Saturday 9 July the top match of the mini tour took place against hosts FC Nordsjaelland at Farum. Caley Thistle bounced back from their earlier defeat to win 1-0 thanks to a David Proctor headed goal in the 33rd minute. Two days later the final match was against the amateurs of Hornbaek, 30 miles north of Farum. The result was a confidence-inspiring 6-0 win with goals from Barry Wilson, Richie Hart, Graham Bayne, Steve Hislop, Bryan Prunty and Rory McAllister. It was time to head for home after an historic trip.

The following Saturday Colin Hendry’s Blackpool came to the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium for the last match of a northern tour. It was a confusing afternoon for everyone as both sides named 11 substitutes and in the event 37 players were used. Richie Hart gave Caley Thistle a 1-0 win. On Tuesday 19 July it was off to Peterhead and the Buchan Cup. It ended 0-0 but Peterhead won the cup 7-6 on penalties. A week later the top team played its last pre-season match at Dingwall and lost 2-1 to Ross County.

The SPL campaign started at Falkirk on 30 July. It was party time for the Bairns as they made their bow in the SPL and the First Division flag was ceremoniously hoisted at the magnificent Falkirk Stadium. Falkirk’s day was spoiled when Craig Brewster scored both goals in ICT’s 2-0 win. In the light of last season’s disappointing opening match at Livingston this was a good day. Hearts and ICT were the only SPL winners so shared top spot. A week later Rangers made their first competitive visit to Inverness in front of a record 7512 crowd (plus 100 freeloaders on the A9 embankment). They saw a pulsating game which could have gone either way. A Barry Ferguson goal in 69 minutes separated the sides but it took two top-class saves from Rangers ‘keeper Ronald Waterreus to deny Caley Thistle at least a point. A 1-0 win against Dunfermline and draws with Kilmarnock and Dundee United earned sixth spot by the end of August. There was also a resounding 6-1 home win against Alloa in the CIS Cup.



The last two weeks of the summer transfer window were very active with Bryan Prunty moving to Airdrie United and Steve Hislop signing for Gillingham after a delay due to concerns over his recovery from knee surgery. To the delight of all at the club Dennis Wyness arrived on a season’s loan from Hearts. His first appearance was as a substitute against Kilmarnock on 20 August then he scored on his first start against Alloa the following Wednesday in the CIS Cup.

September was less successful with league defeats to Motherwell, Hearts and Celtic and just one win – 2-0 against Dundee United at home in the CIS Cup. The league defeats were all close and disappointing. Motherwell won 2-1 after Caley Thistle dominance, Hearts sneaked a 1-0 win in a very even game and Celtic won 2-1 at Celtic Park after Dennis Wyness had given ICT a 1-0 lead. By the end of the month there was a slip to eighth. Three of the five October matches were draws (Aberdeen, Livingston and Rangers) and one was an excellent 2-1 away win against Hibs. The Hibs victory started the month then it was 1-1 at home to Aberdeen despite dominance by the Dons. It was 1-1 away to Livingston and once more the opposition could easily have won. The one defeat of October was a bad one. Falkirk came to Inverness on 26 October and it was a Wednesday night to forget. The only bright spot was the switching on of two new floodlights. On the pitch it was a dire performance and a 3-0 defeat. It was all rather better against Rangers at Ibrox three days later. A Craig Dargo ‘wonder goal’ in 26 minutes gave Caley Thistle the lead but substitute Steven Thompson equalised in 54 minutes. A superb save from Mark Brown denied Thompson a winner well into added time.

Eighth place was retained at the end of October and there was no change in November despite being undefeated in the league – a win against Dunfermline and draws with Kilmarnock and Dundee United. There was disappointment on Tuesday 8 November with defeat at the hands of arch rivals Livingston in the quarter final of the CIS Cup. It started well with a Craig Dargo goal in 54 seconds but this was cancelled out by a Livingston goal just before the interval. A Paul Dalglish goal three minutes from the end of extra time was enough to see Livi through to the semi-final. This match was a major milestone for goalkeeper Mark Brown – his 150th appearance and 150th in a row. December was much better – two 2-0 wins (against Motherwell and Hibs) and draws with Hearts, Celtic and Aberdeen earned a climb to seventh spot with Craig Brewster being named Bank of Scotland Premierleague Manager of the Month. The Motherwell victory was rather against the run of play but the victory against Hibs on 26 December (the club’s 500th competitive game) was well deserved. In between a 0-0 draw away to Hearts ended the high-flying side’s 100% record and a 1-1 home draw with Celtic could have gone either way - Gordon Strachan called it a ‘cracking game’. Craig Dargo scored in a record 31 seconds but John Hartson equalised in 21 minutes then Dargo saw his penalty on the half-hour mark saved by Artur Boruc. The Celtic ‘keeper also saved the day in the second half when he pushed away a Craig Brewster free kick and Mark Brown had two vital stops in the closing stages. On Hogmanay a visit to Aberdeen ended 0-0 but it was an exciting encounter despite the lack of goals.

The new year started with Craig Brewster’s 50th game in charge – and in the event his last. The home Tennent’s Scottish Cup tie on 7 January against Ayr United did not go according to plan. Brewster made five changes but the new formation did not really click and it ended 1-1. The real trauma of the season started on 10 January when Gordon Chisholm was sacked as manager of Dundee United. Speculation that chairman Eddie Thompson would move for Craig Brewster started even before Chisholm finally left – his future had been uncertain for some time but the January transfer window clearly influenced the final decision. Thompson knew that if he could persuade Brewster to move back to his home city (and convince ICT to part with him) then he would not only gain a manager but also a top quality striker. When Brewster came north from Dunfermline in November 2004 it was known that his first love was Dundee United and that he would relish the chance to return to Tannadice as manager. All in Inverness just hoped that this would be later rather than sooner. Talks began on 11 January and two days later agreement was reached all round. Brewster left for Dundee United taking with him assistant manager Malcolm Thomson and coaches Steve Campbell and Peter Davidson. It is a measure of the man that Craig Brewster left with the good wishes of all and he, in turn, expressed his thanks to the club and to the fine players he was leaving behind. For the third time in just over three years Director of Football Graeme Bennett set out to find a new manager. Coaches John Docherty and Charlie Christie took charge in the meantime (as they had done when Robertson left) and their first challenge was to handle two games in three days.




Struggling Livingston came to Inverness the day after Brewster left and were soundly beaten 3-0. On the morning of the game the club was represented in depth at the funeral of team coach driver Tony Fraser. Tony lost his long fight for life on 11 January and will be remembered fondly by all. He drove the team up and down the country from day one but he was much more than a driver. He took a great interest in everything about the club and was a friend and confidant to players and officials alike. This interest never waned and even close to the end he would talk football for hours. His son Alan is a worthy successor in the driver’s seat. Alan was in post just two days later as the team headed for a potential banana-skin cup replay at Ayr. By this time six SPL sides had crashed out of the cup and Sky TV broadcast live from Somerset Park for the first time – clearly hoping to record the demise of number seven. It was a strange turn of events for ICT to be regarded as a possible giant-killing scalp. Sky were to be disappointed as the team overcame a delayed arrival (due to technical problems with the bus) and heavy rain to record a safe 2-0 win – thanks to goals from Craig Dargo (a penalty) and Dennis Wyness.

The interim management team took their side to Falkirk the following Saturday with the odds in their favour. Falkirk had not won a home league game all season but, of course, this had to change sometime. Caley Thistle powered to a 4-1 win to ensure they would not be the ones to end that particular record. The result did however give the interim management team of Christie and Docherty a 100% record and strengthened Christie’s credentials for the permanent post.

All through this period speculation was mounting regarding the vacant manager’s post. After much heart searching Charlie Christie threw his hat in the ring and other early names in the frame were Celtic youth coach Kenny McDowall, St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson, Bobby Williamson, Jim Duffy and Donald Park. A surprise late inclusion on the list of possibles was former Scotland and Rangers star Ally McCoist – he was flattered to be mentioned but quickly said no for family and distance reasons. It was no surprise when a press conference on 27 January revealed the new manager as Charlie Christie assisted by Donald Park – with the titles of head coach and assistant head coach respectively. Christie’s track record and love of the club spoke for itself but more importantly the board considered he had all the qualities required. The inclusion of Donald Park on the ticket was applauded by all – Parky was assistant to John Robertson for 81of the 82 games Robbo was in charge and he stayed behind to run the team for one game after the Hearts move had been agreed. The club looked forward with confidence to this blend of a football man wedded to the club and another with a long successful history in management and many contacts throughout the country.

The new management team took charge at a time when SPL survival was virtually if not mathematically assured but it was still going to be hard. Park had seen it all before but for Christie this was his first step on the managerial ladder and to start in the SPL was a major challenge. History was however on his side as Craig Brewster had successfully done exactly that in November 2004. In the January transfer window Juanjo moved to Hamilton on loan and in the event did not return to the club. A bad leg injury had kept him out the game for seven months and he could not break back into a team that had grown in SPL stature without him.

The Christie/Park partnership had a baptism of fire when Rangers came north on Sunday 29 January. The match was live on Sky TV and the 3-2 win for Rangers ended Caley Thistle’s 11 game unbeaten run. TV pictures confirmed that the home side had been unlucky – one Rangers goal was illegal (Marvin Andrews ‘scored’ with his arm) and a penalty should have been awarded when Ian Murray handled in his own box. At the end of January ICT sat proudly in sixth spot. The following Saturday it was Round 4 of the Tennent’s Scottish Cup and Partick Thistle were the visitors. It was a hard match which ended 2-2 with the second Partick goal coming from the penalty spot in the dying seconds. It was a bitter result to take but it set up another lucrative replay on 15 February, with Setanta TV once more covering the game. In between there were draws with Dunfermline (2-2) and Kilmarnock (3-3). The Killie game was a classic which could have gone either way and a fine advert for the SPL. The Partick cup tie turned out to be a major disappointment. It ended 1-1 after extra time but Partick won the penalty shoot-out decisively. There was one more February match and a 4-2 win away to Craig Brewster’s Dundee United ensured that sixth place was retained.






Into March and a poor start – a 1-0 home defeat to Motherwell. A stirring performance at home to high-flying Hearts on 11 March gained a point. It was 0-0 but Caley Thistle could easily have won. On Wednesday 22 March there was a traumatic visit to Celtic Park where the home fans gathered in droves to celebrate the life of the late Jimmy Johnstone. The new ICT record crowd of 57451 witnessed a narrow 2-1 win for Celtic. It was more emphatic than the score suggests as Richie Hart’s goal was merely a consolation in the final minute. The following Saturday Hibs were beaten 2-0 at Easter Road and March ended in sixth place. It was not to last long.

The ‘Top 6’ race came to a head on April Fool’s Day with the visit of Aberdeen on the second last Saturday before the league split. ICT were sitting in sixth spot but, never having beaten Aberdeen, the odds were in favour of the Dons. So it proved as Aberdeen won 1-0. It looked for a long time like heading for 0-0 but a late Steve Lovell goal changed that and, with Motherwell also winning, Caley Thistle slipped to eighth. Now it was all down to an away match at Livingston on 8 April. John Robertson’s new side were ten points adrift at the foot of the SPL and looking doomed. They had to win this match to give them have a chance of survival. Caley Thistle had to win and both Motherwell (facing Rangers) and Aberdeen (playing Hibs) had to drop points. Livi won 2-1 but the result was academic - Aberdeen beat Hibs 1-0 to clinch the top six spot. For the second season in a row the ‘Top Six’ dream was over, but only just. The aim was now to beat last season’s points total and overtake Motherwell for seventh spot. Motherwell’s visit to Inverness the next Saturday thus took on some significance. Craig Dargo scored for a 1-0 home win and the first target was reached – the 46 points already on the board was more than last season’s tally of 44.

The second target came within sight on 22 April when Craig Brewster brought his new side north. Dundee United were already struggling but it was about to get worse. For 91 minutes 40 seconds it looked like ending a drab 0-0 draw but then Craig Dargo took advantage of a defensive error and nipped in to score. The 1-0 win set up an interesting visit to Livingston the following Saturday. Livi needed a miracle to avoid relegation and in the event results elsewhere did send them to Division One. Livingston old boy Barry Wilson scored a goal in 56 minutes direct from a free kick to hammer the final nail in Livi’s SPL coffin. There was no gloating by anyone from the Inverness camp – particularly Wilson whose muted celebrations at his goal reflected his sympathy for his former side, now managed by John Robertson. Motherwell’s 3-2 defeat by Dunfermline was one of the results that relegated Livingston but it also assured ICT of seventh place. The following Wednesday Falkirk came north for the last ICT home match of the season. A rather dull match was livened by a superb goal from 30 yards by Russell Duncan and Craig Dargos’s 20th goal of the season. The 2-0 win extended the SPL winning run to a record four – and four shut-outs at that. Reserve goalkeeper Mike Fraser was given a first start instead of Mark Brown whose record 176 appearances in a row came to an end. Youngsters Zander Sutherland and Stuart Soane also made debuts as Charlie Christie and Donald Park looked to the future.

Just one game to go and it was off to Dunfermline on Saturday 6 May. The first half was flat but the second burst into life when Alan Morgan scored from 25 yards in the 53rd minute. There were no more goals so the team finished with an impressive 58 points and a run of five wins out of five after the league split – and five shut –outs. In a strange quirk of the league split ICT finished with more points than fourth placed Hibs. The excellent defensive record was highlighted by the best SPL performance of the season - 460 minutes without losing a goal from the 80th minute at Livingston on 8 April to the end of the season. Craig Dargo ended the season as top goalscorer on 20 goals – and topped it off by taking the Players’ Player and Official Website Player of the Year trophies. He was also named in the ‘SPL Team of the Year’ by The Scotsman. Darren Dods also took two awards – Supporters’ Player and Matchday Programme Player of the Year. Mark Brown won the Supporters’ Club Player of the Year cup. For the fourth season in a row Mark Brown made the most appearances (jointly with Dennis Wyness in 2002/03 but otherwise out on his own) with 44 out of a possible 45 – Darren Dods was one behind on 43. With a job well done the players headed off for a break in Magaluf.





At the AGM on 28 November shareholders voted unanimously in favour of the club reverting to a private company which allowed a £400,000 cash injection from Tulloch Ltd to be made without Tulloch having to offer to buy out other shareholders. The AGM also saw Ken Mackie stand down as chairman after three and a half years and his predecessor David Sutherland resume the role. David Sutherland joined the four-man SPL board in August 2005. In March Nigel Spiller left the Board after five years due to pressure of work following his relocation to the Luton area.
On the administrative front there were changes to reflect the increased workload and organisational pressures that come with an established SPL club. The main move was the resurrection of the role of Chief Executive with chartered accountant Mike Smith taking office on 1 June. The first wedding ceremony at the stadium took place on 23 July when staunch supporters Emma Stokes and Kevin Fraser tied the knot on the centre spot. Tulloch Caledonian Stadium was chosen as the venue for a Scotland Futures international against Turkey on 15 March. Mark Brown, Craig Dargo and Ian Black featured for Scotland but they lost narrowly
3-2. The biggest disappointment was a late second yellow card for Ian Black but, on the positive side, there was a large local support (and a fair few vocal Turks) which resulted in a 15 minute kick-off delay. The SFA delegation was impressed by the whole operation and support. Further international matches in Inverness are a distinct possibility. The ICT Supporters Trust was launched on 25 August and its first 8-person board was elected in advance of the inaugural AGM on 17 November. Les Kidger was appointed chairman at the first board meeting on 23 November – interim chairman Allan Sellar then stepped down. A dialogue was established very early between Club and Trust at Chairman level and this should pay dividends in the years to come.

It all starts again on 21 June.