Good evening and welcome to today's game against Raith Rovers at the

Caledonian Stadium.
We have started the campaign with two victories and want to keep that run going
tonight and if we are to do so, then will have to continue the improvement we
have shown previously. This will not be an easy task as Barry Smith has
assembled a very experienced squad and they will be hot favourites to secure the
League One crown after suffering a semi-final play-off loss to Alloa, after being so
close to securing the title in the final game of the season last term.
Thomson, Gillespie, Duggan, Wedderburn and Nisbet have joined the already
experienced Raith team, that has the likes, of Davidson, Benedictus, Mackay and
Buchanan. Their team is packed with experience and quality and we will have to
be at our best to secure the points tonight before we visit Hearts in Edinburgh on
Sunday.
In our first game we secured a solid 2-0 victory over Cove, and after a decent start
from the visitors, we asserted our quality. Despite an early scare, we should have
been more than two goals up at the interval but lacked that little bit of sharpness
in front of goal. The second half saw wave after wave of attack and again, just
that little bit of quality in the final third prevented us from wrapping up a more
3.
 emphatic score line with their goalkeeper producing some fine stops, and the woodwork being
rattled on a couple of occasions.
Despite a tinge of disappointment, we soon saw that given some of the surprise results last
weekend that in the end it was job done against a very useful Cove side, who backed that up with a
narrow defeat against Hearts midweek.
Cowdenbeath was an experience on Tuesday and I must congratulate the players on showing their
battling side of the game as we could not play any fluent football on a pitch that quite frankly was
not fit for purpose and was very dangerous in many areas. We had to abandon any thought of
playing any passing and had to resort to being more direct, playing from second balls and knock
downs. Despite this and the loss of the early goal the lads showed tremendous character, worked
their socks off to record a fine win and collect all three points.
So, it is imperative that we do not waste those two results and must look to record our third win in
the group to give ourselves the opportunity of qualifying from the section. We will be looking to be
even sharper tonight as we move in to the final two games of the group.
We have added Sean Welsh to the squad and he is a player I know well and has great experience
having played over 100 games for Partick Thistle in the SPFL and he will add real competition for
the central midfield slots with Charlie Trafford, Joe Chalmers and Angus Beith. Sean adds
experience to a young squad.
Once more I know that you will be right behind the team tonight and thank you once more for your
loyalty and support.
John Robertson
4.
Welcome to this evening's match against Raith Rovers, hope you're all well.
I was delighted to play in the biggest home game match last Sunday, I love these type of events,
especially now that I can bring my lad along. It?s nice to interact with the kids, we?re a community
club and need as many fans as we can get. I was speaking to the boys and they said they enjoyed
themselves.
Turning the focus to tonight?s game, we have a massive chance of progressing to the next round.
We go into tonight?s game being like a knockout match as we know a victory should see us
through to the next round. Raith earned a good point against Hearts on Saturday to bounce back
from their loss to Cowdenbeath, I?m sure, Rovers manager, Barry Smith has made a few changes
and kicked a few backsides! They?ll come here, roll their sleeves and we?re going to be in for
another tough game.
I?m happy with our start to the season, I?ll always be happy winning matches. Whether we?ve got
stuff to improve on is another thing, I?ll take ugly 1-0 wins all day long. We definitely need to work
on certain things, but I thought against Cowdenbeath, especially that when we went down a goal
and, no disrespect to them, but they didn?t look like they wanted to play and just wanted to fight
and kick but we matched them.
I was quite surprised as I didn?t think we had that in us as much as we did and to be fair to the
boys, they rolled their sleeves up and we gave as good as we got, it was pleasing.
Thank you for you're support and enjoy today's match.
Carl Tremarco
5.
The #BiggestHomeGame returned this Sunday with the
ICTFC squad taking on a team of 100 kids!
ICTFC were out for revenge after last year 's 17-5 defeat
and they left it late this year scoring three goals in the
last 15 seconds to earn them a 25-25 draw in a thriller
at the Caledonian Stadium!
The match featured Lionel Nessie dancing and getting
involved, a VAR check, Coll Donaldson being sent off
twice and Robbo also being sent off! Safe to say he
wasn't happy with the ref!
Big thanks to those that attended the event and more
photos can be found on the ICTFC Facebook Page!
Also, a big thanks to our Community Team, the players
and the staff for helping make the event a success!

6.
BRA D M CKA Y
DISCUSSES THE UPCO M ING BETFRED CUP FIXTURES
Brad Mckay is entering his third season with the Caley Jags and he knows there?s reasons to
be optimistic going into the start the of the 2018/19 season. The defender has featured in
both Betfred Cup matches so far with the Caley Jags picking up six points from their opening
two games.
Mckay was delighted to keep the winning run from last season going and hopes it continues:
?It?s continued from last season when we went eleven unbeaten and we won ten of those
games. This season, we?ve won the first two with a clean sheet in the first game and it is
what it is at Cowdenbeath, a win is a win and we?ll take that into Tuesday?s match against
Raith Rovers.?
?We?re looking forward to the Hearts game too, it?s a big stadium, the game is on BT Sport
but first and foremost the Raith Rovers game is the one we have to take care of. They got a
good result against Hearts and proved difficult to break down, the gaffer has been to the
game to watch them, he?ll have his analysis and we?ll watch them to see how we can take
them to bits.?
?Whatever way that may be, I think they play 4-4-1-1, sit in and make themselves difficult to
break down. They?re well organised but we?ll have our ways of breaking that down and we?ll
be working on that when we?re on the training field.?
Mckay has started the season playing in his preferred centre-back position and that is where
he wants to stay. However, he?s happy to fill in there when required: ?I?m naturally a
centre-back, the manager knows that and that?s where he prefers me. Obviously, last season 8.
 with David Raven leaving in other situations I had to play at right-back which is fine by me. If Shaun
Rooney is unavailable, then I?m happy to go there as I?ve played there before but I?m naturally more
comfortable at centre-back which is my position.?
Mckay is looking forward to returning to face Hearts at Tynecastle Park, he was a key member of the
Hearts team that won promotion to the Premiership in 2015, with the club winning the title by 21
points. However, the Hearts team has dramatically changed since McKay was last there: ?There?s not
too many people left there that I know from when I was there."
"There?s not many players I know left there but there?s still loads of staff I know. I know Craig Levein
but Jack Hamilton was the last player left there I knew and he?s just moved on to Dundee. The boys
that are my age like Jamie Walker, Callum Paterson, Kevin McHattie, Sam Nicholson, Billy King and Jack
Hamilton are all boys that I came through with."
?If I?m being honest there?s a few unfamiliar faces now! However, it?ll be nice to see the staff such as
the kitman as I got on well with them. It?s a game we?re looking forward to, going back to Tynecastle
with the last time being in League and I was suspended so I was disappointed to miss out on that as
it?s a fantastic stadium and they?ve done the new stand up now, it?s a big occasion and that?s what you
want to play in.?
Mckay was a big Hearts supporter as a boy as he came through the club?s youth academy and to the
first team but now he?s playing he thinks it?s a complete different story. Mckay scored the goal to knock
Hearts out of the League Cup while playing for St Johnstone. Mckay said: ?When I was a young boy I
was a big Hearts fans but that?s now out the window when you play against them. I?ve played against
them before and actually put them out of the League Cup playing for St Johnstone!?
?I came on at half-time as we beat them 3-2 and I scored late on. You can be a fan all you want but to
be honest it kind of wears off when you play for them and move on elsewhere. It?s a cliché but you
have to support the club that you play for as you want to win all the time and I?ll be looking to do that
again and if I scored and put them out then so be it.?
9.
 Raith Rovers narrowly missed out on promotion last season, as they looked to
bounce back to the Ladbrokes Championship at the first time of asking. They missed
out on the Ladbrokes League One title to Ayr Utd on the last day of the season and
were defeated by Alloa in the Championship play-off semi-finals.
Raith have amassed just a single point in the Betred Group Stages going into
tonight?s match, as they lost their opening match to Cowdenbeath and drew with
Hearts in their second game but lost the penalty shootout for the bonus point.
Raith?s danger man Lewis Vaughan hit 15 league goals last season and is handful for
defences.
The last time the two clubs met was when ICTFC won a Scottish Cup tie against
Rovers in 2015, on route to winning the Cup, thanks to a Danny Devine goal.
Rovers have added former ICTFC man Nat Wedderburn to their ranks for the
upcoming season, alongside goalkeeper Robbie Thomson, experienced midfielder
Grant Gillespie, former East Fife forward Chris Duggan and young striker Kevin
Nisbett from Partick Thistle.

10.
 BA RRY W ILSO N
TA LKS A BO UT HIS TIM E A T RA ITH ROVERS A ND THE
STA RT TO THE SEA SO N
The summer of 2018 saw the return of club legend Barry Wilson to Caley Thistle as
he moved from the radio microphone to the training ground. Tonight?s match sees
two clubs that Barry formally played for clash, Barry spent just two seasons at
Raith before signing for Inverness in 1996 for the first time.
Barry has fond memories of his time at Raith, which includes winning promotion to
the Scottish Premier League and being a part of Raith?s UEFA Cup squad the
following season, that would be knocked out in the qualifying phase by Bayern
Munich.
Wilson said: ?It?s always nice when you come to play against an old team, obviously
being a coach it?s slightly different! It?s not quite the same as facing an old team as
player.?
?I had a good couple of years at Raith, it was good times. I was lucky it was mainly
good times when I was there, it was a successful period in the club?s history and
good to be a part of. However, we?re fully focused on trying to pick up another
three points and trying to get out of this group.?
?I only played at Raith for two years and I was quite a young lad, I wish I worked
harder when I was there because it was my first full-time club and I probably didn?t
realise how big a chance it was for me. I could have been better there, and I didn?t
11.
play much once Jimmy Nicholl left to go to Millwall, from there I came up to
Inverness so it worked out quite well in the end.?
Wilson has also been delighted with the start to the season from the players
and is turning his attention to three points tonight: ?I think the boys have
looked sharp and fit so far. We all agree we could have done a little better
against Cove in regards of our goal difference which it may come down to
yet. We had a great result at Cowdenbeath, it?s a tough place to go on a
horrible pitch so it was a impressive result. Hopefully, we can pick up
another three points against Raith so we can go to Tynecastle on the Sunday
knowing what we have to do to qualify.?
Wilson is also enjoying being back in coaching after working with the BBC for
the past four years, covering Scottish Football as he said: ?I?m enjoying taking
the 18s too, I?m gradually getting back into the swing of things. I hadn?t
coached or managed for four or five years so it?ll take a wee bit of time for
things to become natural again but hopefully under the manager 's guidance
we?ll get there!?

12.
 Caley Thistle backed up their opening day win against Cove Rangers with
an impressive 5-2 victory against Cowdenbeath in difficult conditions.
Jordyn Sheerin opened the scoring for the hosts with a stunning finish
from about 20 yards out and into the top corner with 24 minutes played.
Inverness need to respond and did so as Tremarco?s cross was knocked
into the path of Tom Walsh inside the box and his shot was too powerful
for Cowdenbeath goalkeeper David McGurn.
Walsh then produced a bit of magic to put the Caley Jags ahead after 41
minutes as Donaldson released him and he went on an incredible solo
run to slot past McGurn.
ICTFC had three before the break, a high ball wasn?t dealt with by the
Cowdenbeath defence and Liam Polworth?s ball found it?s way to Doran
as he slotted home from close range.
The second half started slowly but Inverness had their fourth with less
than twenty minutes to go as Rooney?s cross found White, but his
header was saved and, substitute, George Oakley hammered the
rebound home with a powerful volley.
Inverness weren?t done there as Trafford lined up and shot from about
30 yards and his effort deflected off Doran and past McGurn to made it
5-1.
Cowdenbeath did mange a consolation goal as Sheerin was played
through by a long ball from the goalkeeper McGurn and his close-range
finish made 5-2.
The win for the Caley Jags ensured them top spot in the group going into
tonight?s match against Raith Rovers.
13.
Pictured here with club captain, Carl Tremarco,
Cove Rangers' Darryl Kelly and match official
Grant Irvine, where the girls went on to have a
great time during the game.

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14.
Three years ago, the Caley Jags were on a European Tour as they
faced Astra Giurgiu over two legs in the club's first ever European
games in the Europa League qualifiers.
The Caley Thistle supporters sung that it might be Germany or Spain
that they were heading to but it turned out to be Romania!
All the Caley Thistle fans who went, loved every second of the
experience. ICTFC fan, Stuart Ibbertson, said: "It was a proud day to
be the first Highland side to play in the Europa League."
The tie was decided in the first leg at Caledonian Stadium with Astra
running out 1-0 winners, thanks to a first-half free-kick by Constantin
Budescu. Astra showed their class in the next round as they defeated
West Ham Utd 4-3 on aggregate.
Reminder of the ICTFC team that played against Astra in Romania:
Fon William s, Raven , War r en , Devin e, Wedder bu r n (Dr aper
79),M eek in gs, Dor an , Ch r ist ie, Tan sey, William s (For an 78), Lopez
15.
16.