 | |||
| Full name | Inverness Athletic Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | ||
| Ground | Ferry Brae Park, North Kessock | ||
| Capacity | 500 | ||
| Chairman | Sandy Stephen | ||
| Manager | Stuart Ross | ||
| League | North Caledonian League | ||
| 2023–24 | North Caledonian League, 7th of 12 | ||
Inverness Athletic Football Club is a Scottish football club playing in the North Caledonian Football League currently based in the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.
They were formed and admitted to the North Caledonian Football Association in May 2016. [1] In the Summer of 2017, the club were awarded the SFA Quality Mark 'Standard' award. [2]
The club left its short-lived home at Inverarnie Park in Farr after just a few games in the 2016–17 season and played at Pavilion Park in Muir of Ord [3] for just over two seasons before moving to the 4G facility at Inverness Royal Academy at the beginning of 2019. Inverness Athletic returned to Muir of Ord ahead of the 2020–21 campaign.
The club then temporarily moved to Ardersier for the 2021–22 season, before relocating back to Inverness Royal Academy.
| Season | North Caledonian Football League | North Caledonian Cup | Jock Mackay Cup | Football Times Cup | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | ||||
| 2016–17 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 27 | 39 | 8 | 7th | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals |
| 2017–18 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 31 | 56 | 13 | 7th | Round 1 | Runners-up | Quarter-finals |
| 2018–19 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 40 | 34 | 25 | 5th | Quarter-finals | Round 1 | Round 1 |
| 2019–20 | League season declared null and void | Withdrew | Semi-finals | Group Stage | |||||||
| 2020–21 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 10 | 17 | 9th | Round 1 | Not held | Not held |
| 2021–22 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 43 | 54 | 16 | 9th | Round 1 | Not held | Quarter-finals |
The club has had a total of four managers in their North Caledonian League history. Chris Darch was the club's first-ever manager, appointed on 29 May 2016. Unfortunately, he had to step down after just seven games in charge due to family reasons. Tommy Wilson took charge of the club after Darch's departure during the club's first-ever season. He went on to steady the Athletic ship and oversaw the club's move from Inverarnie Park to Pavilion Park in Muir of Ord. Wilson left the club after 25 games in charge as Highland League club Strathspey Thistle offered him a change to further his coaching career in the Highland League.
Shane Carling took over on a caretaker basis after Wilson left with a few games remaining of the 2017/18 season. He would go on to lead the club to its first-ever cup final that season, where they unfortunately lost out to Invergordon. The following season Carling and his coaching team led Athletic to their highest-ever league finish at the time, ending the 2018/19 season in 5th position with 25 points. Carling left the club a few months into the 2019/20 season after 33 games in the dugout.
Jason Golabek became the club's manager on 4 November 2019, after serving as an experienced player and assistant manager. He managed the club for a further two and a half years, in the dugout for 46 games in total. He and his coaching team guided the club through two of the toughest seasons in their short history due to the pandemic, with a highlight finishing 3rd in the 2020/21 Ness Cup League campaign.
Stuart Ross is the current manager of Inverness Athletic FC, appointed on 1 May 2022. Ross joined the club with a wealth of North Caley League experience, having previously managed Tain outfit St Duthus for six years.
Liam Smith holds the record for the most appearances for Inverness Athletic with 56 appearances, while Phil Macdonald is the club's all-time top goalscorer with 44 goals. Goalkeeper Ryan A Macleod holds the record for the most clean sheets with 10.
Forward Ryan MacLeod holds the record for the most goals in a single season with 14 goals in the 2022–23 season. Meanwhile, Phil Macdonald scored the most goals in a single game when he netted five goals against Bunilidh Thistle on 8 December 2018.
Kieran Goddard is the youngest player to have ever played for Inverness Athletic at just 16 years, 3 months, and 27 days old when he debuted against Nairn County Reserves at Station Park, Nairn on 1 October 2022. In contrast, Martin Bain is the oldest player to have played for the club at 41 years, 4 months, and 22 days old when he played against Halkirk United away on 18 February 2023.
Calum Black scored his first goal for the club at the age of 18 years and 6 days, making him the youngest goalscorer for the club. He scored his goal against Invergordon at Pavilion Park, Muir of Old on 24 November 2018. Meanwhile, Sandy White is the oldest goalscorer in the club's history at 38 years, 11 months, and 9 days old when he scored against St Duthus on 18 March 2023.
The North Caledonian Football Association is a senior football association operating throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and is a recognised body of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and as such has its senior football competitions officially registered with the SFA.
Wick Academy Football Club are a senior football club founded in October 1893, who currently play in the Scottish Highland Football League at Harmsworth Park. They represent the Caithness town of Wick, making them the most northerly professional football league club in the United Kingdom.
Ross Tokely is a Scottish football coach and former professional player who played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Ross County, Brora Rangers, and Nairn County, he currently manages Nairn County.
The 2010–11 North of Scotland Cup was won by Forres Mechanics.
The 2016–17 North Caledonian Football League was competed for by eight clubs playing fourteen matches each. Halkirk United were the defending champions. St Duthus returned to the league following an eleven-year absence and Inverness Athletic, a new team, were also admitted.
The 2017–18 Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. season was the club's first season in the Scottish Championship, having been relegated from the Scottish Premiership at the end of the 2016–17 season. Thistle will also compete in the Scottish Challenge Cup, Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
The 2017–18 North Caledonian Football League was the 109th season of the North Caledonian Football League. The season began on 2 September 2017 and ended on 21 April 2018. Invergordon were the defending champions.
The 2018–19Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. season is the club's second season in the Scottish Championship, having been relegated from the Scottish Premiership at the end of the 2016–17 season. Caley Thistle will also compete in the Scottish Challenge Cup, Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup. This season will be the 25th season since Inverness joined the Scottish Football League. This season is also the return of the Highland derby after Ross County were relegated one season after Inverness.
The 2018–19 North Caledonian Football League was the 110th season of the North Caledonian Football League. The season began on 1 September 2018. Orkney were the defending champions.
The 2019–20 Inverness Caledonian Thistle season was the club's 26th Season in Scottish football.
The 2019–20 North Caledonian Football League was the 111th season of the North Caledonian Football League. The season began on 7 September 2019 and was declared void due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland on 18 May 2020. Golspie Sutherland were the defending champions. Alness United entered a period of abeyance and therefore will not play in the league from this season onwards though the number of entrants remained at nine as Bonar Bridge were reformed for the start of the season.
Loch Ness Football Club is a Scottish football club playing in the North Caledonian Football League currently based in the town of Fortrose in the Scottish Highlands.
The 2020–21 North Caledonian Football League was the 112th season of the North Caledonian Football League. The season began on 17 October 2020, following a delay caused by the suspension of football activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to no league title being awarded for 2019–20, Golspie Sutherland began the season as the defending champions.
The 2021–22 North Caledonian Football League was the 113th season of the North Caledonian Football League, and the first season as the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system.
The 2022–23 North Caledonian Football League was the 114th season of the North Caledonian Football League, and the second season as part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system.
The 2023–24 Inverness Caledonian Thistle season was the club's 29th campaign in the SPFL, and the club's seventh consecutive season in the Scottish Championship.
The 2023–24 North Caledonian Football League was the 115th season of the North Caledonian Football League, and the third season as part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system.
The 2024–25 North Caledonian Football League is the 116th season of the North Caledonian Football League, and the fourth season as part of the sixth tier of the Scottish football pyramid system. Invergordon are the reigning champions.
The Football Times Cup is an annual association football cup for competition between football clubs across the Highlands & Islands of Scotland.
