Clachnacuddin
FC is a semi professional football club from the Merkinch area of the Highland
city of Inverness in the north of Scotland who were formed in 1885.
‘The
Lillywhites’ have proven to be one of the foremost clubs in the Highland
League, which they became founder members of in 1893. Clach had been crowned as
champions three times before the turn of the century.
That
success continued as an incredible six titles were collected in the first
decade of the new century along with a plethora of Inverness Cup victories.
Seven more league wins arrived at Grant Street Park before World War Two as
well as a fine Scottish Cup run which attracted a home gate of 8,850 against St
Johnstone in January 1948.
However,
peacetime was not one of celebration to Clach supporters as several barren
seasons were to ensue. It would be 1974-75 before the seventeenth Highland
League title was won. The cup competitions were kinder to the club.
Following
the merger of Inverness rivals Caledonian and Thistle and promotion of near
neighbours Ross County in 1994 Clach looked to impose themselves in the league.
Yet it took until 2003-04 before the club won the title once more; crowning a fine season by also lifting the League Cup and finishing runners up in the SFA Challenge Cup (North).
Yet it took until 2003-04 before the club won the title once more; crowning a fine season by also lifting the League Cup and finishing runners up in the SFA Challenge Cup (North).
My
visit
Wednesday
21st January 2015
Finding
myself with a couple of hours to kill before my train south to the evening
match between Dundee and Kilmarnock, I decided to have a walk and seek out
Grant Street to take some photos.
I
needed some fresh air after trying out several local pubs the night before
following the Inverness Caledonian Thistle v St Johnstone match. My guest house
was pretty basic so I figured that a walk followed by food would set me up for
the day.
Despite
decent planning I was soon to realise that Inverness was a bigger city than I
anticipated when looking at a map. This was not helped as I took a wrong
turning and headed up Telford Street. In fact I got to the retail park where
Caledonian once played before the alarm bells started ringing.
It
was an icy morning and some of the pavements were tricky as I cut through a
housing estate and past Merkinch Primary School. I had definitely added the best
part of a mile onto my journey and time was getting on. I was starting to get
concerned whether I’d have time to complete my task.
The floodlights of Grant Street Park peered
tantalisingly through the housing but I had to go right round Kilmuir Street to
the main entrance. The gates were locked but I got a view through a fence.
Fortunately a clear view was obtained over the low perimeter gate off Pumpgate
Court.
Grant
Street was open down the far side and behind the entrance goal, where the club
facilities lay bordered by the building of the Inverness Bible Fellowship. A
seated stand straddled the half way line near my view, with a decent sized
covered terrace behind the other goal.
I
scurried away and saw a young lady waiting at a nearby bus stop on Grant
Street. She confirmed that a bus was due into the town centre. Sure enough the
service soon arrived and dropped me by the Post Office; just a hundred yards or
so from the station.
After
grabbing some snacks for the ride I got on board a delightful train ride along
the banks of the Moray Forth and through several towns I’d only heard of
because of the football coupon.
I’d
enjoyed my first ever visit to The Highlands.
No comments:
Post a Comment