STARTING XI: Dale Gillespie on title joy with Brora Rangers and the daunting task of facing Georginio Wijnaldum
Former Brora Rangers midfielder Dale Gillespie is the subject of this week's Q&A feature as he looks back on his time in the game.
From his early days at Caley Thistle and Elgin City to the Highland League and youth football for Scotland, Gillespie picks out the highlights of his career.
It was for Elgin City in a 4-2 loss at Stenhousemuir while I was on loan from Caley Thistle.
Honestly, I've tried to forget my Elgin years as I was there for 17 games and lost 11 of them with two draws.
Ross Jack was the manager when I went there and it was a really tough time for the club. For me, it wasn't a memorable spell.
It has to be the undefeated season we had at Brora in 2014-15.
When you are on a run like that the pressure builds to keep it going but to be fair, we handled it well.
When we won the league two years in a row, we only lost one league game in those two seasons, and we went the whole calendar year in 2014 without losing a league game, so it was special.
David Goodwillie was very good. We must have been 17 or 18 but he was well ahead of everyone his own age up in Scotland at the time.
He obviously got his move down to England a couple of years later and he was a great player to be fair.
Georginio Wijnaldum.
We played against him he was in the Netherlands team which beat Scotland under-19s 2-1 at Broadwood in February 2008.
He was at a different level. I remember he had the big dreadlocks in those days, and he was pretty special.
This is an easy one – Martin McLean.
He's from Stornoway, so they've got a different fashion sense over there.
Big, thick woollen jumpers, and colour coordination was a big issue for him.
Mental probably. On the park I was pretty calm, but off it I was bad, until I stopped drinking anyway.
You can pass the ball from A to B faster than you can run from A to B. That was a classic from my old coach John Beaton.
Tynecastle.
That was the first time I was ever on the bench for the Caley Thistle first team, and I was just 17.
I've never had so much abuse since that day, and I didn't even play. I was petrified.
I have to pick one of my own. It was a volley in extra-time for Caley Thistle to win the North of Scotland Cup final against Elgin.
The game was at Forres and I scored twice in that game. The winner was a 25 yarder and it's the best goal I ever scored.
I'll go for Gavin Morrison because he's more sensible than I am and he'd give me a fighting chance of getting off the island.
It's definitely golf. I've got the handicap down to scratch now but my wife complains that she sees me less now than she did when I played football.
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Press and Journal
a day ago
- Press and Journal
STARTING XI: Dale Gillespie on title joy with Brora Rangers and the daunting task of facing Georginio Wijnaldum
Former Brora Rangers midfielder Dale Gillespie is the subject of this week's Q&A feature as he looks back on his time in the game. From his early days at Caley Thistle and Elgin City to the Highland League and youth football for Scotland, Gillespie picks out the highlights of his career. It was for Elgin City in a 4-2 loss at Stenhousemuir while I was on loan from Caley Thistle. Honestly, I've tried to forget my Elgin years as I was there for 17 games and lost 11 of them with two draws. Ross Jack was the manager when I went there and it was a really tough time for the club. For me, it wasn't a memorable spell. It has to be the undefeated season we had at Brora in 2014-15. When you are on a run like that the pressure builds to keep it going but to be fair, we handled it well. When we won the league two years in a row, we only lost one league game in those two seasons, and we went the whole calendar year in 2014 without losing a league game, so it was special. David Goodwillie was very good. We must have been 17 or 18 but he was well ahead of everyone his own age up in Scotland at the time. He obviously got his move down to England a couple of years later and he was a great player to be fair. Georginio Wijnaldum. We played against him he was in the Netherlands team which beat Scotland under-19s 2-1 at Broadwood in February 2008. He was at a different level. I remember he had the big dreadlocks in those days, and he was pretty special. This is an easy one – Martin McLean. He's from Stornoway, so they've got a different fashion sense over there. Big, thick woollen jumpers, and colour coordination was a big issue for him. Mental probably. On the park I was pretty calm, but off it I was bad, until I stopped drinking anyway. You can pass the ball from A to B faster than you can run from A to B. That was a classic from my old coach John Beaton. Tynecastle. That was the first time I was ever on the bench for the Caley Thistle first team, and I was just 17. I've never had so much abuse since that day, and I didn't even play. I was petrified. I have to pick one of my own. It was a volley in extra-time for Caley Thistle to win the North of Scotland Cup final against Elgin. The game was at Forres and I scored twice in that game. The winner was a 25 yarder and it's the best goal I ever scored. I'll go for Gavin Morrison because he's more sensible than I am and he'd give me a fighting chance of getting off the island. It's definitely golf. I've got the handicap down to scratch now but my wife complains that she sees me less now than she did when I played football.
The Courier
3 days ago
- The Courier
Freed Dunfermline midfielder could return to old club as Pars announce 2 more pre-season friendlies
Freed Dunfermline midfielder Joe Chalmers could be on his way back to Inverness Caley Thistle. The 31-year-old is out of contract after being released by the Pars last month and is being trailed by a number of possible suitors. He was one of 14 players who said goodbye to the East End Park club in the wake of a disappointing campaign. The Fifers avoided relegation to League One late on, in part thanks to the 15-point deduction suffered by Hamilton Accies. Chalmers made three appearances after the arrival of Neil Lennon as manager for the final seven matches. The pair had worked together previously at Celtic. However, after 30 outings across the season – and 125 during his three and a half years at the club – he was not offered a new contract. The experienced play-maker's availability has alerted rival clubs in the Championship. But it is understood Caley Thistle have held talks with the former Motherwell and Ayr United player and made clear their interest. He previously spent two seasons with Inverness after joining in the summer of 2017 and racked up 96 appearances before departing for Premiership football with Highland rivals Ross County. The Caley Jags are expected to be able to make new signings from next week after a deal to come out of administration was agreed. Chalmers could join up with former Dunfermline team-mate Paul Allan, who spent last term with the Highlanders and is in talks over a contract extension. He would also be heading in the opposite direction from Charlie Gilmour who left Inverness to sign for the Pars on a three-year deal earlier this month. Meanwhile, Dunfermline have announced two more pre-season friendlies to complete preparations for the new campaign. The Pars will kick off their warm-up games with a first-ever trip to K-Park to face SPFL newcomers East Kilbride on June 28. They will then make the shorter journey across the Kingdom to take on neighbours East Fife on July 8. The East End Park men could also fit in another friendly during the midweek window prior to their previously-announced meeting with Kelty Hearts on July 5.
Press and Journal
06-06-2025
- Press and Journal
Starting XI: Former Caley Thistle midfielder Richie Hart on the Rangers and Celtic players who were his toughest opponents
Former Caley Thistle midfielder Richie Hart starred for four seasons in the SPL before playing for Ross County then Dundee. Hart's career kicked off as a youth with the Staggies, and he also played for Brora Rangers twice, Dundee and Maltese side Hibernians and Ostersunds in Sweden. His best days were with ICT where he won the Division One title in 2004 as well as the Challenge Cup, and made 164 Inverness appearances, scoring 16 goals. My first senior debut was with Ross County under Neale Cooper away to Forfar Athletic (on February 8, 1997 in Division Three, now League Two). I was still at school and came of the bench late and managed to score the winner. I have been fortunate to have some amazing moments in football, but winning the First Division with Caley Thistle which got us promoted to the Scottish Premier League (SPL) was the best and a real pivotal moment for the club. That's a really tough question so I'm going to name a few. In my younger years, Billy Ferries (Ross County) and Alan Hercher (Brora Rangers) both played a huge part in me going to Caley Thistle. In my Caley Thistle years, it would have to be Dennis Wyness. We struck up a great understanding right from the off. On his day, he was unplayable and scored some unreal goals. Off his day, you were a man down! Seriously though, what a fantastic player. Another tough question, so I'll go for two. I played against (Rangers') Barry Ferguson at youth level and senior level and I couldn't get near him. He always seemed to have so much time and space. And (ex-Celtic winger) Shaun Maloney was such a talented footballer. He had that low centre of gravity, and was difficult to knock off the ball and so sharp. A top player. The only one that really springs to mind is Richie Britain – only because like of Martin 'Jimmy' Scott and Steven Craig used to slaughter him! As a player, hopefully it would be hard-working strong, fast – and someone they could depend upon. As a young lad on loan to Brora from Ross County, I remember tenacious midfielder and top guy Jocky Mackay saying to me one time that he thought I was a good player, but didn't play with enough desire. That instantly struck a chord with me and literally from that moment changed me in how I played the game from then on. Tynecastle always gets a mention and rightly so, but it's got to be Celtic Park for me. I managed to score there (in March 2006 in a 2-1 defeat) and it was the first game there since Jimmy Johnstone had passed away. The atmosphere was incredible. My favourite goal has to be my free-kick against Ross County for Caley Thistle (in a 2-0 win in Dingwall in March 2003). I still wind up County goalkeeper Tony Bullock about it and ask why he even attempted to dive for it. I also remember Paul Ritchie scoring an unbelievable volley down at Alloa (in a 6-0 win in Division One in March 2002). It was Van Basten-esque! Dennis Wyness and Paul both scored hat-tricks. This is the easiest question for me – Liam Keogh without shadow of a doubt. There wouldn't be much to do there, but there is no doubt Liam would keep the spirits high with his story telling. Plus, he would be very handy in fending off any wild animals. In the early days of Caley Thistle, we would all go for lunch together, have coffee or play snooker or golf. As time went by and things evolved, new managers, double sessions and the like, recovery became even more important. When I played in Malta though, we didn't train until the evenings due to the heat, so I could spend some time on the beach in the morning, get a sleep in the afternoon and then train in the evening – much to the annoyance of my wife Lisa, who was working all day! Graeme Stewart on title joy with Buckie and early days at Caley Thistle Clachnacuddin boss Conor Gethins on facing Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie Caley Thistle legend Ross Tokely on Barry Robson's shocking attire, 'absolute madman' team-mate and country music Former Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson on the day the Dons painted Glasgow red Steven Ferguson on Dunfermline captain's tragic death, Ross County boss Neale Cooper's 11 Kenny Gilberts quip and 'absolute genius' Paul Gascoigne Ex-Caley Thistle full-back Richard Hastings on facing Luis Figo and vital golden goal on way to Canada's Gold Cup glory Aberdeen FC Gothenburg Great Neil Simpson on the night he claimed Michel Platini's jersey Peterhead co-manager Ryan Strachan on his toughest opponent and favourite away ground
