| Administrative History | Caledonian FC, Inverness Thistle FC, Caledonian Thistle FC, Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC
The football clubs, Inverness Thistle FC and Caledonian FC were both established in 1885 and were founding members of the Scottish Highland Football League in 1893. Both teams played in this league for the next one hundred years until a merger formed a new club, Caledonian Thistle, in 1994. The club successfully applied to join the 3rd Division of the Scottish Football League ahead of the 1994-1995.
Home matches were played at Telford Street Park, the home of Caledonian FC. A new stadium was built on a site at East Longman next to the Kessock Bridge and opened on the 9th November 1996. The club incorporated “Inverness” into its name for the 1996-1997 season, thus Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
In February 2000 the team recorded a notable 3-1 Scottish Cup victory away against one of the giants of Scottish football, Celtic.
The club’s ascent through the lower leagues culminated with promotion to the Scottish Premier League in 2004. The new Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, however, did not meet seating capacity requirements and there followed a period of ground-sharing with Aberdeen FC before rule change over capacity allowed top league football to be played in Inverness for the first time in January 2005.
There followed another four seasons in the SPL before relegation in Season 2008-2009. An immediate return as First Division champions was achieved in Season 2009-2010. |