Is it celebration or relief? I think it's a mixture of both, if you
look at our hopes and targets at the start of the season it's fair to
say we fell well short of that. However, if you look at what happened
at the club over the course of the season I also think it's fair to say
avoiding relegation was a massive achievement. Credit where credit is
due, everybody involved in keeping this club in Division 1 deserves all
the plaudits.

We felt if we could string a few results together in April/May that
would see us safe, however, we started the month badly with a
disappointing result away at Bishopmill and it was our flat performance
that hurt the most. We had to treat every game as a cup final and that
started with a good performance against Hillhead at home. On reflection
a draw was probably a fair result but I do think we had the chances to
win that game. Having said that it was a point and that gave us
something to build on.

Our togetherness was starting to show on that park whilst we lost a
quick goal away at New Elgin we struck back before half time in a game
which was as much a battle against the elements as much as our
opponents. Again another point and we felt our momentum was building
although other results were not going our way. Our 'derby' against
Islavale was certainly a game of 2 halves, we were sloppy and they over
ran us in the first half. We came out in the 2nd half looking to be
positive and I felt we were by far the better team having 1 cleared off
the line and their keeper should have been sent off minutes later. We
left that park with our heads held high knowing we had bigger games to
come.

Our extremely tight squad was stretched to the limits against a good
Stonehaven side with some absentee's leaving us light. In fairness as
soon as we lost the first goal our heads dropped and there was only one
team in it. We did create some good chances but their quality shone
through in the end. Going into the game against Forres Thistle we only
wanted to concentrate on our own game with Parkvale at home to
Glentanar. Our management team had us as ready as we would ever be and
told us to relax, enjoy it, and play the type of free flowing football
we are capable of. After a disastrous start we again found ourselves 1-
0 down early on but our team spirit came to fore as we immediately
struck back and I think that is a measure of how far we have come over
the last 8 games. We had good chances and so did they, it was an open
game that finished, fairly, in a draw.

In the changing room after the game all we could do was wait for news
of the Parkvale result, we put 100% into the game and we were
exhausted. As news filtered through that Parkvale had been beaten and
we had avoided relegation, it was clear to see the relief and
jubilation on the faces around the changing room. The management team
were happy with our efforts in the run in and now we look forward to
our final home game against Devornside where we can relax and enjoy our
football as the pressure is off.

I have never been involved in a season that has thrown up so many
different emotions on and off the field. It has been a roller coaster
ride and it's true what they say, anything can happen in football. We
ended with a small squad but we are a close knit group and I think that
showed from the management right down through the squad. We have
certainly learned a lot from this season and to be honest the only way
now is up. We hit rock bottom and we are under no illusions as we have
a mountain of work ahead of us to improve for next season.

There have been a lot of personal battles and journeys for all the
players this season and I have to say all the boys have been brilliant.
To mention a few ; Blair burst into the first team halfway through the
season and has really cemented a claim to be there permanently. Peter
who drives the Inverness boys through for training and games, a 140
mile round trip! A lot of the boys had work commitments & were asked to
do a job out of position but still gave 100%, 3 brothers in the team
with Paul ending his 13 year affair with Buckie and Gary moving up from
England to have all 3 of us at the club, young Mark and Ryan who show a
tremendous attitude every week, and personally it's a real honour and
I'm privileged to lead out the boys on matchday.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone associated with the
club for all the 'positive' support we have received this season. A
massive thank you to the families of the players who have supported
them week in week out during this tough season, big thanks to Pearl,
she has been brilliant to the players, the committee for their support
and organisation, the fans who stuck with us through thick and thin,
and a special thanks to Feelee (our physio) if it wasn't for him half
the team wouldn't have made it onto the park in latter stages of the
season. Most of all thanks to all the lads, players and management, for
all the effort this season and we look forward to our end of season
bash in Dufftown.

Thanks for everything in 09/10 and we hope to see you all next season.

Lambie (Stuart)