'Super Caley Go Ballistic' 25 years on: ICT stalwart insists they can be Premiership club once again
Charlie Christie was Man of the Match when Caley Thistle beat Celtic 3-1 in February 2000
A Highland football legend feels Inverness can be a top flight club once again, 25 years on from one of the club's most famous results.
On February 8th 2000, ICT sent shock waves around the country by beating giants of Scottish football Celtic on their own turf in the Scottish Cup.
The famous 3-1 result led to a memorable headline which appeared in a newspaper the following day, 'Super Caley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious.'
A quarter of a century on and despite Caley Thistle currently being in administration and playing football in Scotland's third tier, former player Charlie Christie has "no doubt" the club will be a Premiership team again if they can overcome current challenges.
Now interim CEO, Charlie still vividly remembers everything about the game, in which he was awarded Man of the Match.
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Speaking inside the Caledonian Stadium, Charlie reflected on how when the third goal was scored, he was pretty confident they could see it through.
He said: "I remember going up to the referee and asking him how long to go and I didn't think he was going to answer.
"He then said 'just over half n hour', and I knew then if we get through the next 10 minutes without conceding a goal we'll give ourselves a big chance of creating a bit of history here.
"It rubber stamped the potential of the club, and what we may go onto achieve which I'm delighted to say we did go onto achieve in 2015."
Following on from that famous result, then First Division side ICT went onto achieve promotion to the top flight in 2004 and eventually winning the Scottish Cup in 2015.
Charlie explained how he still regularly reminisces about that famous night in 2000, to help inspire current players at the club.
He also recalled how back then, the club did have money problems, but how that one night changed everything.
Charlie added: "We had problems financially and I think that result maybe said to people 'look we need to overcome these financial problems, there's genuine potential to go all the way.'
"Had we not won that night, would the desire to step on be the same? I'm not so sure.
"I've no doubt a lot of our future successes were built from that night."
Despite the club's achievements over their 30 year existence, recent times have not been so kind for the fans.
Relegation to Scottish League 1 last summer was soon followed by administration, throwing the club's future into major doubt.
After taking a 15 point deduction when entering that process, Caley Thistle are now only two points away from leaving the 9th place relegation play off spot.
Since Scott Kellacher took over as Head Coach in October last year, ICT have won eight games, lost four and drawn once.
With the positive mood on the pitch being matched with a sense of optimism around the club, Charlie has no doubt Inverness will see a return to the glory days.
He said: "The potential of this club has not disappeared.
"I have no doubt Caley Thistle, if we come out of this difficult period, we will be a Premiership club again."