STARTING XI: Dale Gillespie on title joy with Brora Rangers and the daunting task of facing Georginio Wijnaldum
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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STV News
2 days ago
- STV News
Aberdeen use new 'cooperation' loan rules to strike Elgin City deal
Aberdeen and Elgin City have announced a new partnership for the movement of young players as part of the Scottish FA's new 'Cooperation System'. Under the new system, which was launched by the governing body last month, players aged between 16 and 21, who are eligible for Scotland national teams, can join a lower-league club on loan but move back and forth between their parent club and the cooperation club to increase their game time. The new scheme, which clubs approved earlier this year, is designed to tackle a key area of concern over a vital stage of player development and offer competitive game time at a crucial, traditional stage of young players' careers. Premiership clubs are able to strike formal agreements with clubs from each of the three other SPFL divisions, and the Dons say the Elgin deal is just the first as they look to maximise the scheme's potential to give young players first-team football. Three 17-year-old defenders will be moving to Elgin as part of the new partnership. Dylan Ross and Jamie Mercer move under the new agreement and will be able to transfer back and forward as necessary, while Northern Irish centre-back Noah McDonnell joins the League 2 club on a standard loan deal. Aberdeen director of football Steven Gunn said: 'We were at Borough Briggs back in January to play a Scottish Cup fixture and not only were we thoroughly impressed by the facilities, but it was clear the team have a solid identity and a talented staff. 'From our early discussions it was apparent we are aligned in terms of our priorities for the development of our players, and importantly, Elgin City demonstrated a sound knowledge of the players and a real desire to support their ongoing development. 'This agreement with Elgin City is just the first, that covers League 2, and we hope to have others announced shortly.' The move comes after Aberdeen revealed that they would not be entering a team into the Club Academy Scotland U19s programme, though they will participate at U17 level. That decision came as part of a review of player development, with the club saying they needed to ensure a better return on investment from their multi-million pound youth football programme and academy. Citing the difficulty in getting players ready for top-flight first team football, Aberdeen said they were targeting 'an optimal pathway for young talent' and welcomed the flexibility of the new loan scheme and its potential for improving development. SNS Group Opportunity: Hampden bosses have brought in new rules to aid young Scottish players. The Scottish FA has published full details of the new rules, with Gould and Docherty answering key questions about how it works and how it can help player development. Why has this Cooperation System been introduced? Based on the research we have carried out into similar systems in other countries, the Cooperation System affords more opportunities for the best young talent to get playing time. It offers an alternative to clubs and players, who may otherwise be denied a loan opportunity, whilst also having limited playing opportunities at their parent club. For example, clubs competing in Europe may not able to send young players on loan due to Homegrown Matchday Quotas and clubs without a large budget may carry smaller squads and not send best young talents on loan in case of an injury crisis. The Cooperation System gives young players the option to receive critical playing experiences at an appropriate level within the pyramid. How does this system work? A club can place a maximum of three players on a 'Cooperation List' and these players can move freely between the parent club and the club who they are in a Cooperation Agreement with. So, for example, if the parent club has injuries in the player's position, they can recall the player, provided they give the minimum prescribed amount of notice to the Cooperation club. The parent club pays the salary for the player and – unlike with loan deals – they maintain the player's registration. What other countries use a version of this system? Club Cooperation systems already operate in a number of countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. Which clubs can enter into these Cooperation Agreements? A club in the SPFL Premiership or Championship is permitted to operate as the parent club, and sign Cooperation Agreements with clubs further down the pyramid (League One, League Two, Highland League and Lowland League). Championship clubs are also able to be both a parent club, to a club in a lower division, and a recipient club to a Premiership club. A club cannot sign a Cooperation Agreement with a club in the same league as their first team or B team. Can a club enter more than one Cooperation Agreement? The parent club may sign a Cooperation Agreement with a different club at each level of the pyramid, but a parent club cannot have two Cooperation clubs within the same division. Which players are eligible to move under the Cooperation System? Only players who are eligible to play for the Scotland National Team and who are under the age of 21 would be able to participate on a 'Cooperation List'. For the upcoming 2025/2026 Season, a player designated as Under-21 would refer to a player born in the calendar year 2005 or younger. This is in line with the definition used by other nations around Europe. How many players can move to one club at a certain time? The parent club, which pays the full salary for players under this system, is able to list a maximum of three players who would appear on a 'Cooperation List' between the two clubs. Does the Cooperation System replace the previous Loans System? The Cooperation System does not replace the Loans system, meaning clubs can use either of, or a combination of, both systems. A maximum of five players can be shared between two clubs (including loans and 'Cooperation List' players). Clubs can have a maximum of three loan players from club to club – therefore the maximum split would be 2/3 or 3/2 in terms of loan / cooperation. Clubs are under no obligation to use all three slots if they sign a Cooperation Agreement. When can players move between clubs under the Cooperation System? Clubs are entitled to change the players on the Cooperation List – to remove a player who has been recalled or not participating and replace him with another young player who may benefit from the experience – but only during the summer and winter transfer windows, as well as the extended loan windows that follows the transfer windows. 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BBC News
2 days ago
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Aberdeen confirm 'historic' partnership with Elgin
Aberdeen have confirmed a "historic" player development partnership with Scottish League Two side Elgin Pittodrie club say the agreement follows the introduction of a new Scottish FA initiative that has been "created to boost opportunities for young Scottish players".Seventeen-year-olds Dylan Ross, Jamie Mercer and Noah McDonnell will all move on loan to Elgin immediately, but players selected will be able to switch "between the parent and cooperation club throughout the season to increase playing time".Clubs can have multiple agreements across the SPFL pyramid, but only one in each tier. Elgin will be the Dons' League Two director of football Steven Gunn said the fourth-tier side will provide "an excellent platform" for their young added: "We were at Borough Briggs back in January to play a Scottish Cup fixture and not only were we thoroughly impressed by the facilities, but it was clear the team have a solid identity and a talented staff."From our early discussions it was apparent we are aligned in terms of our priorities for the development of our players, and importantly, Elgin demonstrated a sound knowledge of the players and a real desire to support their ongoing development."While we expect it to be a challenge for [the players], the opportunity for competitive first-team football, in the professional league system, is significant for our players. "We have taken a view that this is a better progression for our best young players, training daily at Cormack Park under a dedicated transition manager and being exposed to senior first-team football at the weekend, rather than playing against their peer group in Under-19 football."This agreement with Elgin is just the first, that covers League Two, and we hope to have others announced shortly."
Press and Journal
7 days ago
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EXCLUSIVE: David Wotherspoon reveals call that led to Caley Thistle return
David Wotherspoon has revealed his return to Inverness Caledonian Thistle was effectively sealed with a song after he reached out to manager Scott Kellacher. The experienced midfielder re-signed for the Caley Jags last month having previously netted five goals in 11 appearances for the club during a short stint from October 2023 until January 2024. Wotherspoon left Dunfermline Athletic at the end of last season and having enjoyed his previous spell with Caley Thistle so much, the 35-year-old got in touch with boss Kellacher to see if he could return to the Highland capital. The Canada international's enquiry prompted a jubilant response from Kellacher, who was a coach under Duncan Ferguson during Wotherspoon's time with Inverness in season 2023-24. Wotherspoon said: 'I've got to a stage in my career where I didn't want to be waiting around so I decided I would start making phone calls to see where people were at and if they were interested in me. 'I took it upon myself to phone the manager and he was delighted to hear from me. 'When I said to the manager about wanting to come back he started singing to me on the phone! 'That was how it started and I'm here now and looking forward to the season starting. 'I got on well with him when I was here before. 'When he took on the job last season I messaged him and I looked for the score every week to see how the manager and the club were doing. 'He was keen to get me on board and it's been great to be back. 'The manager and Billy Mckay (player-assistant manager) attracted me back to Inverness, they really wanted me to come back up and that was a big factor. 'I enjoyed my football when I was at Inverness previously and I'm very happy to be here.' Caley Thistle's season begins on Tuesday in the Premier Sports League Cup with a home clash against Elgin City. They will also tackle St Johnstone at the Caledonian Stadium and East Kilbride and Raith Rovers away from home in Group F before their League One campaign begins on August 2. During his career Wotherspoon has won the Scottish Cup twice and the League Cup once with St Johnstone and helped Dundee United win the Championship in 2024 following his first spell with Inverness. One of the reasons he's rejoined Caley Thistle is to try to help the club get promoted back to the Championship. Wotherspoon added: 'I had interest from elsewhere, but Inverness stuck out when I was looking at different options. 'The challenge of getting the club back up to the Championship also attracted me to come back. I think the Championship is where the club should be so that's where we're aiming to get to this season. 'With what the club went through last season I think staying up felt like they'd won something. 'They overcame the obstacles and now the club is in a better place thanks to people behind the scenes and we're looking to kick on now.' One challenging aspect of rejoining Inverness for Wotherspoon is that it means spending time away from his wife Sophie and their three children who are 11, eight and six, who live on the outskirts of Edinburgh. He said: 'My family understand the situation and why I wanted to come here. 'The club's been brilliant and I've managed to have the family up for the past week or so during the holidays. 'They've really enjoyed Inverness and they're going to try to come up as much as they can. 'When time allows the club are going to let me get back down the road to spend time with my family as well. 'They're understanding on that front, it's a family orientated club and everyone is in it together which is a great thing about the club.'
