The Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Hub was officially opened today by none other than Bournemouth star Ryan Christie.
Ryan Christie opened the new ICT Community Trust Hub in Inverness. Picture: Sportpix
The 31-year-old was a product of Caley Thistle’s youth set-up, and has gone on to play 64 times for Scotland, scoring nine goals.
At club level, he went on to start for Aberdeen and Celtic after leaving Inverness, earning himself a move south of the border to Bournemouth FC, where he scored in Friday night’s 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
However, this weekend he had a Highland homecoming as the former Crown Primary School and Millburn Academy pupil returned to Inverness to open the new Community Hub facility in the city.
A £1.6 million investment at the playing fields across from Inverness Royal Academy, the facility will become the permanent home of Caley Thistle’s women’s team, as well as Inverness Athletic in the North Caledonian League.
It will also serve as a community space, consisting of changing rooms, meeting rooms, a classroom and offices as well as the football pitch itself.
Ryan Christie presented awards for the first children’s football festivals to take place at the Caley Thistle Community Hub after its official opening. Picture: Sportpix
Christie’s involvement in the opening is appropriate, given the Scotland World Cup hopeful began his time in organised football on the very same pitches as part of ICT’s hotshot programme.
He has continued to be a strong advocate of the academy, even footing the bill for kit in 2024 when finances were tight, and he returned to Inverness to open the next chapter for the Community Trust.
Speaking to the Caley Thistle Communtiy Trust, Christie commented: “Coming back to Inverness to open the new Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Hub is really special for me.
“I grew up playing football here and took part in the Hotshots programmes, so seeing this facility for the next generation is fantastic.
“Football gave me so many opportunities growing up, so it’s brilliant to see a place like this where young people can come together, play and create their own memories of the game.”
Following the official opening of the Community Hub, Christie stuck around to watch the first children’s festivals to take place on the pitches, spending time with players in the community academy groups.
Craig Masterton, ICT Community Development Chief Executive, recalls Ryan attending the holiday soccer programmes organised by the Community Development Team, then part of the football club.
He said: “His footballing skills and dedication to the game were obvious from the time he attended the club’s summer Hotshots sessions and progressed to the youth academy.
“His achievements since then have been truly remarkable. Who can forget the role he played when ICT won the Scottish Cup in 2015? He was bound for stardom and after spells with Celtic and Aberdeen, he is starring for Bournemouth in the English Premier League – and to cap it all, he has helped Scotland qualify for the World Cup for the first time for 28 years and won 64 caps.”
Of the new facility, Craig said: “This exciting new space provides a much-needed grassed area for activity and a wonderful new base for the Community Development Team.
“It marks a significant step forward in strengthening our work and expanding the support we can offer in our community. Our warmest thanks are extended to the many funders. We will work tirelessly to repay their faith in our vision.”
Gordon Fyfe, chairman of the ICT Community Development Trust said: “We are thrilled that Ryan was able to accept our invitation to open our wonderful new community asset. The coming months are going to be such a hectic time for Ryan and his Scotland teammates.
“It means a lot to us that he has found the time to come north to share this special occasion with us. I’m sure we will be using the Hub to promote community events in the lead up to and during the World Cup.”
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