Famous Caley Animals

Deciding on who to interview is no easy task these days. What with all the alleged transfer requests that are flying about you never know who's going to be around long enough to answer our questions. Both Kevin Mann and Wilson Robertson have both been travelling from Aberdeen to play for Caley for 10 years so we reckoned it would be safe enough to ask one of them, but which one? Well, we had heard that Kevin Mann's party piece is annoying the Aberdeen and Rangers fans in the Pittodrie Bar by singing Caley songs, so sorry Wilson but that kind of swung it for us.

1. Coming from Aberdeen and having been a Dundee S-Form signing, how did you come to join Caley?

Jim Summers (father of ex-Caley skipper Bob) was the scout for Dundee F.C. I was full-time at Dundee for 2 years when I realised I wasn't the new Pele. I applied and was accepted for Aberdeen University and left Dundee. I'd had a couple of enquiries from other clubs, but Jim had obviously put in a good word at the Caley. I was approached by Alex Main, met him and the players and, immediately, signed. The rest is history.

2. How much did you know about Caley before you signed for them?

I'd heard they were probably the best outfit out of Scottish League football, and I knew that players of the likes of Andy Penman and Billy Urquhart had played for them. I'd also "met" the Caley before when they played in the same youth tournament in Holland when I was with Dundee. We (Dundee) won the the tournament, but a certain Kevin MacDonald won the player of the tournament. So I can safely say I'd already a healthy respect for the club before I joined.

3. Although you have been very successful with Caley do you ever regret not having a crack at full-time league football?

When I see players I started with at Dundee being successful I do regret it. The likes of Stewart McKimmie (Aberdeen), Ian Ferguson (Motherwell) and Ray Stephen (Nancy) have been tremendously successful in their careers but c’est la vie.

4. Does the amount of travelling that you have to do to play for Caley ever get to you?

It does yes. The worst must be when we get a mid-week league match away to Brora with a 7.30 p.m. kick-off. Leaving work at 3.30 p.m. means I have to drive like a maniac just to get there in time, play, then drive like a maniac to get home before I fall asleep. The league have their "80 mile limit" which unfortunately only related to clubs. Players really aren't considered, although I must admit Caley must be the only club in the league who presently have players who live more than 100 miles away!

5. How do you manage to get time off work for mid-week matchcs, and when do you get home aftcr a mid-week match?

With great difficulty! My boss is a season ticket holder at Pittodrie so it helps that he's a staunch football supporter. On average a rnid-week game at Telford Street with a 7.30 p.m. kick-off means I get home around 12.30 a.m.

6. Who do you train with and do you think there is any disadvantage in not training with the rest of the players?

We train with the Buckie Thistle players (Bob Summers again!). There is an obvious disadvantage in not training with the rest of the Caley squad. Practising set pieces like corners, free kicks etc. immediately springs to mind. But, basically knowing all the players is very difficult when you only see them once a week. However, we've been very lucky in that the nucleus of the squad has remained relatively the same during my 10 odd years. The dressing room "crack" has always been fabulous at the Caley, if not a little mischievous. So we haven’t suffered greatly.

7. Although you have won a lot of trophies with Caley is there any particular game that stands out as your most memorable?

There is not one but many particular games that stick in my mind. My first medal, Qualifying Cup final v Elgin (1981). Winning the league undefeated, final game v Fraserburgh (1982). Stirling Albion and Rangers in the Scottish Cup (1984). Deveronvale (1986?) when I scored four! And of course Airdrie (1990) in the Scottish Cup.
I think I can honestly say I've been very lucky to be attached to this club in such a memorable decade in its history.

8. Towards the end of last season you lost your place at left back to Mark McAllister and it was rumoured that you might have moved to another club (Peterhead), was there anything in the rumours?

To be honest, ever since Peter Corbett hung up his boots I've been shunted about in so many different positions that I couldn't really call left back my own. I think it was always going to be the case that if a younger, quicker player came along to play left back then they would be given the chance to play there allowing me to play in positions when I was more of an influence on the team, i.e. sweeper or midfield, etc. Last season Mark McAllister emerged as an outstanding prospect for the left back position and with the introduction of Kenny Taylor as a centre half the management decided that the strongest back four was Davidson, Taylor, Andrew and McAllister. I had no argument with that. All I could do was try to keep as fit as I could. If my chance came to get back in the side I'd grab it as best I could. As for joining another club, all through my career at Caley such rumours have arisen. I've told the management, on several occasions, that as long as Caley want me I'm happy to stay. If that takes me to the end of my career, fine, if not, and I think there's still life in the old dog yet, then obviously I'd have to consider a move. At the end of the day all I want to do is play the game.

9. You are back in the first team this season playing in midfield. Are you enjoying it and how difficult was it to adjust after playing at left back for so long?

I love playing in midfield, you're more involved in everything going on, particularly in central midfield where I’ve been playing. I've had no dffficulty adjusting, I just try to play my normal game.

10. Why did you stop taking penalties?

After having penalties saved in the North Cup final v Lossiemouth and in a Scottish Cup tie v Berwick Rangers the management asked me not to take any more (in stronger terms of course!). However, if a situation arises where no-one else has the bottle to take a penalty I will gratefully oblige.

11. We hear (Zico again) that yourself and Wilson are getting a joint testimonial at the end of the season. If this is the case, who would you like your testimonial match to be against?

A joint testimonial has been mentioned although nothing has been done to begin preparations yet. I’m sure both Wilson and myself would love to invite a big name to Inverness for a special day. My first choice would be Manchester United, a club I always dreamed of playing for as a boy, but as long as a good day is had by all I wouldn't really care who the opposition were.

12. As an “outsider”, so to speak, do you think the Inverness clubs should join up in a bid for league status or do you think that Caley should go it alone?

I think it is outrageous that Inverness does not already have a club in the Scottish League. It seems to me that the small-mindedness of a few of the League clubs chairmen who believe that Inverness is too far for their clubs to travel to, is keeping the town from having a rightful representative in the Scottish League. If men of real wisdom come along and allow an Inverness representation I cannot think of a better light in the north than the Caley to lead the way.

13 Could you please ask Wilson does he have to wear his shorts up around his chest. What does he look like?

To be honest I’ve never noticed his shorts around his chest, probably because he's that quick I can’t quite catch him. Perhaps he's trying to keep his fat belly warm!

14. And finally Kevin, it was rumoured that after one of the team’s Q-Cup wins in the early 80's the cup went missing. There was panic in the Social Club until somebody pointed out that a rather inebriated young full back was in fact walking about outside in the pouring rain with it. You don’t happen to know anything about it do you?

Can’t remember a thing! Perhaps I thought I was Gene Kelly or something, or perhaps I was just trying to hog all the champagne that was in the cup. Seriously though, the Q-Cup is very special to me and I look forward to nothing more than bringing it back to Telford Street where it belongs, even to dance in the rain with it!