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Where are Inverness Caley Thistle’s 2015 Scottish Cup winning squad now?

Where are Inverness Caley Thistle’s 2015 Scottish Cup winning squad now?


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Ryan Esson

The goalkeeper between the sticks at Hampden.

Esson went on to make 163 appearances for Inverness Caledonian Thistle between 2008 and 2017 after joining from Hereford Town having previously played for Shrewsbury Town and Aberdeen.

Esson is still at Inverness Caledonian Thistle where he works at the goalkeeping coach at the club, training the likes of Mark Ridgers and Cammy Mackay.

Graeme Shinnie

One of the best ever to come out of ICT’s academy, Shinnie was captain in the 2015 win against Falkirk in what was his final game for the club before joining Aberdeen for his first spell at Pittodrie.

He played 144 times for Aberdeen between 2015 and 2019 before heading down south to Derby County, where he spent three years, before moving on to Wigan Athletic in 2022.

He went back to Aberdeen on loan from Wigan Athletic in January, and he has made six appearances for Scotland.

Graeme Shinnie, next to goalkeeper Ryan Esson, at the magical moment where he lifted the Scottish Cup trophy. Picture: Ken Macpherson
Graeme Shinnie, next to goalkeeper Ryan Esson, at the magical moment where he lifted the Scottish Cup trophy. Picture: Ken Macpherson

Danny Devine

One of only three players from the Scottish Cup-winning squad in 2015 who is currently playing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle today.

The Northern Irish defender left the club in 2016 when he moved to Partick Thistle, then signing for Dunfermline Athletic in 2018. He returned to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2020 though, and has been a regular at centre back ever since.

Josh Meekings

Meekings arrived at Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2011 after coming through the youth set-up at Ipswich Town.

He spent six seasons at the club, making 163 apperances before leaving the club in 2017 after struggling with injury.

Went to Dundee in 2017 and spent three seasons at Dens Park before moving on to English National League outfit Wealdstone in 2021.

He returned to the Highlands later that same year, signing for Highland League side Brora Rangers, where he is now a coach.

Carl Tremarco

Former club captain Tremarco arrived at Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2013 from Macclesfield Town where he spent seven seasons.

He was sent off in the Scottish Cup final against Falkirk, but has still gone down as one of Caley Thistle’s best ever defenders and a fan favourite, having made 161 appearances for the club.

Left Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2020 and signed for Ross County a few months later, completing one last season before retiring.

Now works as head of youth academy at Ross County.

Greg Tansey

After spending one season at Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the 2011-12 campaign before moving to Stevenage, he returned to Inverness in 2014 where he remained for three more years.

Then Tansey moved to Aberdeen, where he struggled with injury and also spent time on loan at Ross County.

He then moved on to St Mirren and Warrington Town, but after spending two weeks training with Warrington, he announced his retirement from football in 2019.

He is now working as a sales manager with a car buying company.

Nick Ross being wheeled around the Caledonian Stadium by Greg Tansey – and this was before Caley Thistle even got to the final... Picture: Ken Macpherson
Nick Ross being wheeled around the Caledonian Stadium by Greg Tansey – and this was before Caley Thistle even got to the final… Picture: Ken Macpherson

Ross Draper

Arriving from Macclesfield Town in 2012, Draper went on to spend five years with Inverness Caledonian Thistle and made 170 appearances for the club.

After Caley Thistle were relegated, he crossed the Kessock Bridge to sign for Ross County where he spent four years, before moving on to Cove Rangers and Elgin City and has now become manager at Borough Briggs.

Marley Watkins

Scoring the opening goal in the cup final, Watkins had arrived from Hereford United in 2013 and spent two seasons at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

He then returned to England in 2015, playing for Barnsley, Norwich City, Bristol City and Cardiff City before coming back to Scotland to join Aberdeen in 2021.

Watkins has also played twice for Wales, with both appearances in 2017 against Panama and Serbia.

Aaron Doran

One of Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s longest ever serving players, Doran is still at the Caledonian Stadium 12 years after first signing for the club.

The Irishman spent three years with Blackburn Rovers in England and was also on loan at Milton Keynes Dons and Leyton Orient before heading north to the Highland capital.

Started the Scottish Cup final victory in 2015 and has made 274 appearances and scored 34 goals for the club.

Two of the three players still at the club from the 2015 triumph – Danny Devine and Aaron Doran. Picture: Ken Macpherson
Two of the three players still at the club from the 2015 triumph – Danny Devine and Aaron Doran. Picture: Ken Macpherson

Ryan Christie

Arguably Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s greatest ever player, Christie came through the club’s academy and broke through to the first team in 2013.

Spent two seasons in the first team, including the Scottish Cup final win, before being snapped up by Celtic in 2015.

Spent some time on loan back at Inverness and at Aberdeen before becoming a first team regular at Celtic winning every major domestic trophy.

Left Celtic in 2021, to sign for Bournemouth and helped them win promotion from the English Championship to the Premiership.

Christie still plays regularly for a Cherries side that finished in 15th place this season.

Edward Ofere

The Nigerian striker only spent three months at Inverness, but still started in the Scottish Cup final victory.

After being released by Norwegian club Sogndal, Ofere signed for Inverness in February 2015 and scored six goals in the 13 matches he played.

After failing to agree a contract extension, Ofere left Inverness at the end of the 2014/15 season.

He then moved to Turkey to play for Boluspor before signing for Dundee United in 2016.

He then moved to Rosengard in Sweden and Thanh Hoa in Vietnam before returning to Sweden to play for current employers Trelleborg.

Substitutes

Cammy Mackay

Another player who is still at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Mackay was the substitute goalkeeper in 2015.

Has played for the first team on a number occasions since then, but has also spent time on loan at Clachnacuddin, Elgin City, Brora Rangers and Rothes during his time at the club.

James Vincent

The super sub scored the winner four minutes from time to give Inverness Caledonian Thistle glory in 2015.

He spent three seasons at Inverness before moving to Dundee in 2016. Came back to Inverness for two seasons between 2019 and 2021 before moving on to Hereford and FC United. Currently a player/coach at Stockport Town.

James Vincent and Marley Watkins shared a room the night before the Scottish Cup final, and both went on to score as ICT lifted the trophy. Picture: Ken Macpherson
James Vincent and Marley Watkins shared a room the night before the Scottish Cup final, and both went on to score as ICT lifted the trophy. Picture: Ken Macpherson

Nick Ross

Came through the Inverness Caledonian Thistle youth set up and played in the first team for five years between 2010 and 2015.

The midfielder then moved on to Dundee for two years before going to sign for Romanian team Sepsi OSK.

Spent a brief period with Brora Rangers before heading to the United States to play for El Paso Locomotive, and is now at Sacramento Republic.

Lewis Horner

Arrived from Blyth Spartans in 2014 and spent three seasons in Inverness before returning to Blyth in 2017 for three more years before leaving the club in 2020.

It is Horner’s last known involvement in football.

Danny Williams

Arrived from Kendal Town in 2013 and spent three seasons at Inverness, making 88 appearances.

Another Caley Thistle player who made the move to Dundee in 2016 before moving on to Accrington Stanley and then Halifax Town.

Liam Polworth, Danny Williams, Graeme Shinnie, Carl Tremarco and Nick Ross with the trophy. Picture: Ken Macpherson
Liam Polworth, Danny Williams, Graeme Shinnie, Carl Tremarco and Nick Ross with the trophy. Picture: Ken Macpherson

Liam Polworth

A talented midfielder who graduated from the Caley Thistle youth academy, Polworth spent eight seasons in the first team and made 166 appearances.

Moved to Motherwell in 2019 before signing for Kilmarnock in 2021.

Tarmo Kink

Estonian forward arrived at Inverness in March 2015 but only made five appearances for the club.

An unused substitute in the final, Kink returned to Estonia to sign for Levadia four months later.

Kink played 82 times for Estonia before retiring and is now the sporting director of Levadia.

Manager – John Hughes

Yogi arrived at Inverness in December 2013 and guided the club through the most successful period in their history.

As well as lifting the Scottish Cup, he led Inverness to third place in the Premiership and was named manager of the year. Leaving the club in 2016, Hughes went on to manage Raith Rovers, Ross County and Dunfermline Athletic, who he left at the end of last season.

Manager John Hughes celebrates the famous victory with his then-13-year-old twin daughters Victoria and Jessica. Picture: Ken Macpherson
Manager John Hughes celebrates the famous victory with his then-13-year-old twin daughters Victoria and Jessica. Picture: Ken Macpherson


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  • June 1, 2023