Starting XI: Former Caley Thistle midfielder Richie Hart on the Rangers and Celtic players who were his toughest opponents

Press and Journal06-06-2025

Former Caley Thistle midfielder Richie Hart starred for four seasons in the SPL before playing for Ross County then Dundee.
Hart's career kicked off as a youth with the Staggies, and he also played for Brora Rangers twice, Dundee and Maltese side Hibernians and Ostersunds in Sweden.
His best days were with ICT where he won the Division One title in 2004 as well as the Challenge Cup, and made 164 Inverness appearances, scoring 16 goals.
My first senior debut was with Ross County under Neale Cooper away to Forfar Athletic (on February 8, 1997 in Division Three, now League Two).
I was still at school and came of the bench late and managed to score the winner.
I have been fortunate to have some amazing moments in football, but winning the First Division with Caley Thistle which got us promoted to the Scottish Premier League (SPL) was the best and a real pivotal moment for the club.
That's a really tough question so I'm going to name a few.
In my younger years, Billy Ferries (Ross County) and Alan Hercher (Brora Rangers) both played a huge part in me going to Caley Thistle.
In my Caley Thistle years, it would have to be Dennis Wyness. We struck up a great understanding right from the off.
On his day, he was unplayable and scored some unreal goals. Off his day, you were a man down! Seriously though, what a fantastic player.
Another tough question, so I'll go for two.
I played against (Rangers') Barry Ferguson at youth level and senior level and I couldn't get near him. He always seemed to have so much time and space.
And (ex-Celtic winger) Shaun Maloney was such a talented footballer. He had that low centre of gravity, and was difficult to knock off the ball and so sharp. A top player.
The only one that really springs to mind is Richie Britain – only because like of Martin 'Jimmy' Scott and Steven Craig used to slaughter him!
As a player, hopefully it would be hard-working strong, fast – and someone they could depend upon.
As a young lad on loan to Brora from Ross County, I remember tenacious midfielder and top guy Jocky Mackay saying to me one time that he thought I was a good player, but didn't play with enough desire.
That instantly struck a chord with me and literally from that moment changed me in how I played the game from then on.
Tynecastle always gets a mention and rightly so, but it's got to be Celtic Park for me.
I managed to score there (in March 2006 in a 2-1 defeat) and it was the first game there since Jimmy Johnstone had passed away. The atmosphere was incredible.
My favourite goal has to be my free-kick against Ross County for Caley Thistle (in a 2-0 win in Dingwall in March 2003).
I still wind up County goalkeeper Tony Bullock about it and ask why he even attempted to dive for it.
I also remember Paul Ritchie scoring an unbelievable volley down at Alloa (in a 6-0 win in Division One in March 2002). It was Van Basten-esque! Dennis Wyness and Paul both scored hat-tricks.
This is the easiest question for me – Liam Keogh without shadow of a doubt.
There wouldn't be much to do there, but there is no doubt Liam would keep the spirits high with his story telling. Plus, he would be very handy in fending off any wild animals.
In the early days of Caley Thistle, we would all go for lunch together, have coffee or play snooker or golf.
As time went by and things evolved, new managers, double sessions and the like, recovery became even more important.
When I played in Malta though, we didn't train until the evenings due to the heat, so I could spend some time on the beach in the morning, get a sleep in the afternoon and then train in the evening – much to the annoyance of my wife Lisa, who was working all day!
Graeme Stewart on title joy with Buckie and early days at Caley Thistle
Clachnacuddin boss Conor Gethins on facing Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie
Caley Thistle legend Ross Tokely on Barry Robson's shocking attire, 'absolute madman' team-mate and country music
Former Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson on the day the Dons painted Glasgow red
Steven Ferguson on Dunfermline captain's tragic death, Ross County boss Neale Cooper's 11 Kenny Gilberts quip and 'absolute genius' Paul Gascoigne
Ex-Caley Thistle full-back Richard Hastings on facing Luis Figo and vital golden goal on way to Canada's Gold Cup glory
Aberdeen FC Gothenburg Great Neil Simpson on the night he claimed Michel Platini's jersey
Peterhead co-manager Ryan Strachan on his toughest opponent and favourite away ground

Hashtags

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Ally McCoist reveals fear over Celtic transfer move that would 'hurt my mob'

Daily Record

an hour ago

Daily Record

Ally McCoist reveals fear over Celtic transfer move that would 'hurt my mob'

The Ibrox icon has one growing concern over the Scottish champions market movement Concerned Ally McCoist reckons Evan Ferguson would "hurt" Rangers if he seals a move to Celtic for next season. Ferguson has fallen out of favour at the Seagulls following a disappointing loan spell at West Ham - where he made just three appearances in London. The 20-year-old netted just one Premier League goal last season - a far cry from his breakthrough season in 2023/24 which saw the striker touted with £100million moves away from the AMEX Stadium. That has lead to Celtic emerging as a potential destination for the frontman on loan as he looks to kickstart his career - with Brendan Rodgers eyeing more attacking options to compete with Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda next term. Rising Fulham striker Callum Osmand is expected to be unveiled as a Celtic player in the coming days - but McCoist reckons the arrival of Ferguson would put a serious dent in Russell Martin's title aspirations. Speaking in Dublin where he took part in a 555-mile cycle around Ireland as part of the Doddie 5 Lions Challenge, he told the Irish Mirror: 'I'm a fan. Oh aye. 'I want him to get fit. I really like Evan Ferguson and I really want him to get fit and stay fit. He can finish. Out of all the younger ones coming through, I thought Evan Ferguson was the one to watch. 'Obviously he's got one or two injuries going on that have held him back a bit, but if he keeps himself fit he will score goals anywhere.' 'The unfortunate thing for my mob is, he could come in and hurt us. Definitely. It wouldn't surprise me at all. I'm a big fan." And McCoist also offered a surprise defence of Adam Idah. The Ireland international netted 21 goals last season after making his move from Norwich City permanent last summer for £9million - but failed to establish himself as Brendan Rodgers' first-choice striker. The Rangers ' icon said: 'He's done well. He has scored important goals. 'I think one thing you have got to do as an Old Firm centre forward is, sure, you have to get goals. 'But as an Old Firm centre-forward, you have got to score against Rangers. And if you are a centre-forward for Rangers you have got to score against Celtic. 'You have got to score important goals and Adam Idah has done that.' You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.

Former Scotland international and ex-Celtic target's 'crucial' role in major Liverpool transfer revealed

Scotsman

2 hours ago

Scotsman

Former Scotland international and ex-Celtic target's 'crucial' role in major Liverpool transfer revealed

The ex-Scotland international was targeted for a role at Celtic in 2021. Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A former Scotland international has been praised for his 'crucial' role in Florian Wirtz's record breaking move to Liverpool this summer - just three years after a move to Celtic collapsed at the final hurdle. The 22-year-old had his £116million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen rubber stamped yesterday, with Wirtz now becoming the English Premier League's record signing, surpassing the previous record transfer of £115million, which Chelsea paid Brighton for Moises Caicedo in 2023. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad According to European sports outlet Bild, the German international is in line to earn a weekly salary of at least £325,000 at Anfield, and joins ex-Celtic full-back - and former Leverkusen teammate - Jeremie Frimpong as the Merseyside giants second major transfer of the summer window. Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz will hope to win further trophies at Liverpool after departing Bayer Leverkusen this summer. | Getty Images During his official unveiling by the English champions, Wirtz explained why head coach Arne Slot had played a big role in convincing him to move to Liverpool, but also reserved high praise for ex-Scotland international Richard Hughes, who has been hugely successful in his role as the club's sporting director since his appointment almost exactly a year ago. 'The talks with the coach and Richard [Hughes] and everybody were, from the start or from the very first time, so good,' Wirtz told Liverpool's official media channel. 'It just kept going like this. Every time I spoke to one of the [people from] the club I felt like, 'this is the place I want to be' and so in the end I was really 100 per cent convinced I want to join Liverpool and it was the best choice.' Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano also heaped praise on Hughes, writing on his official X account: 'The Liverpool director has been crucial to make the deal happen. Three months of hard work behind the scenes to get Florian's green light in May and close the deal with Leverkusen on Tuesday last week.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Glasgow-born Hughes, who won five caps for Scotland in the mid-noughties, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the game after landing the Liverpool the role last summer. Poached from a similar role at AFC Bournemouth, the 45-year-old has been lauded for his work in replacing popular former manager Jurgen Klopp with Dutch head coach Slot last summer. Richard Hughes battles for the ball as Scotland Under-21s take on Belgium Under-21s at Dunfermline FC's East End Park. | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 Beginning his career with Atalanta's youth team, Hughes enjoyed a moderately successful playing career, making over 200 senior appearances for the likes of Portsmouth, AFC Bournemouth and Grimsby Town. However, it has been his work as a sporting director that has garnered the most attention. First joining the Cherries recruitment team following his retirement in 2014, he was appointed the club's technical director just two years later. Hughes found himself lined up for a similar role at Celtic in 2021, with the Hoops former managerial target Eddie Howe said to have been desperate to bring him to Glasgow if he was appointed manager at Celtic Park.

5-cap Scotland international and ex-Celtic target hailed for 'crucial' role in £116m Florian Wirtz transfer