2003–04 Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. season

Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. in their tenth season in the Scottish Football League competed in the Scottish First Division, Scottish League Cup, Scottish Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup in season 2003–04. They won their first major trophy when they won the Challenge Cup beating Airdrie United in the final 2–0 with goals from Steve Hislop and David Bingham, and at the end of the season, they won the First Division Championship, securing promotion to the Scottish Premier League. However, SPL rules at that time stated that all member clubs must have a stadium with a minimum capacity of 10,000 seats. Caledonian Stadium did not and this left the club's board with a dilemma: either to stay in the First Division like Falkirk the previous season or to groundshare with Aberdeen's Pittodrie Stadium, over 100 miles (160 km) away. After consulting with supporters, the board decided the sacrifice of one season in Aberdeen would be worthwhile for Premier League football.

Results

Scottish First Division

Match Day Date Opponent H/A Score ICT Scorer(s) Attendance13 AugustFalkirkA1-2McCaffrey2,596216 AugustClydeH0–01,839323 AugustSt JohnstoneA2–1Bingham, Hislop3,031430 AugustRoss CountyA1–1Mann5,020513 SeptemberAyr UnitedA1–0Ritchie1,476620 SeptemberBrechin CityA2–0McBain, Ritchie652727 SeptemberSt MirrenH2–0Ritchie, McCaffrey1,89684 OctoberRaith RoversH2–1Tokely, McCaffrey1,707918 OctoberQueen of the SouthA2–3Ritchie, Bingham3,547101 NovemberFalkirkH1–2Hughes (own goal)2,223115 NovemberClydeA0–1765128 NovemberAyr UnitedA3–0Golabek, Hart, Hislop 1,4641314 NovemberRoss CountyH3–3Bingham, Hislop, Wilson3,5231422 NovemberSt MirrenA4–0Bingham (2), McBain (2)2,2041529 NovemberBrechin CityH5–0Tokely (2), Hislop, Keogh, Wilson1,393166 DecemberQueen of the SouthH4–1Hislop (2), McCaffrey, Wilson1,7451713 DecemberRaith RoversA3–1Munro, Bingham, Ritchie1,4321827 DecemberSt JohnstoneH1-0Wilson2,949193 JanuaryRoss CountyA0-16,1202017 JanuaryAyr UnitedH2–1Ritchie, Bingham1,4432124 JanuaryBrechin CityA4–2Thomson, Ritchie, Bingham, Duncan6672231 JanuarySt MirrenH1–1Bingham1,9132314 FebruaryRaith RoversH3–0Bingham, Keogh, Wilson1,8792421 FebruaryQueen of the SouthA1–2Ritchie2,021252 MarchFalkirkA1–2Ritchie2,2682613 MarchSt JohnstoneA2-3Ritchie (2)2,9132716 MarchClydeH3–1Ritchie, Bingham, Wilson2,6452820 MarchAyr UnitedA1–1Wilson1,2072927 MarchRoss CountyH1–0Wilson4,019303 AprilSt MirrenA0–0Robson2,2723113 AprilBrechin CityH1–0Robson1,2483217 AprilQueen of the SouthH4–1Hislop, Bingham, Wilson6,7553324 AprilRaith RoversA1–0Ritchie 1.748341 MayFalkirkH0–08,750358 MayClydeA2–1Keogh, Hislop4,8503615 MaySt JohnstoneH3-1Bingham, Wilson, Ritchie6,092

Final League table

Scottish League Cup

Round Date Opponent H/A Score ICT Scorer(s) AttendanceR12 SeptemberQueen's ParkH1–2Ritchie968

Scottish Challenge Cup

Round Date Opponent H/A Score ICT Scorer(s) AttendanceR12 AugustGretnaA5–0Hart (2), Bingham, Hislop, Ritchie528R212 AugustPeterheadA2–1Hislop (2)886QF26 AugustRoss CountyH1–0Hislop2,631SF16 SeptemberRaith RoversA4–0Wilson (2), Ritchie (2)2,110Final20 AprilAirdrie UnitedN2–0Bingham, Hislop5,428

Scottish Cup

Round Date Opponent H/A Score ICT Scorer(s) AttendanceR310 JanuaryBrechin CityH5–1Ritchie (3), Bingham, McBain1,412R47 FebruarySt MirrenA1–0Thomson3,589QF6 MarchMotherwellA1–0Wilson7,930SF10 AprilDunfermline AthleticN1–1Ritchie13,225SF R20 AprilDunfermline AthleticN2–3Ritchie, Bingham5,728

Hat-tricks +PlayerCompetitionScoreOpponentDate Paul RitchieScottish Cup5–1Brechin City10 January 2004

References caleythistleonline