Young Gunn sets ICT first-team goal
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IT WAS a boy’s own dream for Wick High School pupil Ross Gunn as he put pen to paper to sign for Scottish Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The 17-year-old will go into Caley Thistle’s under-18 squad next season on what will hopefully be the first rung to climbing the ladder of football success.
Gunn has been involved with the junior ranks set-up at Inverness since the age of nine but last week received the news that many young players hope for but do not get.
He is one of the lucky ones – although, after signing, he revealed that Caley Thistle boss John Robertson had given him a brief warning.
Ross said: “John told me ‘the hard work starts now’. And he’s right, as a lot of work will have to be put in by myself in order to progress.
“My ultimate aim is to one day make the first team. I know it will be hard but it’s a good position to be in.
“I was fortunate enough to get the call to say that I was being kept on by the club. Others have not been so lucky.
“It was a slight shock to receive the news as we didn’t know if the club would keep the under-18s on, given the money they missed out on in not making the promotion play-offs.
“But two weeks ago, [head of youth] Charlie Christie rang my dad with the good news. There wasn’t much opportunity to celebrate as I had my English Higher exam to sit the following day.
“It was a bit hard to concentrate on my exam given that a day earlier I’d heard news that every young boy wanting to be a professional footballer dreams of – I think I did enough to pass.”
Ross’s father Peter – who himself played for Brora Rangers and is involved with the running of Wick Thistle – said that his son’s talent had become apparent at an early age.
He said: “He had something straight away and stood out. Ross plays wide left of midfield and, being left-footed, has also caught the eye given that there’s not too many left-footed players around.
“It’s great for him that this opportunity has come his way. We’ve been making the journey from Wick to Inverness and back since he was nine and now it has paid off.
“He’s very dedicated and disciplined. Wick Academy have been good in letting him train with them when we’ve been unable to get to Inverness but at times he’s had to train on his own.”
Ross was one of 10 youngsters to sign for Caley Thistle. First-team boss John Robertson said: “We have an outstanding group of young players, who all deserve the chance of making a career in football. The ball is at their feet.
“It is a tough business, which requires hard work and application to match their obvious ability. These young players are trailblazers – models for the younger players coming through the system. The club’s future is in good hands with this outstanding crop of players.”
Head of youth Charlie Christie said: “If they continue to show the commitment and dedication they have demonstrated so far, they all have a great chance of making the first team and beyond.”
