Charlie Christie
Encyclopedia
Charlie Christie is a former professional footballer who managed Scottish Premier League
club Inverness Caledonian Thistle
. Christie resigned from the Highlands
club in August 2007.
for Caledonian F.C.
in 1983, before moving to Inverness Thistle in 1985. In September 1987 he earned a move to Celtic
. During his time at Celtic, Christie made 56 appearances for the reserve team, scoring 25 goals. He was unfortunately unable to break into the Celtic first team, partly due to the good performances of Frank McAvennie
, who played in the same position. Christie returned to Inverness in 1989, signing once again for Caledonian, in the combined role of player and commercial manager.
, Christie joined the new club, where he combined his playing role with running the Centenary Club lottery
, thus becoming one of the few players to play for Thistle, Caley and ICT. Initially he played as a striker
, before eventually moving back to a midfield
role.
Although he missed the start of the 1994/95 season through injury, Christie went on to become the most influential, consistent and respected player at the club. He was the only player to play for Caley Thistle during all of the club's first ten seasons and played in many of the club's most memorable games during this period, including the 3-1 Scottish Cup
defeat of Celtic on 8 February 2000, his performance in this game earning him the sponsor's Man of the Match award.
During later seasons, Christie combined his playing career with a role as a club coach. He retired from playing in May 2004, having made a total of 314 appearances and scoring 34 goals.
left Caley Thistle to become manager of Hearts
, Christie assisted the club's Director of football
Graeme Bennett
in managing the team until a replacement could be found. When Craig Brewster
joined as player-manager Christie was made first team coach and continued in this role until January 2006.
When Brewster left the club on 13 January 2006, Christie was appointed caretaker manager
. On 27 January 2006 he was given the manager's job on a permanent basis, with Donald Park
as his assistant. Christie made Ross County midfielder John Rankin
his first signing as Caley Thistle manager with a fee of £65,000 paid to their Highland neighbours. The deal also smashed Caley Thistle's previous record transfer fee paid to Lossiemouth of £35,000 for striker Ian Stewart. Christie remained in the job for nearly nineteen months before his resignation in August 2007.
14 Jun 2010 ... Charlie Christie, head of youth development, said "It's a massive ... So for them now to sign full-time contracts as SPL Under 19 players.
http://www.ictfc.co.uk/articles/20100614/news-release_2208838_2070497
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
. Christie resigned from the Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
club in August 2007.
Early career
Christie began his career playing in the Highland LeagueHighland Football League
The Press & Journal Highland Football League is a league of football clubs operating not just in the Scottish Highlands, as the name may suggest, but also in the north-east lowlands...
for Caledonian F.C.
Caledonian F.C.
Caledonian Football Club was a football club from the city of Inverness, Highland, Scotland.-Formation:Caledonian Football Club was formed in 1885 by lads from the 'Big Green' area of Inverness, though some sources quote 1886. They were founder members of the Highland Football League in 1893 and...
in 1983, before moving to Inverness Thistle in 1985. In September 1987 he earned a move to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. During his time at Celtic, Christie made 56 appearances for the reserve team, scoring 25 goals. He was unfortunately unable to break into the Celtic first team, partly due to the good performances of Frank McAvennie
Frank McAvennie
Francis "Frank" McAvennie is a former Scottish football striker best known as a player with West Ham United and Celtic, having had two spells with both of these clubs.-Early life:...
, who played in the same position. Christie returned to Inverness in 1989, signing once again for Caledonian, in the combined role of player and commercial manager.
Playing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle
In 1994, when Inverness Thistle and Caledonian merged to form Inverness Caledonian ThistleInverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
, Christie joined the new club, where he combined his playing role with running the Centenary Club lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
, thus becoming one of the few players to play for Thistle, Caley and ICT. Initially he played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, before eventually moving back to a midfield
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
role.
Although he missed the start of the 1994/95 season through injury, Christie went on to become the most influential, consistent and respected player at the club. He was the only player to play for Caley Thistle during all of the club's first ten seasons and played in many of the club's most memorable games during this period, including the 3-1 Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
defeat of Celtic on 8 February 2000, his performance in this game earning him the sponsor's Man of the Match award.
During later seasons, Christie combined his playing career with a role as a club coach. He retired from playing in May 2004, having made a total of 314 appearances and scoring 34 goals.
Coaching and Management career
After retiring as a player, Christie continued in his role as a youth development coach at Caley Thistle. In November 2004, when then-manager John RobertsonJohn Grant Robertson
John Robertson is a former professional association football player and is currently the manager of East Fife. His playing career included spells at Newcastle United, Dundee and Livingston but he is best known for his two spells at Heart of Midlothian...
left Caley Thistle to become manager of Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
, Christie assisted the club's Director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
Graeme Bennett
Graeme Bennett
Graeme Bennett is a former Scottish football midfielder. Now retired he holds the position of Director of football at Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.. He is nicknamed 'Grassa'....
in managing the team until a replacement could be found. When Craig Brewster
Craig Brewster
Craig James Brewster is a Scottish football player and coach. He made his name in a long and successful career playing as a striker for numerous clubs in Scotland, particularly Forfar Athletic, Raith Rovers, Dundee United and Dunfermline Athletic...
joined as player-manager Christie was made first team coach and continued in this role until January 2006.
When Brewster left the club on 13 January 2006, Christie was appointed caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
. On 27 January 2006 he was given the manager's job on a permanent basis, with Donald Park
Donald Park
Donald Park is a Scottish association football coach and a former player. He is currently employed by the Scottish Football Association as their Head of Coach Education.-Playing career:...
as his assistant. Christie made Ross County midfielder John Rankin
John Rankin (footballer)
John Rankin is a Scottish footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Scottish Premier League club Dundee United.-Early career:...
his first signing as Caley Thistle manager with a fee of £65,000 paid to their Highland neighbours. The deal also smashed Caley Thistle's previous record transfer fee paid to Lossiemouth of £35,000 for striker Ian Stewart. Christie remained in the job for nearly nineteen months before his resignation in August 2007.
14 Jun 2010 ... Charlie Christie, head of youth development, said "It's a massive ... So for them now to sign full-time contracts as SPL Under 19 players.
http://www.ictfc.co.uk/articles/20100614/news-release_2208838_2070497
Honours
- Scottish Third Division winner's medal, 1996/97
- Scottish Challenge Cup winner's medal, 2003/04
- Scottish First Division winner's medal, 2003/04