Full name Ross Tokely Years Team Weight 85 kg Name Ross Tokely Career start 1996 | Playing position Role Footballer Position Defender 1995–1996 Huntly Height 1.91 m | |
Date of birth (1979-03-08) 8 March 1979 (age 36) Spouse Geraldine (m. 1999), Lindsay Tokely | ||
Place of birth Aberdeen, Scotland | ||
Ross Tokely (born 8 March 1979 in Aberdeen) is a Scottish professional footballer, who is currently manager of Highland Football League side Brora Rangers.
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Tokely played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle from 1996, having signed from Highland Football League club Huntly and remained at the club until June 2012, an impressive total of 16 seasons at the Inverness club. Tokely was ICT's longest serving player and currently holds their appearance record. He also holds the distinction of having played and scored in every division of Scottish league football, from Third Division to the SPL, since signing for Inverness CT
Inverness
Tokely was signed by Steve Paterson from Highland Football League club Huntly in 1996. He made his first appearance in the side that won the Third Division title in 1997. Tokely gradually established himself in the side, usually playing at right back, although he has sometimes played in central defence or as a holding midfielder.
Tokely retained his place in the team as Inverness progressed through the Third Division and Second Division to the First Division.
Tokely also had more positive successes during this period, notably a fantastic goal against his boyhood heroes Hearts in the 2002 Scottish Cup. Tokely hit a 20-yard shot into the top corner at Tynecastle as Inverness defeated another SPL club in the cup, having won 3–1 at Celtic Park in 2000. Tokely also scored the winning penalty in a shoot-out against Dunfermline Athletic in the following season's League Cup.
Tokely was part of the squad that won promotion to the SPL in 2004, by winning the First Division title. As Inverness moved into the SPL, he retained his spot in the side, being awarded the number 2 jersey. After 10 years of service to the club, Tokely was awarded a testimonial match against Sheffield United.
Throughout their five-year stint in the top league, Tokely was an established player in the side. His longest spell out of the team came in 2007, when he missed a month of first team action after being sent off for an off the ball punch on Motherwell player Steven McGarry. As the Highland club unsuccessfully battled against relegation in 2009, manager Terry Butcher joked that he wanted his side to achieve more league points than Tokley's total of disciplinary points. Ironically, Tokely racked up further disciplinary points as he was sent off for a professional foul on the final day of the season against Falkirk. Inverness went on to lose the decisive match 1–0, and were consequently relegated, with Tokely's dismissal identified as the "turning point" of the match.
Nonetheless, Tokely retained his place in the Inverness side after their drop back down to the First Division, helping the club gain promotion straight back to the SPL in 2010. He was made captain of the team for his 500th appearance for Inverness, a 1–0 win against Airdrie United. Tokely agreed a new contract with Inverness in June 2010, despite receiving offers from overseas. In May 2012, he rejected a contract offer from Inverness and ended his 16-year career with the club.
Ross County
On 7 June 2012, Tokely signed for Ross County on a one-year contract.
Brora Rangers
Tokely joined Brora Rangers as a player/coach in January 2013. Saturday 5 October Brora drew 1-1 with league rivals Cove Rangers, but went on to beat them 3-0 away from home in the Scottish Cup, Flying high in the Highland League Brora were favorites to beat Clyde in the 2nd round but lost 2-1 at Broadwood.
In 2013/14 Brora won the Highland League for the first time in their history - by twenty-clear-points. They also won the North Of Scotland Cup for the fourth time when they beat Elgin City in the 2014/15 final.
On 26 July 2014 Brora knocked Stenhousemuir out of the Challenge Cup after extra-time 3-1, Alex Sutherland hat-trick, to be beaten by East Fife in the second round 3-1.