TIME has caused Charlie Christie to appreciate the full, historical significance of the evening he went ballistic with his Caley Thistle team-mates and put Celtic to the sword in the Scottish Cup.

He believes that night in February 2000, when an astonishing 3-1 win at Parkhead spelled the end for John Barnes' managerial career in Glasgow, changed everything for the Highland club. Then a mid-table outfit in the old First Division, it gave them the self-belief required to fulfil their destiny by reaching the Premier League and gave credence to the intentions and ambitions expressed when they had gained entry to the Scottish Football League a little under six years earlier.

Christie sees Caley Thistle at another momentous point in their development right now. He senses more history in the making. European football is tantalisingly close thanks to the team's position in third place in the SPFL Premiership and he believes it is only a matter of time until a first major trophy is secured.

Celtic provide the opposition in the Scottish Cup once again - this time, in today's semi-final at Hampden Park - and Christie feels the opportunity is very much there for the Inverness club to put that inaugural piece of silverware in the cupboard.

Changing the face of football in the Highlands is part of the Christie DNA. Charlie's son, Ryan, pictured left, was in the stands at Celtic Park 15 years ago to see his father produce one of the finest displays of his career and is likely to be on the pitch in the blue and red this afternoon. It will be a matter of great pride for the club's head of youth development. He would love to see his boy, not long turned 20, write his own incredible chapter in the story of the Caley Jags and experience the same amazing highs that he did when slaying one of Glasgow's giants.

"Winning was everything to me as a player and I sometimes focused so much on that side of things that I forgot to enjoy the occasion," he said. "I have said to Ryan ahead of the Celtic game that he has to soak in everything, from setting foot in the team hotel for the first time to walking out on to the park.

"I'll be honest, it will be hard for me not to jump out of the stand and go into the dressing-room with the boys at the end of the match should they get a result. I would be thrilled if he could experience the same kind of thing I did when meeting Celtic in the cup as a player.

"Of course, it wouldn't be as much of a shock as it was when we won at Parkhead in 2000 because we were fifth in the old First Division at that time. We are still huge underdogs, but I think the players know they have a real chance.

"I am one of these sad gits who remembers everything. I remember winning the Highland League with Inverness Thistle in 1987 and I can remember more or less all the games I played in, which is something when I had about 1000 competitive matches.

"That game in 2000 was something else, though. We took the game to Celtic, we didn't defend. Yes, they missed some big chances and we got a wee break now and again, but Steve Paterson's team talk was so positive and so focused on taking the game to them that it was just incredible.

"Of course, we won again in the cup against Celtic in Inverness three years later and that was a great occasion, too, but I will never get bored of watching the highlights of that game in 2000. I believe a real corner was turned by the club that night. It gave us the belief we could get into the top league and it took us a few years, but I feel that match was the catalyst for the success we are achieving."

Caley Thistle reached their first major final last season, losing to Aberdeen in the League Cup in a penalty shoot-out following a goalless draw at Parkhead. Naturally, there was a certain novelty about it all, but that is in the past.

"The fans had a great day out at the League Cup final, but I don't feel we performed that well," said Christie. "The next logical step in our development is to win a national cup competition and Caley Thistle will achieve that whether it is this year or not.

"I think qualifying for Europe will give the players the belief to do even more. The thought of achieving both of those things in the same season is quite amazing.

"Some of our supporters maybe don't realise it, but we have been spoiled almost from day one in 1994. If you looked at a wallchart mapping our progress, it has been quite phenomenal. There was one blip when we were relegated, but we bounced straight back to the top division."

There is no-one better placed than Christie to detail the story of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He became a Highland League legend through spells as a player with Caledonian and Thistle and was there throughout the acrimonious merger that saw the teams come together to form a club capable of winning entry to the Scottish Football League. It was a project that plunged the city into open warfare.

"Of course, there is a small minority that continues to reflect on the merger with bitterness," said Christie. "It was not done in the best way and we all accept that. No-one can argue that it was not the correct thing to do, though. Caley were the bigger of the two clubs and I am sure they would have done well in the lower leagues, but they wouldn't have got to where the club is now."

There is still some distance for Caley Thistle to travel, though. Attendances remain disappointing and there are clear issues with the infrastructure of the club and football in the Highlands in general. Christie does not attempt to disguise that and believes working against that backdrop makes the successes of recent seasons all the more remarkable.

"Our players still travel 10 miles outside of the city to train," he said. "We still don't have a purpose-built training facility. We don't have enough in the way of Astroturf pitches in this part of the country, which makes things difficult in the winter. We are one of the few places in Scotland that does not have a full-size indoor arena and we have a lot of obstacles. I don't think people fully appreciate this, but it makes the achievements of the club more special."

Christie admits there is more that his department could be doing, too. He is quick to detail his family's debt to current manager, John Hughes, for giving Ryan his opportunity after taking charge. He also hopes his youth department can produce a conveyor belt of local talent and build a club in possession of a strong, local identity.

"I feel strongly about the fact that a club is not a real football club unless you are bringing through your own players," he said. "Manchester United can do it and win the Champions League, so that means it can be done.

"I do get frustrated at Caley Thistle sometimes. I don't think we have nurtured our local players enough. I think the first-team squad should always involve two or three boys who have come through your own youth system at the very least."

Christie is enjoying a long weekend in Glasgow with his family and friends to make the most of today's occasion. Most fathers dream of seeing their sons play at Hampden Park and the 49-year-old is no different.

"I had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up when I walked into Hampden to play Queen's Park in 1994-95," he said. "It remains a special place.

"There will be a massive lump in my throat when I see Ryan walking out there with the team. One big thing for me is that he is not going there to make up the numbers either. He has the ability to make a huge impression on the game."