Dedicated supporters of the Caley Jags were first in line to watch their heroes begin their European adventure.
The first tickets for the much anticipated clash between Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Romanian side Astra Giurgiu went on sale yesterday.
And first in line were season ticket holders aiming up to book their place at another match which ranks among the biggest the club has ever played in.
John Hughes’ side booked their place in the qualifying rounds for next season’s Europa League competition – the first time that the club have taken to the continental stage in its history.
The tickets made available yesterday were for the home leg of the two match qualifier, which will be held in Inverness on July 16.
A small clutch of season ticket holders were waiting at the stadium for the tickets to go on sale yesterday morning – and some are already planning their trip to the return leg in Romania.
One of the first to collect his tickets for the home match was Murray Macara who will attend the match with his two young sons Struan and Fraser.
And he is already making plans to get to the away tie – potentially driving all the way to eastern Europe so he does not miss out, a journey which could take around five days.
He said: “I wouldn’t miss either leg for the world. It wasn’t in my wildest dreams that my club would end up in Europe.
“The cup final was definitely my greatest day in football but this will be right up there.”
The club booked their place in continental competition, both by finishing third that last season’s SPL and then following that with a historic victory over Falkirk to win the Scottish Cup.
Near the front of the queue was Diane MacDonald and Tommy Swanson who picked up eight tickets for themselves, family and friends.
Ms MacDonald said: “I can’t believe it really. To qualify both ways in one season was amazing.
“We can’t wait for the games.”
But one fan said he was always confident that the club would reach the highest level.
Ally Middleton said: “I told a man in Majorca about 14 years ago that we’d be in European football and he just shook his head.
“But I never doubted for a second and I was right enough.”