Highland derby
Encyclopedia
The Highland derby is a football rivalry that is based in the Scottish Highlands
. It is contested between the only two senior clubs in the Highland council area
, Inverness Caledonian Thistle
and Ross County
. The city of Inverness
and town of Dingwall
are only 14 miles apart, whereas the nearest professional clubs (Aberdeen
and St. Johnstone) are over 100 miles distant from either club. Both clubs are together the most northernly
professional football clubs in the UK
.
were formed out of the merger between Inverness Caley
and Inverness Thistle
. Both the new Inverness club and County had been accepted as new teams into the Scottish Football League
, starting a trend of Highland League
clubs entering the SFL. The first match between the sides was a Third Division
contest, played on 27 August 1994 at Victoria Park
, won 3-1 by Inverness.
Since that historic first match, the encounter has grown from strength to strength to the extent that both teams are now competing near the top of the Scottish Football
pyramid. Both teams have significant fanbases that have grown from both clubs successes since their inclusion in 1994. Usually attendances at the derby matches surpass the 5,000 mark, making the match itself a popular attraction.
Recently, however, this match has not been a regular fixture, as Inverness CT have mostly played in the Scottish Premier League
, whilst Ross County have been mostly competed in the First Division
. Both teams have appeared in the same division only once since 2004, in 2009-10.
The relationship between the clubs is unusual in that there is "a level of goodwill" between them. For example, both clubs closely co-operate in the Highland Football Academy.
is a former player and manager of Inverness, who then played for and coached Ross County. Andrew Barrowman
, Don Cowie, Richard Hastings
, John Rankin
, Steven Hislop
Iain Vigurs
, Barry Wilson and Garry Wood
are among the players to have played for both clubs over the years.
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...
. It is contested between the only two senior clubs in the Highland council area
Highland (council area)
Highland is a council area in the Scottish Highlands and is the largest local government area in both Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole. It shares borders with the council areas of Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, and Argyll and Bute. Their councils, and those of Angus and...
, 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...
and Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
. The city of Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
and town of Dingwall
Dingwall
Dingwall is a town and former royal burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,026. It was formerly an east-coast harbor but now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north of Stirling. On the town's present-day outskirts lies Tulloch Castle, parts...
are only 14 miles apart, whereas the nearest professional clubs (Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
and St. Johnstone) are over 100 miles distant from either club. Both clubs are together the most northernly
North
North is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.North is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the top side of a map is north....
professional football clubs in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
History
The rivalry first arose in 1994, when Inverness CTInverness 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...
were formed out of the merger between Inverness Caley
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...
and Inverness Thistle
Inverness Thistle F.C.
Inverness Thistle Football Club were a football club playing in the city of Inverness in northern Scotland.They were members of the Highland Football League, winning the championship five times, including its inaugural season: 1893–94. They wore black and red stripes and played their home...
. Both the new Inverness club and County had been accepted as new teams into the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
, starting a trend of Highland League
Highland 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...
clubs entering the SFL. The first match between the sides was a Third Division
Scottish Football League Third Division
The Scottish Football League Third Division is the lowest division of the Scottish Football League and the fourth overall in the Scottish football league system....
contest, played on 27 August 1994 at Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Dingwall
Victoria Park is a football stadium situated in the town of Dingwall, Ross-shire, Scotland. It is the home stadium of Ross County F.C. who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. It is the most northerly ground in the Scottish Football League.There are two stands; the West ...
, won 3-1 by Inverness.
Since that historic first match, the encounter has grown from strength to strength to the extent that both teams are now competing near the top of the Scottish Football
Football in Scotland
Association football is the national sport in Scotland and highly popular throughout the country. There is a long tradition of "football" games in Orkney, Lewis and southern Scotland, especially the Scottish Borders, although many of these include carrying the ball and passing by hand, and despite...
pyramid. Both teams have significant fanbases that have grown from both clubs successes since their inclusion in 1994. Usually attendances at the derby matches surpass the 5,000 mark, making the match itself a popular attraction.
Recently, however, this match has not been a regular fixture, as Inverness CT have mostly played in the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
, whilst Ross County have been mostly competed in the First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
. Both teams have appeared in the same division only once since 2004, in 2009-10.
The relationship between the clubs is unusual in that there is "a level of goodwill" between them. For example, both clubs closely co-operate in the Highland Football Academy.
Matches played since 2004
| Date | Result | Competition | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/01/2004 | Ross County 1-0 Inverness CT | First Division Scottish Football League First Division The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system.... |
|
| 27/03/2004 | Inverness CT 1-0 Ross County | First Division Scottish Football League First Division The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system.... |
|
| 24/08/2004 | Ross County 0-1 Inverness CT | League Cup | |
| 29/08/2009 | Inverness CT 1-3 Ross County | First Division Scottish Football League First Division The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system.... |
BBC Sport |
| 04/10/2009 | Inverness CT 1-0 Ross County | Challenge Cup | BBC Sport |
| 07/11/2009 | Ross County 2-1 Inverness CT | First Division Scottish Football League First Division The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system.... |
BBC Sport |
| 20/03/2010 | Ross County 0-0 Inverness CT | First Division Scottish Football League First Division The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system.... |
BBC Sport |
| 30/03/2010 | Inverness CT 3-0 Ross County | First Division Scottish Football League First Division The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system.... |
Notable Players and Managers of both clubs
A number of players have player for both clubs for a derby not that old. Craig BrewsterCraig 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...
is a former player and manager of Inverness, who then played for and coached Ross County. Andrew Barrowman
Andrew Barrowman
Andrew Barrowman is a Scottish footballer who plays as a forward for Scottish Premier League club Dunfermline Athletic.-Birmingham:...
, Don Cowie, Richard Hastings
Richard Hastings
Richard Cory Hastings is a retired Canadian football player, who played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Ross County, Grazer AK, MVV Maastricht and Hamilton Academical....
, 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:...
, Steven Hislop
Steve Hislop (footballer)
Steven 'Steve' Hislop is a Scottish association football player who plays for East Fife. He previously played for East Stirlingshire, Ross County, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Livingston in Scotland, and for Gillingham in England, before his most recent spell with Raith Rovers then...
Iain Vigurs
Iain Vigurs
Iain Angus Vigurs is a Scottish footballer currently playing for Ross County.-Early life:Iain attended Mackie Academy in Stonehaven, where he lived before his footballing career began.-Early career:...
, Barry Wilson and Garry Wood
Garry Wood
Garry Wood is a Scottish footballer currently playing for Peterhead, on loan from Ross County.He was promoted from the youth team in the summer of 2007, netting his first goal from the penalty spot in a pre season friendly, before spending much of the season on loan at Montrose, where he scored 7...
are among the players to have played for both clubs over the years.