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At Ross County Football Club we are proud of where we have come from and who we are. As the most Northerly League Club in Scotland, we are committed to the community of the Highlands and Islands that we represent. We are not just committed to providing entertainment for fans, but to being an active and important member of communities across the region through our Youth and Community activities.

Over the years we have worked hard to earn a reputation as one of the friendliest clubs in the country, not just amongst our own fans but also with other clubs, their fans and members of the press and other official bodies. We aim to provide every person visiting Victoria Park with a friendly and courteous welcome and a professional service – whether they are a delegate at a conference, a visiting dignitary or just an ordinary fan. We are also committed to ensuring that no person or group is discriminated against or disadvantaged for any reason.

First and foremost this club belongs to the fans. They are the lifeblood of the club and are responsible for where we are today - as such they deserve not only a team but also a club that they can be proud to call their own. We recognise our commitment to them and our actions and decisions during our time as custodians are motivated solely by our honest and heartfelt desire to ensure the future success and security of Ross County Football Club.

History

Until 1929 the Highland League, the pinnacle of Football in the North of Scotland and a competitive and well supported League, did not feature a single team from Ross & Cromarty. In 1929 a group of officials from the amateur side Dingwall Victors decided it was about time something was done to alter this but agreed that the town of Dingwall alone could not support a team playing in this league. For that reason the “Vics” were disbanded but from their ashes arose a new team – Ross County FC.

As a nod to their predecessors, the home ground established in Dingwall was given the name Victoria Park, while for a badge they chose the Caberfeidh or Stag’s Head from the regimental badge of the Seaforth Highlanders – the regiment in which many locals had fought and died during the Great War. The badge decided the team’s nickname, and to this day they are affectionately known as the Staggies. The first game played by Ross County was against a Highland League select and was watched by over 1,200 spectators – ample demonstration that the newly formed club had the support necessary to become a force in the League.

If there had been any doubt over their ability to live with the more established teams then it didn’t last long. In their first season Ross County lifted the North of Scotland Cup, and over the years gained a reputation for playing attractive and high quality football as they lifted several further trophies both before and after the Second World War.

It was not until Season 1966/67 that the club succeeded in winning the Highland League Championship. The team that achieved this did so with a squad comprised largely of local boys such as right back Sandy Wallace, but with a sprinkling of people from further afield. Sandy, who later managed County and continues to work for the Club on a voluntary basis still has fond memories of that first League success: “What I remember about that season was that we really were a team – we all knew each others talents and limitations and played accordingly. There was a smattering of real ability there as well with ex seniors like Jimmy Hosie, Don MacMillan and Jackie Lornie – and of course we got the little bit of luck that every team needs to be successful!”

The next League success was not to come until 1990/91, but the team then successfully repeated the trick the following season. It was these back to back successes which gave the club’s then Chairman Hector MacLennan the confidence to apply for membership of the Scottish Football League when restructuring saw a requirement for new teams to be admitted for the 1994/95 season.

Following a carefully orchestrated campaign, Hector travelled down to make his presentation to the League accompanied by Club Secretary Donnie MacBean. Donnie recalls how the day went: “Hector and myself travelled down by train and took the opportunity to go over our presentation and draw up some cue cards. I don’t mind telling you that I was nervous – especially when we arrived and saw that other teams had gone to great lengths such as having pipers playing and fancy video presentations. Having got over the urge to turn around and jump on the first train home, Hector and myself stood up and made our pitch – we had done a lot of work and were confident of our facts, and I think that must have been what swung it in our favour.”

Thanks to the skills of Hector and Donnie as well as the countless people who had worked behind the scenes to prepare the bid, Ross County succeeded in gaining admission to the Third Division along with near neighbours Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The club then began a programme of building both on and off the park. A programme of Stadium works saw capacity and seating increased as well as adding additional functionality to the ground by providing rooms for use as Conference venues as well as Matchday Hospitality.

The strengthened team rose to the new challenges presented by the League and in Season 1998-99 they won the Third Division Championship. Although there must have been some doubt as to whether the team could survive in the Second Division, they did more than just survive and the following Season Ross County again benefited from League reconstruction, the expansion of the SPL to 12 teams meaning that the Club won promotion to the First Division even though they had only finished third in the table.

Since their arrival in the First Division, Ross County have worked hard to develop as a club. Having secured survival in the First Division, the work began to develop the team and facilities to a standard where SPL football was an attainable goal. Although under soil heating and increased seating would still be required, the Board of Directors have put plans in place to ensure that when the dream becomes reality, the Club is ready for it. Tangible evidence of how far the Club has come currently sits in the trophy cabinet; the North of Scotland Cup won for the first time in 15 years has the SFL Challenge Cup for company – the first National Cup in the Club’s history.

The Trophy Cabinet:

Challenge Cup: 2006/07

Second Division Championship: 2007/08

Third Division Championship: 1998/99

Highland League Championship: 1966/67, 1990/91, 1991/92

Highland League Cup: 1949/50, 1968/69, 1978/79, 1991/92

North of Scotland Cup: 1929/30, 1969/70, 1971/72, 1991/92, 2006/07

Scottish Qualifying Cup: 1973/74, 1993/94

Inverness Cup: 1930/31, 1959/60, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1978/79, 1979/80, 1991/92, 1992/93, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2003/04

The Present…and Beyond

In 2005 George Adams arrived at Victoria Park as Director of Football. The Former Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen youth supreme took over at a time when the club had revealed financial troubles which forced a drastic cut in expenditure on the First Team.

If ever there was case of the right man at the right time this was it. Having fulfilled a similar role at Motherwell when they successfully recovered from administration, George immediately set about making wholesale changes which saw a 20% reduction in spending. However, at the same time he was working on a plan to establish the club at the forefront of Youth Development in Scotland. By the start of Season 2006-07 he had brought onboard the team that he felt were capable of locating and developing the best young players in the country. Relegation that year did not reflect the success of the Youth Squads, with the Under 19’s winning the SFL Youth League and reaching the semi-final of the Scottish Youth Cup. The big money transfers of Gary MacKay-Steven and Mark Ridgers to Liverpool and Hearts respectively, is further proof that the Youth Development is working.

Dick Campbell, a former player with Ross County, came in as manager for Season 2007-08 with a reputation for getting the best out of his players. He had gained promotion no fewer than six times in his career and this experience, coupled with the talents of the younger players, should have been exactly what Ross County needed. Unfortunately, this partnership didn’t work and Dick left the Club after only 3 months in charge. The running of the team was passed over to Derek Adams, who was an instant success, winning the Second Division in his first season in charge. The challenge Derek now has is to solidify Ross county’s place in the First Division, one of the most competitive divisions in the country.

David Kirkwood, a successful player with Rangers and Hearts amongst others and a key member of the Youth Development team at Rangers, heads up the Youth Department with responsibility for all teams from U13 to U19 level.

With these people in place along with the committed team of Administrative and Support Staff behind them, the aims of the Club are two fold. The first task is to bring the club back onto a secure footing financially, while the second is to ensure entertaining and competitive football is brought to Dingwall and the Highlands – ultimately making the step-up to the Scottish Premier League.

In order to achieve these dual aims, the Club is now pursuing a policy of developing talented players rather than attempting to buy in success. With expenditure on wages slashed, players are now asked to come here on the basis that they will be treated well, given access to first class coaching and facilities and the chance to further themselves as players by building a team ethic. The culture we want to establish at Victoria Park is one of “us and we” rather than “I and me”.

The Coaching and Management team are committed to using the Youth Initiative and Under 19 teams to develop players capable of making the step up into the First Team. Already with players like Daniel Moore, Gary MacKay Steven and Mark Ridgers there is ample evidence that the talent exists locally, and our facilities and expertise also allow us to attract players from further a field to supplement and enhance this core of local talent. These players, having spent extended periods as part of Ross County, understand the importance of the team to the fans and community.

We believe that the measures we are taking now are the not only the correct choice, but also the only sustainable way to future success. Although they may take time to come to fruition, getting the foundations right is the most important part of any large-scale construction. With the Challenge Cup Victory, the Club’s first ever National Cup, the raw material is there for all to see. Given time and patience, we will succeed in our vision of creating a sustainable and exciting team. A Club that is capable of achieving the dream of delivering top flight to Ross-Shire through a community focused and representative Club.