AS befitting a team that only joined the senior league setup in 1994, Ross County don't have much of a Scottish Cup pedigree, making their achievement in getting to Hampden all the more special, even before you consider they spanked Celtic 2-0 in Glasgow in the semi-final.
Ross County, aka the Staggies where three times winners of the Highland League, with back-to-back wins in 1990 and 1991. Following their elevation to the Third Division, it took them four seasons to make it to the Second, and another eight years after that to make it to the First Divison where they've remained ever since (season 2007/08 aside when, after finishing bottom of the table they where automatically relegated back to Division Two: the team bounced back to win instant promotion the following season).
According to the club, all 16,000 tickets have been sold for this game (with a further 3,500 being requested by the club), a remarkable achievement considering the town of Dingwall only has a population of just under 6,000 and Counties' stadium, Victoria Park is never filled anywhere near it's 11,000 capacity.
So, just how have Ross County done over the years? Well, this season excepted, since joining the First Division back in season '94, Ross County have never progressed further than the fifth round:
1994-95 Third Round (East Fife 1-0)
1995-96 Third Round (Forfar Athletic 3-0)
1996-97 Third Round (Dunfermline 4-0)
1997-98 Fourth Round (Dundee 3-0)
1998-99 Third Round (Clydebank 2-3)
1999-00 First Round (Forfar 4-2)
2000-01 Fourth Round (Rangers 2-3)
2001-02 Third Round (Hearts 2-1)
2002-03 Third Round (Morton 1-2)
2003-04 Third Round (Celtic 2-0)
2004-05 Fourth Round (Clyde 2-1)
2005-06 Fourth Round (Falkirk 1-0)
2006-07 Fourth Round (Partick Thistle 1-0)
2007-08 Fifth Round (St Johnstone 1-0)
2008-09 Fourth Round (Hamilton Accies 1-0)
Player assistant Manager Craig Brewster will know all about the thrill of a cup final, having scored a scrappy winner for United against Rangers back in 1994. There's no denying that this will be a monumental game for the club.
Tomorrow's encounter is only the fifth time these two teams will have met. Ross County supporters may want hedge their bets: the Staggies have only won one of those games, a 2-1 win in the League Cup back in 1998.
But there's hope yet - guess who scored both of those winning goals? That's right: current manager, Derek Adams.
No comments:
Post a Comment