Highland derby explained

Other Names:El Kessocko, The Cold Firm
City Or Region:Scottish Highlands
First Contested:27 August 1994,(Ross County 1–3 Inverness CT)
Teams Involved:Inverness CT and Ross County
Most Wins:Inverness CT (27)
Stadiums:Caledonian Stadium, Inverness and Victoria Park, Dingwall
Longeststreak:Inverness CT, 4 games. (16 November 1996 - 12 February 1997)
Top Scorer: Liam Boyce, Ross County, 10 goals
Currentstreak:Inverness CT, 1 game. (2 April 2021 – present)
Largestvictory:Inverness CT 1–5 Ross County, 25 February 2003
Smallestvictory:1–0, (7 times).
Inverness CT x5
Ross County x2
Currentunbeatenstreak:Inverness CT, 1 game. (2 April 2021 – present)
Longestunbeatenstreak:Ross County, 10 games.(13 August 2016 - 2 April 2021)
Largestscoring:6 goals, (4 times).
3–3 draw x3
Inverness CT 1–5 Ross County
Mostrecent:2 April 2021(Ross County 1–3 Inverness CT)
Highland Derby
Team1:Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Team2:Ross County

The Highland derby[1] is a football rivalry that is based in the Scottish Highlands. It is contested between the only two full-time SPFL clubs in the Highland council area, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County. The city of Inverness and town of Dingwall are only apart, whereas the nearest other professional clubs (Aberdeen, Dundee, Dundee United and St Johnstone) are over away from either club. The fixture is the most northerly professional football derby in the UK.

History

The rivalry first arose in 1994, when Caledonian Thistle (whose name did not yet include the city) were formed out of the merger between Caledonian and Inverness Thistle. Both the new Inverness club and Ross County had been accepted as new teams into the Scottish Football League, starting a trend of Highland League clubs entering the SFL.[2] The first match between the sides was a Third Division contest, played on 27 August 1994 at Victoria Park, won 3–1 by Inverness.[3]

Since that historic first match, the encounter has gone from strength to strength as both teams improved and came to compete near the top of the Scottish football league system. Both have significant fanbases that have grown due to their successes since their inclusion in 1994. Attendances at the derby matches often surpass the 5,000 mark, making the match itself a popular attraction. The clubs met in the top flight of Scottish football for the first time during the 2012–13 Scottish Premier League season.[4] For a few months in 2016, the Highland clubs were simultaneously the holders of the country's two major cups, with Inverness's triumph in the 2015 Scottish Cup Final followed by Ross County's win in the 2016 Scottish League Cup Final (March).[3]

The increased level of media interest in the fixture led some outlets to humorously tag the derby as "El Kessocko" (a pun on Spanish El Clásico)[5] or "The Cold Firm" (a pun on the Old Firm).[6] [3]

The relationship between the clubs is unusual in that there is "a level of goodwill" between them.[7] For example, both clubs closely co-operate in the Highland Football Academy.[8] [9]

Head-to-head

In head-to-head matches, the teams have played each other in 62 games, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle winning 27 times, compared to Ross County's 17. A total of 18 matches have ended in a draw.[10] Inverness have won more league, Scottish Cup and Challenge Cup matches, with the teams tied in League Cup matches.

Team League Scottish Cup League Cup Challenge Cup Total
22 2 1 2 27
16 01 0 17
Draw 15 3 0 0 18

Matches played

League

Inverness CT v Ross CountyRoss County v Inverness CT
SeasonDivisionDateVenueScoreAttendanceDateVenueScoreAttendance
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 1994–95Third Division29 Oct 1994Telford Street Park0 – 02,44027 Aug 1994Victoria Park1 – 33,157
6 May 1995Telford Street Park3 – 03,5622 Jan 1995Victoria Park3 – 12,749
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 1995–96Third Division30 Sep 1995Telford Street Park1 – 13,62518 Nov 1995Victoria Park2 – 04,288
23 Jan 1996Telford Street Park1 – 14,93116 Mar 1996Victoria Park2 – 13,670
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 1996–97Third Division16 Nov 1996Caledonian Stadium2 – 04,562 28 Sep 1996Victoria Park1 – 33,598
15 Mar 1997Caledonian Stadium3 – 05,52512 Feb 1997Victoria Park0 – 35,017
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2000–01First Division16 Sep 2000Caledonian Stadium0 – 14,82318 Nov 2000Victoria Park0 – 35,721
2 Jan 2001Caledonian Stadium3 – 35,29131 Mar 2001Victoria Park0 – 15,876
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2001–02First Division17 Nov 2001Caledonian Stadium3 – 04,51315 Sep 2001Victoria Park2 – 14,679
23 Mar 2002Caledonian Stadium1 – 14,68519 Mar 2002Victoria Park0 – 04,414
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2002–03First Division24 Aug 2002Caledonian Stadium2 – 03,6699 Nov 2002Victoria Park0 – 25,449
25 Feb 2003Caledonian Stadium1 – 53,4438 Mar 2003Victoria Park0 – 24,621
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2003–04First Division14 Nov 2003Caledonian Stadium3 – 33,52330 Aug 2003Victoria Park1 – 15,020
27 Mar 2004Caledonian Stadium1 – 04,0193 Jan 2004Victoria Park1 – 06,120
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2009–10First Division29 Aug 2009Caledonian Stadium1 – 35,8467 Nov 2009Victoria Park2 – 15,506
30 Mar 2010Caledonian Stadium3 – 05,41120 Mar 2010Victoria Park0 – 05,928
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2012–13Premier League5 Oct 2012Caledonian Stadium3 – 16,7662 Mar 2013Victoria Park0 – 05,959
16 Mar 2013Caledonian Stadium2 – 15,75019 May 2013Victoria Park1 – 06,002
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2013–14Premiership1 Jan 2014Caledonian Stadium1 – 24,33225 Feb 2014Victoria Park0 – 34,805
4 Apr 2014Victoria Park1 – 24,433
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2014–15Premiership5 Oct 2014Caledonian Stadium1 – 13,7411 Jan 2015Victoria Park1 – 34,887
31 Jan 2015Caledonian Stadium1 – 14,021
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2015–16Premiership2 Jan 2016Caledonian Stadium2 – 05,388 3 Oct 2015Victoria Park1 – 25,473
19 Mar 2016Victoria Park0 – 35,912
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2016–17Premiership13 Aug 2016Caledonian Stadium2 – 34,20431 Dec 2016Victoria Park3 – 25,111
18 Mar 2017Caledonian Stadium1 – 14,12328 Apr 2017Victoria Park4 – 04,928
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan="2" 2018–19Championship3 Nov 2018Caledonian Stadium2 – 24,35322 Sep 2018Victoria Park0 – 06,402
2 Apr 2019Caledonian Stadium1 – 23,79529 Dec 2018Victoria Park2 – 16,313

Cups

SeasonDivisionRoundDateVenueScoreAttendance
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=1 2003–04Challenge CupQuarter-final26 Aug 2003Caledonian Stadium1 – 02,631
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=1 2004–05League CupSecond round24 Aug 2004Victoria Park0 – 13,315
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=1 2009–10Challenge CupSemi-final4 Oct 2009Caledonian Stadium1 – 02,755
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 2012–13Scottish CupFourth round1 Dec 2012Victoria Park3 – 35,077
Fourth round replay11 Dec 2012Caledonian Stadium2 – 14,135
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=1 2015–16League CupQuarter-final27 Oct 2015Caledonian Stadium1 – 23,004
2018–19Scottish CupFifth round11 Feb 2019Victoria Park2 – 22,600
Fifth round replay19 Feb 2019Caledonian Stadium2 – 23,608
bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=1 2020–21Scottish CupThird Round2 April 2021Victoria Park1 – 30

Goalscorer records

Players with 3 or more goals in the Highland derby.

ScorerTeam(s)LeagueScottish CupLeague CupChallenge CupTotal
Ross County 10 — — — 10
Inverness CT 9 — — — 9
Inverness CT4 3 — — 9
Ross County 11 — —
Inverness CT 7 — — — 7
Inverness CT 5 1 — — 6
Alan HercherInverness CT 4 — — — 4
Jamie McPherson Ross County 4 — — — 4
Ross County 2 2 — — 4
Inverness CT 3 — — — 3
Ross County 3 — — — 3
Brian GrantRoss County 3 — — — 3
Inverness CT 3 — — — 3
Inverness CT 3 — — — 3
Inverness CT 3 — — — 3
Inverness CT 3 — — — 3
Inverness CT 2 — 1 — 3
Inverness CT 1— — 1 3
Ross County 1— — —
Inverness CT 1 2 — — 3
Ross County 1 2 — — 3
Inverness CT 1 2 — — 3
Ross County 1 1 1 — 3

Managerial records

As of 2 April 2021. Minimum 5 Highland Derby games as manager.

NameTeamYearsOverall RecordLeague Record
GamesWinsWin %GamesWinsWin %
Inverness CT2013–201610660.00%9666.66%
Ross County2020–2021100.00%000.00%
Inverness CT1995–200218950.00%18950.00%
Inverness CT2009–201311545.45%8337.50%
Robert Wilson Ross County1987–19968337.50%8337.50%
Ross County 2014–201711436.36%10330.00%
Ross County 2018–20206233.33%4250%
Ross County2007–2010,
2011–2014		14428.57%11443%
Inverness CT2002–2004,
2017–		14428.57%10220.00%
Ross County2002–20058 225.00% 6233.33%
Ross County1996–200214214.28%14214.28%

Notable players and managers of both clubs

A number of players have played for both clubs. Craig Brewster is a former player and manager of ICT who then played for and coached Ross County.[11] John Robertson and John Hughes have had spells as manager at both clubs.

Among the players who have featured for both sides are:

Clubs' honours

These are the football honours of Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County since they joined the Scottish League in 1994–95:

National TitlesInverness Caledonian ThistleRoss County
First Division/Championship2 (2/0)2 (1/1)
Second Division—1
Third Division11
Scottish Cup1—
Scottish League Cup—1
Scottish Challenge Cup33
Total78

These are the football honours of Caledonian, Inverness Thistle and Ross County until they joined the Scottish League in 1994–95:

National CompetitionCaledonianInverness ThistleRoss County
Highland Football League1883
Highland League Cup534
North of Scotland Cup20134
Total432411

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Inverness CT 3–0 Ross County . Bannerman . Charles . 30 March 2010 . 16 October 2010 . BBC Sport.
  2. News: Highland clubs reluctant to join SFL ranks . . 12 April 2008 . 16 October 2010 . McLeod . Graeme.
  3. Web site: Inverness CT v Ross County: 25 years of Scotland's friendly rivalry. Amy MacBeath. . 19 February 2019 . 19 February 2019.
  4. News: Highlands 'buzzing' ahead of first SPL derby of the season . BBC Sport . BBC . 5 October 2012 . 5 October 2012.
  5. News: Inverness C T 3 Ross County 1: Clubs' first competitive meeting in the top flight proves worth the wait. heraldscotland. Herald & Times Group. 6 October 2012. 21 March 2013 .
  6. Web site: McKay settles Cold Firm clash. PA Sport. Yahoo! and Eurosport. 11 December 2012. 21 March 2013 .
  7. News: Highland football has never had it so good after County's Cup run and Caley promotion, say Wilsons . . Fraser . Alasdair . 5 May 2010 . 16 October 2010.
  8. News: Highland Football Academy launched. . 10 April 2002 . 16 October 2010 .
  9. Web site: About Us . Highland Football Academy . 16 October 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101231012915/http://www.highlandfootballacademy.co.uk/about/ . 31 December 2010 . dead .
  10. Web site: All time results between Inverness CT and Ross County. 2008-02-18. Soccerbase.
  11. News: Ross County sign Brewster at 42 . . 5 February 2009 . 16 October 2010.
  12. News: Hislop in Highland switch . 13 February 2003 . 16 October 2010 . BBC Sport.
  13. News: Reguero Joins. Ross County website. 16 June 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140616154817/http://www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk/news/reguero-joins.aspx. 16 June 2014.
  14. News: Inverness pair join Ross County. . 16 October 2010 . 3 June 2009.

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