Highland stalwarts Ross County and Inverness CT relish top-flight rivalry

THEY are the two Highland football servants who have just about seen it all. Neither, though, has seen anything quite like this.

Jim Falconer, Inverness Caley Thistle’s secretary, and Ross County counterpart Donnie MacBean count between them about 80 years at the administrative coalface.

Falconer recalls only too well the dark decades of the Highland area’s complete exclusion from the Scottish League scene.

Equally, he could never forget the poisonous disputes and rancour of the pre-merger negotiations between past foes Caledonian and Inverness Thistle. During the bitter fall-out between opponents and advocates of a merger, Falconer even received anonymous death threats.

McBean, for his part, remembers the shoestring days when County were in such a dismal, penniless state they were forced to turn amateur.

Since then, the pair, both in their sixties now, have been vindicated for their loyalty and perseverance. Then again, it is clear neither has been in it for the glory. Until this season, neither saw this one coming and both were pinching themselves on Tuesday night.

They have chased each other up the divisions for 18 years and, while Highland derby rivalries are strong, there is genuine good-feeling between the two.

Falconer knows the emotions that will have been bubbling over for his Victoria Park counterpart since a late Queen of the South goal at Dens Park secured County’s passage to the SPL. He experienced the same tears of joy back in 2003 as Caley Thistle first sealed their place in the top flight.

“I’m just absolutely delighted for Ross County and people like Donnie in particular,” Falconer said. “It will be a wonderful feeling. Donnie and I might be from rival clubs, but we’ve enjoyed a good relationship and a fair bit of craic over the years. We talk every couple of weeks.

“It’s a friendly rivalry. Donnie has been about Ross County since the latter 1960s and I’ve been involved since back in the early 1970s, although I first became secretary around 1987.

“The two clubs won admission at the same time and some were maybe surprised Ross County made it through.

“But I’ve always thought the titles and the good runs they enjoyed in the Scottish Cup under Bobby Wilson played a part.

“The higher up the leagues you go, the more involved it becomes and Donnie and I have had to learn as we go.”

In the early years, it was often said the Highlands could never sustain two clubs capable of reaching Scotland’s elite league. Past Caley Thistle chairman Doug McGillivray was one who doubted the sparsely populated area’s capability.

Falconer, though, stressed that County’s arrival at the same heady heights as their neighbours will be a financial stimulus. County these days attract First Division crowds of 2,000-plus and can expect more to file through the gates of a soon-to-be revamped 6,000 all-seater Victoria Park. More importantly, aside from the possible Old Firm sell-out visits, Highland derbies will also be packed out.

“It is fantastic for the Highlands and football throughout the area,” Falconer said. “We’ll have full houses probably four or more times a year.

“Playing in the same league gets the fans’ rivalry going again and stokes the passions.

“Setting aside the finance, I just feel very proud as a Highlander to have two clubs in the SPL. I think it’s a wonderful thing. To a certain extent, we share an element of our crowds, there’s no doubt about that at all. We also share sponsors and corporate client, but that just keeps us all on our toes. Hopefully, the SPL will taper the games home and away and it will be just fine.”

Falconer describes the SPL as a very different beast from the SFL administratively but is sure MacBean will cope just fine.

For now, he knows they will simply be enjoying the achievement. “What Ross County have done is quite superb. I’m delighted for everyone there, especially Donnie and the chairman Roy MacGregor who has put such a lot into it,” Falconer said.

“I’m just looking forward to next season. It will add a new dimension, I feel, to the SPL.

“I also suspect – in fact I know – there are a few clubs who won’t be happy with two extra games in the far north.

“That will play in both clubs’ favour. Also, from an administrative point of view, we will have common problems and concerns. We now have an extra voice in the SPL representing this part of the country.”

The sentiment is shared by MacBean, who first became hooked on Ross County after helping sell raffle tickets at the famous Scottish Cup visit of Rangers in 1966.

“It certainly didn’t feel like an anti-climax on Tuesday night,” MacBean said. “I was very emotional when the final whistle blew at Dens.

“Since then, you wouldn’t believe the phone calls and messages of congratulation I and the club have had. They’ve come from all over the world. I’m told Ross County was even trending the highest on Twitter at one point on Tuesday night.”

Away from the emotion, MacBean backs Falconer’s assertion that being one-sixth of the SPL will be financially rewarding. Just as Celtic and Rangers seem to need each other, so too do the north two.

“We can feed off each other, especially through the local derbies and the raised profile of the game up here,” MacBean said.

“Even way back when we first entered the SFL, that was our pitch – that the Highlands could sustain two clubs. As we’ve scaled the divisions, that’s been proven correct. The benefits are huge. When Caley Thistle dropped to the First Division, that generated a lot of excitement, and money, locally. I’m hoping the SPL will ensure there are no home clashes of matches. I hope they market the game for us.

“I’m absolutely delighted for the clubs and, above all, the supporters. Terry Butcher, the ICT manager, has been a great champion for the Highlands. The rivalry between us will be huge but I’m sure we will work together off the field.”