Highland derby



The Highland derby is a football rivalry that is based in the Scottish Highlands. It is contested between the only two senior league 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 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 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. 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 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. 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.
The increased level of media interest in the fixture led some outlets to humorously tag the derby as "El Kessocko" or "The Cold Firm".
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.

Head-to-head

In head-to-head matches, the teams have played each other in 61 games, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle winning 26 times, compared to Ross County's 17. A total of 18 matches have ended in a draw. Inverness have won more league, Scottish Cup and Challenge Cup matches, with both teams tied in League Cup matches.
TeamLeagueScottish CupLeague CupChallenge CupTotal
Inverness CT2211226
Ross County1601017
Draw1530018

Matches played

League

Cups

Goalscorer records

Players with 3 or more goals in the Highland derby.
ScorerTeamLeagueScottish CupLeague CupChallenge CupTotal
Liam BoyceRoss County10———10
Dennis WynessInverness CT9———9
Billy McKayInverness CT43——8
Billy McKayRoss County1———8
Iain StewartInverness CT7———7
Aaron DoranInverness CT51——6
Alan HercherInverness CT4———4
Jamie McPhersonRoss County4———4
Iain VigursRoss County22——4
Ross DraperInverness CT3———3
Steven FergusonRoss County3———3
Brian GrantRoss County3———3
Barry RobsonInverness CT3———3
Miles StoreyInverness CT3———3
Marley WatkinsInverness CT3———3
Barry WilsonInverness CT3———3
Greg TanseyInverness CT2—1—3
Steve HislopInverness CT1——13
Steve HislopRoss County1———3
Richie ForanInverness CT12——3
Ross StewartRoss County12——3
Jordan WhiteInverness CT12——3
Michael GardyneRoss County111—3

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. John Robertson has had spells as manager at both clubs.
Among the players who have featured for both sides are:
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 '
Second Division—1
Third Division11
Scottish Cup1—
Scottish League Cup—1
Scottish Challenge Cup23
Total68

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