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Return to the 1997-98 IndexLorsports' Home Page
On-loan striker Charlie King will make his Ross County debut today against visitors Berwick Rangers. He has yet to don the blue shirt because of recent cancellations. Jim Slavin is also on stand-by to make his debut in case Mark Haro fails a fitness test.
Neale Cooper has been trying to focus his troops on league business this week and to put next week’s cup replay to the back of their minds.
Berwick have come back into form after a bad start and they will be a threat to us, warned Cooper. The main thing is to catch Alloa and Arbroath and a victory today is vital if we are to maintain our challenge.
County’s injury problems are easing as six first-team squad members play for the reserves today. However, Gary Wood will miss the game and probably be out for a further three weeks with ankle ligament damage. Roy McBain also misses today’s match because of suspension.
DRM 31 January 1998
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Mark Holmes has been released by Ross County. Holmes who was signed last November has been playing mostly in the reserves. He had spells with Clachnacuddin and went to Brisbane for a spell before he returned to sign a short contract with County.
Mark, a post office worker, found it difficult to keep both jobs going. He felt that he was performing well with County and that reserve team coach Dave Valentine had been pleased with his performances. However, manager Neale Cooper had expected more and so the player was released. He is expected to sign for Forres or Clachnacuddin.
DRM 31 January 1998
Additional reporting by Adrian King
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Derek Adams has stressed that Ross County must remove the memories of their match against first division Airdrie so that they can concentrate on tonight’s league fixture against Montrose at Link’s Park. With a hard frost predicted there is an early morning pitch inspection.
Top scorer Adams hopes the game will go ahead and he reckons that if County can take full points from their next few games they will regain top spot in the league.
Adams said, "We played well against Airdrie and could have come away with a win. But now we have to face Montrose today and Berwick on Saturday and we must take full points.
"We have to start winning games. The fans and the board might be concerned that we are only in third place but the players aren’t. Having played all the other teams in the league we know that we are the best side in the division."
Defender Mark Haro is a doubt after breaking his nose against Airdrie whilst Gary Wood is out for several weeks with damaged ankle ligaments. Charlie King is added to the squad.
Meanwhile, County have signed former Partick Thistle defender Jim Slavin until the end of the season. Slavin has played in several trial matches after playing junior football since his release last summer.
DRM 27 January 1998
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In the fourth round draw for the Tennent’s Scottish Cup made last Saturday evening the winners of the Airdrie - Ross County third round replay will have a home tie against Dundee.
Ross County manager Neale Cooper has an added incentive to make sure that they account for Airdrie in Tuesday week’s replay. His close friend John McCormack is in charge at Dens Park.
"It would be nice if we could go through and meet Dundee because I keep close contact with John and I know him well. He helps our club with various matters."
Neale has no fears about the next game against Airdrie. "We have to take care of Airdrie first but we are delighted with our performance against them last Saturday and the replay will be another hard game."
DRM 26 January 1998
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Alex Taylor stressed that the league is far more important to Ross County than a run in the Tennent's Scottish Cup. The Victoria Park midfielder reckons that his team must win promotion to the Second Division to further the ambitions of the Dingwall side.
He said, "It is important that we win promotion. If we were to win the league it would mean so much to everyone associated with the club and the whole area.
"The cup is a fun distraction but it is definitely not as important as winning the league, which would be a tremendous achievement and we could progress further by being in the second division."
The former Falkirk, Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers player believes both sides will serve up a feast of football.
"Airdrie are a very underrated side in footballing terms," said Taylor. "They have been labelled a rough side but they can play some nice football.
"County need to compete with Airdrie, get the ball down and play football, which is what we are best at. I think that we have a chance and we will be looking for the win but we have got to be realistic because Airdrie have a terrific record in cup competitions."
Ross County boss Neale Cooper admits it will be a hard task but feels that his side are capable of achieving a win.
We have played sides from their division already this season and although we may not have won any of the games we have played well in patches."
DRM 24 January 1998
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At the recent Annual General Meeting of Ross County Football Club Limited, one of the key issues under discussion was the impending re-structuring of the Scottish Leagues.
Roy McGregor, the chairman, said that the proposal, based on a 12-12-16 set-up, would be a complete disaster for the smaller clubs like Ross County.
What is worse is that the proposals will be forced upon County without them having an opportunity to vote. Both Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle are too new to the league to have a vote.
Roy highlighted the large investment that County had made as they attempt to bring first division football to Victoria Park early in the millennium. There is a large wage bill to be met as half of the first team pool is full time.
If the proposals go ahead it will mean that Ross County will spend another season in the bottom division (even if they gain promotion) and so delay and hinder their attempt to achieve their aim. Roy felt that it was the thought of promotion that spurred the players on a week to week basis.
At the AGM the office bearers elected were: Chief Executive - Donald MacLean; Chairman - Roy McGregor; Director of Football - Iain Dingwall; and, Stadium Director - Gordon MacRae. The other Board Members are: Donald McBean, Ken Cameron, David Patience and Calum Grant.
DRM 24 January 1998
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Ross County defender Gerry Farrell is wanted by second division Clyde. The Broadwood club offered Ross County two players for a swap but County boss Neale Cooper wants to see them play before making a decision.
Farrell is keen to play his football closer to his Glasgow home and because of that he was put on the transfer list. Clyde are keen to strengthen their defence to remain clear of the battle for relegation in their division.
Farrell’s impressive recent form has been brought to the attention of Clyde boss Gardner Spiers who made his move for the 22-year-old defender yesterday.
Another County player who continues to attract attention is free-scoring forward Derek Adams. A un-named side from the Scottish Leagues have asked County not to name them yet.
In the meantime, French trialist Emmanuel Soulay has returned to Paris without playing a match for County. A doubt surfaced about his eligibility to play in Scotland and Ross were not prepared to take any risks. There are no plans for him to return to Dingwall.
County’s other Frenchman, midfielder Frank Escalon, should return to the reckoning as he has recovered from a hamstring injury.
Cooper said, "He’s a quality player and once he gets over his fitness problems the fans will see that."
DRM 23 January 1998
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In the 1960s Tommy Ross from Inver in Easter Ross scored seven goals in a Highland League match against Nairn County which Ross County won 8-1. The Ross-shire Journal of the day records the feat.
Outside right Tommy Ross shattered Nairn completely in an inspired spell early in the second half when he slammed home three identical goals in the space of 90 seconds. Whether a goal-scoring record or not, it was a truly remarkable feat, coupled with the fact that he scored seven of the County’s eight goals, excellent counters all of them. This is perhaps a scoring record for a winger.
It is interesting to note that the record for the best time for scoring a hat-trick was returned by J Scarth whilst playing for Gillingham in November 1952 with a recorded time of 120 seconds.
DRM 23 January 1998
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Ross County's away fixture against Montrose on Saturday 17 January has been posponed because of the extreme weather conditions in eastern Scotland. As yet a new date for the fixture has yet to be decided.
County were due to hand a debut to 19-year-old Charlie King today. King has been signed on a five-week loan period from St Johnstone.
County boss Neale Cooper said, "Paul Sturrock rates him highly and he was delighted to see the player get the chance to gain some valuable experience.
"He's not the biggest lad but he can play through the middle or out wide and he has shown the wee touch of arrogance which marks all good players."
County are waiting for international clearance for French trialist Emmanuel Soulay but hope that this player will be available soon. Injured for today's match were Cooper himself, and 'flu victims Frank Escalon, Jerry Farrell and Stuart Golabek. On the injured list is winger Roy McBain.
Ross County now have two outstanding league fixtures. The other is against East Stirlingshire.
DRM 17 January 1998
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Ross County played a closed-door practice match against St Johnstone yesterday. This was to compensate for losing the re-arranged league match against East Stirlingshire because of their Scottish Cup replay.
In the match against St Johnstone Ross County fielded two trialists. They were French "free agent" Emmanuel Soulay and the former Partick Thistle and Celtic defender Jim Slavin.
DRM 14 January 1998
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Ross County's league fixture against East Stirlingshire has been postponed because of East Stirlingshire's commitment in the Scottish Cup. County have arranged a friendly against Elgin City, from the Highland League, instead.
Jim Kelly, the Ross County assistant manager, said that he hoped that "fringe players" would be used in this game to cover for the injuries to Escalon, Farrell, Herd and Gilbert.
Ross County's fixture against East Stirling has been re-arranged for next Tuesday (13/1) subject to Scottish Cup replays.
DRM 9 January 1998
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Ross County striker Derek Adams is determined to learn French so that he can link up with new signing Frank Escalon
Derek said,"There will be more goals from me if I can ever understand what Frank is shouting because my French is non-existant and his Aberdonian isn't brilliant either.
"I've played two games with Frank since he joined us and that's been more that enough to pursuade me that he is a quality performer who can only help our push for promotion this season"
Adams, 22, signed for County a season ago from Burnley. Last season he was top scorer with 23 goals and this season has netted 16, a total only exceeded by Rangers striker Marco Negri in the Scottish League.
With eighteen months of his contrct still to run, Adams is attracting the attention of some clubs who will be able to offer him full time football. Currently Adams is part time on the County staff as he completes his training as an electrician in Aberdeen.
Adamsadded, "We're nicely placed in the Third Division table and we've got a Scottish Cup tie against Airdrie where we could pull off a shock.
"This will be the season for Ross County and, although I would love to go full time again, I'm delighted to be part of what's going on at Victoria Park and determined to keep putting the ball in the back of the net."
DRM 8 January 1998
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Ross County defeated Brechin City 3-1 in the second round of the Tennent's Scottish Cup today. A hat-trick by leading goal scorer Derek Adams gave County a home victory. The draw for the third round was made on BBC's Sportscene and Ross County were drawn to play Airdrieonians away on January 24.
DRM 3 January 1998
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Ross County player-boss Neale Cooper has four reasons to be cheerful about the Scottish Cup. For the former Aberdeen player has a quartet of winners medals and many happy memories from the tournament.
Cooper scored in the unforgettable 4-1 victory over Rangers in 1982, and went on to win the cup in the following two seasons and in 1988.
"The Scottish Cup will always hold a special place in my heart," said Cooper. "I was only eighteen when we played the first final against Rangers.
"Anyone who has ever seen me play will know I'm no striker, so to score one of the goals in my first senior final was something special."
Now Cooper hopes that County can recapture some of the cup romance this season, starting this afternoon against Brechin City.
DRM 3 January 1998
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