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This article appeared in the Ross-shire Journal on Friday 27 November 1998.
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An Albion Rovers fan was recently overheard at Victoria Park observing: "This is definately a first division set-up. What the hell are you guys doing in this league?"
He had no expectation for his own side asking only that County did not beat them too heavily. Naturally, being football, Albion Rovers went on to win the match 2-1 and thus avenge an early season drubbing on their own patch.
On such occasions the aftermath is often more traumatic that the game itself. With the Ross County faithfull queuing up to ask how, given the scale of the club's set-up can they ever lose in that division? After all, do they not generate some of the highest league attendances outside the Premier Division at the ever-improving Victoria Park? Moreover, with seven senior and six youth training scheme full-time players, shouldn't County merely soar up the Scottish Leagues?
However, as I discovered recently at a highly buoyant but realistic Victoria Park, the full-timers are not mistaking achievements off the field for success on it.
"It may sound daft, but when teams come up here it's like we are the Rangers or Celtic of the Third Division," suggested Steve Ferguson, one of County's seven full-time senior players. "That's exactly what it feels like sometimes, I'm not making an excuse of it. The supporters have every right to expect more from some of us. Unfortunately because we're full-timers doesn't necessarily mean we can always jump higher and run faster."
After five years at Dunfermline, Fergie signed for Ross County in 1996. Like the other full-timers the appeal for first-team football and the obvious ambitions of Ross County enticed him north.
"Although things have not worked out as fast as we would have liked promotion-wise, I love it here. It was always my dream growing up in Wester Hailes to play full-time football. I just love training everyday and getting the crack with the boys.
Did part of that dream include living in the remote Culbokie farm house in Easter Ross with five other footballers? A unique situation of footballing abode which has since moved to Marybank House and soon, for Steve, to his own Inverness flat.
"Generally, I think living together has helped to build team spirit. Gary Wood and I have been sharing a room while Kenny Gilbert and Roy McBain share another. Neil Tarrant gets his own because he's living up here all week. The rest of us are here from Tuesday to Saturday. Then it's home after the games."
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The other two full-timers, Alex Taylor and Frank Escalon, stay in Motherwell and Inverness respectively. Alex Taylor trains with Motherwell and part-time with County due to business commitments.
Alex Taylor's situation raises a point about County's part-time/full-time set-up; does it work? How can it gel having the majority of the players only coming in for training on Tuesday and Thursday nights?
"Well, last year when there were only seven or eight players it did feel a bit empty sometimes," commented Neil Tarrant. "Now there are six YTS boys and it feels more like a full-time club. Now we have regular five-a-side matches and the new players lift the atmosphere.
"I was at Darlington, my home town team, and Shamrock Rovers after that. But Shamrock were only part-time and I definately wanted full-time football. I don't mind the living arrangements at all. There's no chance I take any of this for granted. Training every morning - 10.30am to 12.30pm - and Tuesday and Thursday nights with the part-time boys is what it's all about.
"It's all I ever wanted to do. When I'm not training I've started playing a little golf and have a girlfriend now which definately helps. On Saturdays, if we win, I'll head down to the Social Club. I think it's helped us being together at the house for cameraderie and talking about the up-coming games sometimes."
What about pressure from the supporters? Does being a full-time player put more pressure on him than the part-timers?
"Possibly a little bit but generally the supporters are very friendly to me. I think when we hit the field it's as a team. But occasionally you do feel that more is expected.
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One player who seems to much happier now that he has moved to Marybank is Roy McBain. On the day I caught up with him his improved play had been rewarded by him being taken off the transfer list. A player whom all the young YTS boys agreed as being the most skillful in the club.
"The old place could be murder at times. Gerry Farrell, Tom Callaghan and Kevin Morgan were there as well. We all do our own cooking and silly wee things like not clearing up could get on peoples' nerves. But it's all part of the job and I've got used to it. The daily training and being involved full-time make up for the boring times."
He agreed that the fans often expected the full-timers to be the club's best players but, not for lack of effort, it didn't always work out that way.
"I think the fans do expect more from us full-timers which I can understand. But sometimes you are giving all you've got and simply can't run any faster just because you're full-time. Occasionally you just can't explain it, like after the Hearts game.
"It's not deliberate but we were just so up for the game with the huge crowd and everything, and then you're playing in front of a few hundred away from home. You're giving it all you've got but sometimes things just aren't happening. Those are the hardest times."
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County's ubiquitous defender Kenny Gilbert agreed that more is quite rightly expected from the full-timers, but he generally tries to block the crowd out.
"I remember last year when I was heckled by some of the supporters when I was made man of the match. That hurt. But generally, you try to block it out and concentrate fully on the game. However, sometimes it is impossible. Like the Hearts game because our supporters were so amazing you couldn't ignore them. It gave you such a lift during the entire game."
Kenny reminded me what a young team this still is and that the County learning curve is all about the process of getting things right on the park.
"Missing out on promotion last year really stung the club. But I think being here full-time together with the previous set-backs has made us stronger for the present promotion push."
How has having the six YTS boys Brian Mcaleod, Andy Stewart, Steven MacKay, David Calder, Graham Munro and Garry Ewing, at the club changed things?
"It makes training that wee bit more special. You feel that you're part of a bigger club, it keeps spirits high having more players about the place. The young boys stay at the park in the afternoon either cleaning the boots or doing chores like most apprentices at other clubs. Although they've still got a lot to learn, we can pass on tips about positioning and preparation to them."
It seems that Kenny has already had quite an effect on at least one YTS player. Garry Ewing said, "Kenny is definately the sort of player that I'd model myself on."
In fact, all the other YTS boys agreed that playing with the senior full-time players had raised their standards considerably. Garry Ewing felt his touch had improved and general knowledge of the game. "Playing against guys like Roy McBain every day can only help. Plus the gaffer is always passing on tips that I would never have got without being at Ross County."
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Meanwhile above all else football remains a means of entertainment. When Ross County signed Gary Woods from Cowdenbeath a new song was added to the 'Gaol End' song sheet: :Gary Woods, Gary Woods, he dyes his hair but we don't care ...., Gary Woods, Gary Woods."
A young player whose explosive bright hair is more than matching his exciting fully committed style of play. A crowd-pleaser had broken on to the scene. Unfortunately for Gary, he began this season mostly on the bench. Nonetheless, on the day of our meeting he had not only recently returned to first team action, but had scored a phenomenal seven goals in three games. Including four in one match.
However the first thing the philosophical striker mentioned was how fickle the nature of football was. "It's a harsh, harsh game," he commented. I agreed but reminded him of his current form. Two days later he tore his ankle ligaments and will be out for weeks.
"When you're part-time your intentions might be good concerning fitness but it doesn't always work out that way. I was working as a sparky when I was at Cowdenbeath. A job I hated. Half the time I was too knackered to train after a day's work. When Ross County came in for me I jumped at the chance."
How then was Gary finding life first at Culbokie and now at Marybank House?
"Well, I miss my girlfriend in Edinburgh during the week. But I treat the living arrangements as part of the job. One I'm very grateful to have. There's definately more pressure being full-time when you can't get a game. But if we're going to get promotion we're definately going to have to chuck the part-time/full-time thing out the window. Rather than get depressed by bad results, no matter how much we all hate to lose, we have started to learn from our mistakes rather than let them get us down."
For a relatively young man Gary certainly has a firm perspective on the precarious nature of football. Like all the other full-timers he feels himself a better, wiser player for the experience. A cameraderie and growing sense of self-belief at Victoria Park should ensure that promotion can be achieved. A confidence complimented by a maturing awareness that the odd set-back may be isolated, and even inconsequential, is the order of the day this season at Ross County rather than being the presage for disaster.
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