 |
|
|
|
|
|
e-mail Lorsports
Return to the Main News IndexThe 1998-99 Index PageLORSPORTS' HOME PAGE
North businesses are giving a £30,000 cash boost to a former Press and Journal Highland League club which now leads the Third Division to help build youngsters' football skills.
Ross County is the first club in Scotland to appoint an assistant community coach who will concentrate on developing the sport from the grass roots.
Narden Services, of Nairn, developers of Inverness retail and business park, Ness Motors, builders Morrison Construction and MacGregor Industrial Supplies have all contributed.
The business cash contribution to the football club will be matched pound for pound through the Scottish Sports Council's Sportsmatch initiative.
Ross County's general manager Alastair Kennedy, who masterminded the funding, said it was good news for all the youngsters looking to develop their football skills.
"This additional money will allow us to develop football throughout the Highlands, from grass-roots level to our teams competing in the Scottish Youth Development League and our under-21 team," he said.
"Ross County is the first club in Scotland to appoint an assistant community coach who will concentrate on developing links with schools.
"He will also open up soccer centres to provide quality coaching to young people from the age of five upwards.
"With a six-figure budget requirement, this business cash injection has come just at the right time for the club.
"This is a win-win scenario for both parties. Ross County benefit from the businesses' input of money to assist it develop areas of the club.
"The companies also gain by coming to an agreement with Ross County on what the club can do to help them support their business objectives.
"That could include providing corporate hospitality, advertising boards and sponsorship arrangements to increase their image within the community."
Chairwoman of the Sportsmatch awards panel Hazel Dudgeon said Ross County was one of many organisations throughout Scotland to have benefited from the Sportsmatch scheme.
"The businesses will gain from an increased community profile and the satisfaction of knowing that many more youngsters can become involved in sport thanks to this sponsorship," she added.
Return to the Page Index
High-flying Ross County are not about to rest on their laurels, despite leading second-placed Brechin City by seven points in the Third Division promotion race.
Last week the Dingwall side signed midfielder John McGlashan from Dundee, and he could soon be joined by 20-year-old Dens Park striker, Aberdonian Jerry O'Driscoll.
Signed by Dundee from Aberdeen's Crombie Juniors at the start of the 1995-96 season, O'Driscoll has been training for the last two days under Neale Cooper's ever watchful eye at Victoria Park.
The County boss said: "Jerry has done well in training sessions this week, but it's always difficult to judge a player on his performance in training alone.
"He could possibly take part in a closed-doors friendly next week, and I intend to take in a game in which he's playing, in Dundee on Friday."
Cooper believes that the time is now right to strengthen his squad, although admitting that County players have done amazingly well so far this season.
He said: "When you're sitting at the top of the league, that's the time to strengthen your squad. Besides, you never know when another club could come in to try to sign one of our talented players, such as Neil Tarrant or Kenny Gilbert to name only two."
Meanwhile, County's French midfielder Frank Escalon is in Paris to consult a specialist about his niggling hamstring problem.
He flies back tonight and Neale Cooper hopes that the influential playmaker will return with positive news on an injury that has dragged on for too long.
Return to the Page Index
Ross County manager Neale Cooper and Montrose boss Kevin Drinkell used to share trophies at Ibrox together.
Now the two former Rangers team-mates will come face-to-face at Dingwall today with the length of the Third Division separating them. But both managers are united in their opinions that this will not be an easy game for leaders Ross County.
Cooper realises his men must get back on the winning trail if they are to go into the vital Christmas period at the top.
He said: "It will be a difficult game for us. They may be bottom of the table but they have done well in recent weeks.
"There are no easy games and we must be ready for Montrose. We must try to get back on the winning way after dropping points last week."
Brechin closed the gap at the top with a midweek victory at third-placed Stenhousemuir and Cooper insists County are the team everyone needs to beat.
He said: "This week is no more important for us than any other. Teams raise their game when they come up to play because of our stadium. There is extra pressure at being at the top of the table but I wouldn't have it any other way."
Steven Ferguson is suspended following his sending off last week and he will miss one game. Prolific striker Gary Wood has also been added to the squad but he may have to settle for a place on the bench at best after a long lay-off. New signing from Dundee John McGlashan will make his debut in front of the home fans after scoring on his debut in the draw last week.
County yesterday continued to give young footballers in the Inverness area an opportunity to make the grade by signing Golspie High pupils Ryan Rutherford and Craig Mowat.
Return to the Page Index
Manager Neale Cooper believes Ross County cannot rest on their laurels despite consolidating their four-point lead at the top of the Third Division with a convincing 3-0 victory over Montrose on Saturday.
Cooper said: "I still think we can play a lot better. The players put in a hard shift against Montrose, especially in the middle of the park."
County opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when winger Billy Ferries cracked a 20-yard effort past Fitzpatrick in the Montrose goal.
County gave themselves breathing space when Neil Tarrant ran on to Alex Taylor's threaded pass after 63 minutes to score.
With four minutes left Alex Taylor met a McGlashan cut back to hit a shot high and wide of Fitzpatrick to send the County fans home full of festive spirit.
Despite the comprehensive victory Cooper reckons there is little to choose between the sides in Division 3.
He said: "There's very little between top and bottom in this league. Montrose are much more organised than their lowly position suggests."
Return to the Page Index
Ross County players joined boss Neale Cooper and chairman Roy MacGregor last night to play Santa in the children's ward at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
It was a special moment for 14-year-old Mark Mackie, from Balintore, an ardent County fan, as Cooper and his squad gathered round his bed to wish him a merry Christmas.
Cooper and his helpers cheered up the ward with their own particular brand of festive banter and each child received a gift to help lift their spirits at having to spend Christmas in hospital.
The County boss believes that his players have an important role to play in the community.
He said: "It's important for the players to see just how lucky they are at this time of year. We went to St Clement's school this morning and came to the hospital in the afternoon and the players loved doing it.
"The players themselves asked if they could do this, and I'm sure they appreciate the importance of doing it."
Midfielder Steve Ferguson said: "You could see a wee glow in the kids' faces when we gave them their presents. We're going out to play a game of football on Saturday and I'm sure the kids in here would love to be able to be kicking a ball at the weekend."
General manager Alistair Kennedy emphasised the importance of the community to the club.
He said: "We must never lose sight of people who are less fortunate than ourselves, especially at this time of the year. It was quite a humbling experience for some of the players.
Return to the Page Index
Neale Cooper gave Ross County fans the best possible Christmas present when he signed a two-year extension to his contract after watching his side increase their lead at the top of the Third Division.
County Chairman Roy MacGregor was delighted with securing his manager's signature into the new millennium. He said: "Neale is a young, ambitious manager and we are an extremely ambitious club. We thought it was in all our best interests to secure Neale's future here at Ross County. He's not had an easy time of it since moving North, but he's still a young manager and keen to learn.
"We have made tremendous progress in all areas of the club over the last year and this is beginning to tell in our performance both on and off the park. Neale and his young family are now well-settled in the area and our negotiations took only minutes to agree."
Cooper said: "I had no hesitation in signing this new contract and I thank the chairman and his board of directors for their confidence in me. County have tremendous support from all over the Highlands and beyond, and the players and I are working hard to repay the support. Promotion is our major priority and I'm pleased to be part of County's ambitious plans for the future and I hope to live up to their expectations."
Over the last couple of weeks, Cooper has re-signed influential players such as Neil Tarrant, Kenny Gilbert and Steve Ferguson and also signed John McGlashan from Dundee. Putting his own name on the dotted line has put the icing on County's Christmas cake.
County's 50th goal of the season turned out to be one of their best. Man-of-the-match Roy McBain waltzed his way along the goal line before cutting the ball back to the edge of the box for Stuart Golabek to thunder a rising drive past the helpless ex-County 'keeper Steve Hutchison.
Until then, Hutchison had broken the hearts of the home side - one tip over from a Mark Haro header in particular was spectacular.
Cooper felt that his move to bring on Billy Ferries in the 58th minute - four minutes before the goal - turned the game.
"Dave Ross did the hard shift and because Billy's been looking a bit tired lately, I thought I'd keep him fresh for a spell late in the game and it worked. Roy McBain's performance was different class. It was a fantastic result.
Return to the Page Index
Return to Lorsports' Home Page