Thousands of Ross County fans will line the streets of Dingwall after this weekend’s Highland derby to welcome the League Cup to the region and hail their history-making Hampden heroes.
Staggies supporters will get the chance to show their appreciation for manager Jim McIntyre and his cup stars in an open-top bus parade shortly after the final whistle goes at Victoria Park on Saturday.
Tributes continued to pour in yesterday for the team, who secured the club’s first major piece of silverware in their history by beating Hibernian in Sunday’s League Cup final in Glasgow.
Dingwall Academy relaxed its school uniform rules and allowed pupils to wear their Ross County strips to mark the club’s achievement.
The players were given the day off yesterday, but it will be back to work today as they prepare to try to cement a top six league finish with tomorrow’s clash against St Johnstone in Perth and Saturday’s head-to-head with local rivals Inverness Caley-Thistle.
Singing star Amy Macdonald, who was among the near-10,000 supporters cheering on the Staggies on Sunday, posted pictures on social media posing with the medal won by her fiance Richard Foster.
“If there’s no sunshine in Leith I think there’s plenty in Dingwall,” she wrote.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant tabled a motion in Holyrood congratulating the club, while local SNP MP Ian Blackford did the same at Westminster.
Former first minister Lord McConnell also offered his congratulations, saying: “Players, staff and board at Ross County don’t get enough credit. Their achievements are truly remarkable.”
Highland Council convener Isobel McCallum said: “It was an honour and privilege to cheer them on. They have made their home town of Dingwall and the Highlands extremely proud.”
The victory parade will start outside Victoria Park at 5.15pm on Saturday and will travel through Ferry Road, Station Road, Greenhill Street and then enter the pedestrian precinct at the top of the High Street before returning to the ground.
Supporters attending the game have been urged to leave their cars parked until after the parade has ended.
Stadium manager David O’Connor said: “There was a real buzz in the town last Saturday as the team were piped through the High Street on their way to Hampden with a large crown turning out.
“The messages of congratulations have been overwhelming since yesterday’s victory over Hibernian and the procession on Saturday evening will allow all sections of our support and the community to join in the celebrations.”
