Who did put the O and the Y in County?

This weekend, with the focus away from Inverness, and Scottish Cup semi-finals being played, I took a look at what's been happening in the lower league, and look what I found. Our friends and good neighbours from 'over the bridge' are coming to join us next season in the big boys league. They have taken their time getting there, but now they have done it in style with five games still to play and an unbeaten run stretching way back to the second game of the season when Hamilton Accies whipped their ass' 5-1. They seemed to learn from that drubbing and have shown the rest a clean pair of heels since then and are now confirmed as champions after nearest challengers Dundee dropped a point in midweek.

The quaint market town of Dingwall will be hearing a new sound sound come August as all sorts of neanderthals will converge on Victoria Park when the football season starts. The peaceful village sounds of cattle mooing their way along the highways and pegs being sold on the High Street will be a thing of the past.

Yes folks, our neighbours have made the grade, moving up from the SFL and into the bad boys league in the SPL. No longer will it be Queen of the South or Raith Rovers visiting in their dozens, but five thousand Old Firm fans will be trying to squeeze into the revamped Viccy Park, at either end of the ground and the locals now have a massive selection and life style choice to make. Follow Follow, Hail Hail, or Ole Ole Ole Ole.....County, County. It's now the time to leave your Old Firm allegiances behind and support your local team.

Like it or not, congratulations are in order. Let's not piss on their parade. Instead, remember the enjoyment we had on our special day at Ayr and how much fun that brought with it, not to mention a seven goal football feast and a sermon from Allah Butcher, from the pinnacle of the Somerset Park Stand. Aye, memories are made of this. Let them enjoy their moment, for soon enough the harsh reality of SPL life will slowly grind them down and the enjoyment and expectation that promotion brought with it will be a distant memory.

The step up to SPL life may not seem like a big one, as most division one teams see the bottom six in the SPL as no better than half of the fizzy pop league. That may be the case in one off games, but the dog-eat-dog SPL quickly absorbs any silky football, any free flowing flair, and replaces it with cut-throat long ball boredom and defend at all costs, where not losing is seen as more satisfactory than winning games. Very soon the adrenaline rush will be sucked from the fans and replaced with fear and trepidation, the fear of losing, the fear of your rivals winning and the very real fear of relegation, a word synonymous with the SPL.

But don't let me put you off. It's not all doom and gloom. There can be days when the world appears to be a better place, days like beating the Old Firm, days like Kilmarnock (3-6) and days like your first win over certain teams, Aberdeen springs to mind for Inverness fans. However, these can be overshadowed by a string of less than favourable results, the January transfer window or failing to beat teams because your own team are simply inadequate.

County's rise to the promised land has not been meteoric, more pedantic, but nonetheless they have broken free this season after 18 years in the doldrums. Their unbeaten run of thirty league games and counting is a fantastic achievement akin to our own winning season, when Dundee's relentless march to the SPL was halted by our own winning streak as we overturned a 15 point deficit to win the league by 12 points. The similarities are uncanny. We won the title in midweek when Raith beat Dundee, County winning the title in midweek when Dundee failed to win. Our next game:- a celebration at Ayr, County's next game a celebration at Ayr. Then the chance to really celebrate at home, against Dundee, County have the same Dundee in Dingwall this weekend. It's all very Deja Vu.

How the Gudgies will cope with life in the SPL is open to debate. They have a winning mentality at the moment, and that will give them a boost going into the top flight, but when you have to perform at your best week in, week out, then it starts to wear thin. A few home losses then the euphoria turns to anxiety, the anxiety to reality and the reality to a relegation battle, where tension takes over and underachievement is boss. It's a vicious circle, trust me, Inverness have gone through this, worn the T shirt got the hat, but as long as you can come out the other end smiling, then the SPL is for you.

There are a few positives to be drawn from County's success. First on the list are three or four local derbies, ye canna beat them for the rivalry and banter, big crowds and a few drams. Secondly, the Central belt clubs will be a bit cheesed off having to travel the A9 twice as often next season. Third positive for Inverness is less travelling to away games (derbies) and the thought of taking 9 points off County is just magic.

I suppose this is as close to a congratulation as Ross County will receive from CTO, but it would be churlish of us to begrudge them their little bit of history, one which like us, they have earned. There has been the usual mix of emotions on the forums inside here, but the general concensus of opinions is that the fans will welcome the derbies and the opportunity to put one over your nearest rivals. The banter created when the two teams meet will be a new SPL experience for both of us and one which should be embraced by fans of both sides. A Highland derby in the SPL, who would have thought that 18 years ago?

ps. I never did find out who put the O and the Y in County.