DINGWALL RINGS A BELL

Quite excited because it is FA Trophy day tomorrow and I had planned to visit Buxton for their tie but the weather is going to be foul and Shaw Lane Aquaforce might be a more appropriate ground to visit.

I met a group of mature ladies this afternoon who come from the Borders (Scotland) and one who heralds from Dingwall. I know about Dingwall FC, I said, so do said she and she continued to teach me all I wanted to know about the small Scottish town and its football. Good girl!

So Dingwall lies on the western end of the Cromarty Firth, north of Inverness. The town football team is actually known a Ross County FC and they have risen from the Highland Football League to the Scottish Premiership since 1992. They cruised through the Scottish Third, Second and First divisions rapidly and now play amongst the big boys.

Founded in 1929, the Staggies (see badge) take their name from the crest "Caberfeidh" or Stag's Head. The badge is taken from the Seaforth Highlanders, a regiment that lost so many soldiers in the Great War. Their main rivals will be nearby Inverness Caledonian Thistle and County play at the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall with a capacity of just over 6,500.

Dingwall Thistle FC is an amateur team that plays in the originally named Ross-Shire Junior League (formed in 1919) at Jubilee Park and I believe they are truly a local side and now enjoy Welfare football which takes place in the summer months and includes teams from Cromarty, Tain, Fortrose and a few other Highland sides.

They now play in the 1970's named North Caledonian League. Tain hold the 2015 champions trophy, winning 13 of their 14 games. Eastern Rose sadly snuggle at the bottom of the heap with 14 losses out of 14 and 14 goals for and 118 against. Dingwall were second to last.