Ross County youngsters score European success with cup win
ROSS County have lifted their first international trophy afgter battling it out against the cream of Europe in the Netherlands.
However, it wasn’t the senior team who were the club’s trailblazers in Europe — but the club’s under 13 and under 15 teams, who proved to be superb ambassadors for the club on and off the park.
The two teams were invited to play in a tournament in the Netherlands, which was competed for by some of the top Dutch and English youth academy teams.
Both teams excelled, with the U13s beating some stiff opposition to take the Amsterdam Cup back to Ross-shire.
The U15s finished a very credible third in their age group.
Ex-County favourite, Steven Ferguson, who is now the club’s Head of Youth and Community, told the Ross-shire Journal: “It was a great experience, and the kids were fantastic. It was a real pleasure to have accompanied them. They behaved like a premier league club.”
Both teams, comprising of a squad of 17, topped their respective groups on the Saturday to qualify for the final group stage on the Sunday and ultimately, for the U13s, the final.
Commenting on the boys’ performances on the park, Fergie said: “The under 13s played some real attacking football to win the cup – they never even conceded a goal in the top group on the Sunday – they were a pleasure to watch. They really were deserved winners.
“The under 15s, they won their group comfortably on the Saturday, but unfortunately got off to a slow start on the Sunday, losing their first couple of games 1-0. They won their third game but ended up in third place. They were obviously disappointed not to come home with the trophy but they gave a great account of themselves.”
He added: “Despite a 24-hour bus journey the boys prepared well for their games and enjoyed the experience. They adapted well to the physical challenge of the English teams, who were a year older than our boys, and the technical ability of the Dutch teams.
“Collectively they were fantastic and individually every one of them contributed, whether it was by scoring goals, creating them or keeping them out. I think every one of the strikers we took over got themselves on the scoresheet.”
Fergie was just as impressed by the boys’ behaviour off the field. He said: “It was the first time I had taken boys from Ross County abroad. I’d done it myself as a kid so I kind of knew what to expect but I can’t emphaise enough how well the boys behaved off the pitch, they were a credit to the area and their families.”