{{short description|Football rivalry in the Scottish Highlands}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}} {{Use British English|date=February 2018}} {{Infobox football derby | other names = El Kessocko, The Cold Firm<ref name =25years/> | image = | city or region = Scottish Highlands | first contested = 27 August 1994, (Ross County 1–3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle) | teams involved = Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County | most wins = Inverness Caledonian Thistle (27) | most player appearances = | stadiums = Caledonian Stadium, Inverness and Victoria Park, Dingwall | longeststreak = Inverness Caledonian Thistle, 4 games. (16 November 1996 - 12 February 1997) | team1logo = | top scorer = {{Flagicon|NIR}} Liam Boyce, Ross County, 10 goals | currentstreak = Inverness Caledonian Thistle, 1 game. (2 April 2021 – present) | largestvictory = Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1–5 Ross County, 25 February 2003 | smallestvictory = 1–0, (7 times).<br/> Inverness Caledonian Thistle x5<br/> Ross County x2 | currentunbeatenstreak = Inverness Caledonian Thistle, 1 game. (2 April 2021 – present) | longestunbeatenstreak = Ross County, 10 games. (13 August 2016 - 2 April 2021) | largestscoring = 6 goals, (4 times).<br/> 3–3 draw x3 <br/> Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1–5 Ross County | mostrecent = 2 April 2021 (Ross County 1–3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle) | team2logo = | name = Highland Derby | team1 = Inverness Caledonian Thistle | team2 = Ross County | map_location = Scotland North | coordinates1 = {{coord|57.494722|-4.2175|display=inline}} | map_mark1 = Blue pog.svg | map_label1 = '''Inverness Caledonian Thistle''' | map_label1_position = right | coordinates2 = {{coord|57.595833|-4.418889|display=inline}} | map_mark2 = Dark blue pog.svg | map_label2 = '''Ross County''' | map_label2_position = left }} {| class="infobox" |{{Football kit |pattern_la= |pattern_b= _redstripes2 |pattern_ra= |pattern_sh= |pattern_so= _red_midband_color |leftarm= 0000FF |body= 0000FF |rightarm= 0000FF |shorts= 0000FF |socks= 0000FF | title = Inverness CT }} |{{Football kit | pattern_la = _whitecuffpiping | pattern_b = _whitecollarplain | pattern_ra = _whitecuffpiping | pattern_sh = _white stripes | pattern_so = FFFFFF | leftarm = 011D6A | body = 011D6A | rightarm = 011D6A | shorts = 011D6A |socks = 011D6A | title = Ross County }} |}
The '''Highland derby'''<ref name = "ict 3–0 county 2010">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_div_1/8592979.stm |title=Inverness CT 3–0 Ross County |last=Bannerman |first=Charles |date=30 March 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> is a football rivalry that is based in the Scottish Highlands. It is contested between the only two full-time SPFL clubs in the Highland council area, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County. The city of Inverness and town of Dingwall are only {{convert|14|mi}} apart, whereas the nearest other professional clubs (Aberdeen, Dundee, Dundee United and St Johnstone) are over {{convert|100|mi}} away from either club. The fixture is the most northerly professional football derby in the UK.
==History== The rivalry first arose in 1994, when Caledonian Thistle (whose name did not yet include the city) were formed out of the merger between Caledonian and Inverness Thistle.<ref name = "1994 history"/> Both the new Inverness club and Ross County had been accepted as new teams into the Scottish Football League, starting a trend of Highland League clubs entering the SFL.<ref name = "1994 history">{{cite news |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/spl/Highland-clubs-reluctant-to-join.3975533.jp |title=Highland clubs reluctant to join SFL ranks |work=The Scotsman |date=12 April 2008 |access-date=16 October 2010 |last=McLeod |first=Graeme}}</ref> The first match between the sides was a Third Division contest, played on 27 August 1994 at Victoria Park, won 3–1 by Inverness.<ref name =25years>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47273558 |title=Inverness CT v Ross County: 25 years of Scotland's friendly rivalry|author=Amy MacBeath|work=BBC Sport |date=19 February 2019 |access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref>
Since that historic first match, the encounter has gone from strength to strength as both teams improved and came to compete near the top of the Scottish football league system. Both have significant fanbases that have grown due to their successes since their inclusion in 1994. Attendances at the derby matches often surpass the 5,000 mark, making the match itself a popular attraction. The clubs met in the top flight of Scottish football for the first time during the 2012–13 Scottish Premier League season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19847193 |title=Highlands 'buzzing' ahead of first SPL derby of the season |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=5 October 2012 |access-date=5 October 2012}}</ref> For a few months in 2016, the Highland clubs were simultaneously the holders of the country's two major cups, with Inverness's triumph in the 2015 Scottish Cup Final followed by Ross County's win in the 2016 Scottish League Cup Final (March).<ref name =25years/>
The increased level of media interest in the fixture led some outlets to humorously tag the derby as "El Kessocko" (a pun on Spanish ''El Clásico'')<ref>{{cite news |title=Inverness C T 3 Ross County 1: Clubs' first competitive meeting in the top flight proves worth the wait|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/sport/football/inverness-c-t-3-ross-county-1-clubs-first-competitive-meeting-in-the-top-flight-proves-worth-the-wait.19078736|work=heraldscotland|publisher=Herald & Times Group|date=6 October 2012|access-date=21 March 2013 }}</ref> or "The Cold Firm" (a pun on the Old Firm).<ref>{{cite web |title=McKay settles Cold Firm clash|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-mckay-settles-cold-firm-clash-222128022.html|work=PA Sport|publisher=Yahoo! and Eurosport|date=11 December 2012|access-date=21 March 2013 }}</ref><ref name =25years/>
The relationship between the clubs is unusual in that there is "a level of goodwill" between them.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/cups/scottish-cup/2010/05/05/highland-football-has-never-had-it-so-good-after-county-s-cup-run-and-caley-promotion-say-wilsons-86908-22235447/ |title=Highland football has never had it so good after County's Cup run and Caley promotion, say Wilsons |work=Daily Record |last=Fraser |first=Alasdair |date=5 May 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010}}</ref> For example, both clubs closely co-operate in the Highland Football Academy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2002/04/1436 |publisher=Scottish Government |date=10 April 2002 |access-date=16 October 2010 |title=Highland Football Academy launched}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highlandfootballacademy.co.uk/about/ |title=About Us |publisher=Highland Football Academy |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231012915/http://www.highlandfootballacademy.co.uk/about/ |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Head-to-head=== In head-to-head matches, the teams have played each other in 62 games, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle winning 27 times, compared to Ross County's 17. A total of 18 matches have ended in a draw.<ref name="domestic">{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=482&team2_id=2117|title=All time results between Inverness CT and Ross County|access-date=2008-02-18|publisher=Soccerbase}}</ref> Inverness have won more league, Scottish Cup and Challenge Cup matches, with the teams tied in League Cup matches.
{{updated|2 April 2021}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center" |- ! Team !! League !! Scottish Cup !! League Cup !! Challenge Cup !! '''Total''' |- | {{left}}Inverness Caledonian Thistle || 22 || 2 || 1 || 2 || '''27''' |- | {{left}}Ross County || 16 || 0|| 1 || 0 || '''17''' |- | {{left}}Draw || 15 || 3 || 0 || 0 || '''18''' |}
==Matches played== '''League''' {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 12px" |- !colspan=2 | !colspan=4 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Ross County !colspan=5 | Ross County v Inverness Caledonian Thistle |- ! width="52" | Season ! width="100" | Division ! width="95" | Date ! width="145" | Venue ! width="40" | Score ! width="40" | Attendance ! width="95" | Date ! width="145" | Venue ! width="40" | Score ! width="40" | Attendance |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |1994–95 |rowspan=2 |Third Division |29 Oct 1994 |Telford Street Park |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''0 – 0''' |2,440 |27 Aug 1994 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''1 – 3''' |3,157 |- |6 May 1995 |Telford Street Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''3 – 0''' |3,562 |2 Jan 1995 |Victoria Park |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''3 – 1''' |2,749 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |1995–96 |rowspan=2|Third Division |30 Sep 1995 |Telford Street Park |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''1 – 1''' |3,625 |18 Nov 1995 |Victoria Park |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''2 – 0''' |4,288 |- |23 Jan 1996 |Telford Street Park |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''1 – 1''' |4,931 |16 Mar 1996 |Victoria Park |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''2 – 1''' |3,670 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |1996–97 |rowspan=2 |Third Division |16 Nov 1996 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''2 – 0''' |4,562 |28 Sep 1996 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''1 – 3''' |3,598 |- |15 Mar 1997 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''3 – 0''' |5,525 |12 Feb 1997 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''0 – 3''' |5,017 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2000–01 |rowspan=2 |First Division |16 Sep 2000 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''0 – 1''' |4,823 |18 Nov 2000 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''0 – 3''' |5,721 |- |2 Jan 2001<ref name =25years/> |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''3 – 3''' |5,291 |31 Mar 2001 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''0 – 1''' |5,876 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2001–02 |rowspan=2|First Division |17 Nov 2001 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''3 – 0''' |4,513 |15 Sep 2001 |Victoria Park |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''2 – 1''' |4,679 |- |23 Mar 2002 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''1 – 1''' |4,685 |19 Mar 2002 |Victoria Park |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''0 – 0''' |4,414 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2002–03 |rowspan=2|First Division |24 Aug 2002 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''2 – 0''' |3,669 |9 Nov 2002 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''0 – 2''' |5,449 |- |25 Feb 2003 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''1 – 5''' |3,443 |8 Mar 2003 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''0 – 2''' |4,621 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2003–04 |rowspan=2|First Division |14 Nov 2003 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''3 – 3''' |3,523 |30 Aug 2003 |Victoria Park |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''1 – 1''' |5,020 |- |27 Mar 2004 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''1 – 0''' |4,019 |3 Jan 2004 |Victoria Park |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''1 – 0''' |6,120 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2009–10 |rowspan=2|First Division |29 Aug 2009 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''1 – 3''' |5,846 |7 Nov 2009 |Victoria Park |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''2 – 1''' |5,506 |- |30 Mar 2010 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''3 – 0''' |5,411 |20 Mar 2010 |Victoria Park |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''0 – 0''' |5,928 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2012–13 |rowspan=2|Premier League |5 Oct 2012 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''3 – 1''' |6,766 |2 Mar 2013 |Victoria Park |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''0 – 0''' |5,959 |- |16 Mar 2013 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''2 – 1''' |5,750 |19 May 2013 |Victoria Park |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''1 – 0''' |6,002 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2013–14 |rowspan=2|Premiership |1 Jan 2014 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''1 – 2''' |4,332 |25 Feb 2014 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''0 – 3''' |4,805 |- | | | | |4 Apr 2014 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''1 – 2''' |4,433 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2014–15 |rowspan=2|Premiership |5 Oct 2014 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''1 – 1''' |3,741 |1 Jan 2015 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''1 – 3''' |4,887 |- |31 Jan 2015 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''1 – 1''' |4,021 | | | | |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2015–16 |rowspan=2|Premiership |2 Jan 2016 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''2 – 0''' |5,388 |3 Oct 2015 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''1 – 2''' |5,473 |- | | | | |19 Mar 2016<ref name =25years/> |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''0 – 3''' |5,912 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2016–17 |rowspan=2|Premiership |13 Aug 2016 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''2 – 3''' |4,204 |31 Dec 2016 |Victoria Park |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''3 – 2''' |5,111 |- |18 Mar 2017 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''1 – 1''' |4,123 |28 Apr 2017<ref name =25years/> |Victoria Park |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''4 – 0''' |4,928 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan="2" |2018–19 | rowspan="2" |Championship |3 Nov 2018 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''2 – 2''' |4,353 |22 Sep 2018<ref name =25years/> |Victoria Park |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''0 – 0''' |6,402 |- |2 Apr 2019 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''1 – 2''' |3,795 |29 Dec 2018 |Victoria Park |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''2 – 1''' |6,313 |- |}
===Cups=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 12px" |- ! width="52" | Season ! width="100" | Division ! width="135" | Round ! width="100" | Date ! width="135" | Venue ! width="60" | Score ! width="25" | Attendance |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=1 |2003–04 |Challenge Cup |Quarter-final |26 Aug 2003 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''1 – 0''' |2,631 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=1 |2004–05 |League Cup |Second round |24 Aug 2004 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''0 – 1''' |3,315 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=1 |2009–10 |Challenge Cup |Semi-final |4 Oct 2009 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''1 – 0''' |2,755 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=2 |2012–13 |rowspan=2 | Scottish Cup |Fourth round |1 Dec 2012 |Victoria Park |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''3 – 3''' |5,077 |- |Fourth round replay |11 Dec 2012 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''2 – 1''' |4,135 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=1 |2015–16 |League Cup |Quarter-final |27 Oct 2015 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#002060;color:white"|'''1 – 2''' |3,004 |- | rowspan="2" bgcolor="#ffe4c4" |2018–19 | rowspan="2" |Scottish Cup |Fifth round |11 Feb 2019 |Victoria Park |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''2 – 2''' |2,600 |- |Fifth round replay |19 Feb 2019 |Caledonian Stadium |style="background:#808080;color:white"|'''2 – 2'''{{efn|After Extra Time; Inverness CT won 5–4 on penalties.}} |3,608 |- |bgcolor=#ffe4c4 rowspan=1 |2020–21 |Scottish Cup |Third Round |2 April 2021 |Victoria Park |style="background:#0060e0;color:#d00000"|'''1 – 3''' |0{{Efn|Game was held behind closed doors due to COVID Pandemic.|name=}} |} {{notelist}}{{Notelist}}{{Location map+|Scotland North|places={{Location map~ |Scotland North|marksize=6 |lat=57.595896 |long=-4.418988 |label=Ross County |position=left}}
{{Location map~ |Scotland North|marksize=6 |lat=57.494997 |long=-4.217370 |label=Inverness Caledonian Thistle |position=bottom}}|float=right|width=275|caption=Locations of the two competing teams}}
==Goalscorer records== Players with 3 or more goals in the Highland derby. {{updated|2 April 2021}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center" |- ! Scorer ! Team(s) ! League ! Scottish Cup ! League Cup ! Challenge Cup ! Total |- | align="left"| {{flagicon|NIR}} Liam Boyce || Ross County || 10 || — || — || — || '''10''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Dennis Wyness || Inverness Caledonian Thistle|| 9 || — || — || — || '''9''' |- | align="left" rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|NIR}} Billy McKay || Inverness Caledonian Thistle|| 4 || 3 || — || — | rowspan="2"| '''9''' |- | Ross County || 1|| 1 || — || — |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Iain Stewart || Inverness Caledonian Thistle|| 7 || — || — || — || '''7''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE}} Aaron Doran || Inverness Caledonian Thistle|| 5 || 1 || — || — || '''6''' |- | align="left"|{{Flagicon|SCO}} Alan Hercher|| Inverness Caledonian Thistle|| 4 || — || — || — ||'''4''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Jamie McPherson || Ross County || 4 || — || — || — || '''4''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Iain Vigurs || Ross County || 2 || 2 || — || — || '''4''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ross Draper || Inverness Caledonian Thistle||3 || — || — || — || '''3''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Steven Ferguson || Ross County ||3 || — || — || — || '''3''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Brian Grant|| Ross County ||3 || — || — || — || '''3''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Barry Robson || Inverness Caledonian Thistle||3 || — || — || — || '''3''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Miles Storey || Inverness Caledonian Thistle||3 || — || — || — || '''3''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Marley Watkins || Inverness Caledonian Thistle||3 || — || — || — || '''3''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Barry Wilson || Inverness Caledonian Thistle|| 3 || — || — || — || '''3''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Greg Tansey || Inverness Caledonian Thistle||2 || — || 1 || — || '''3''' |- | align="left" rowspan="2"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Steve Hislop || Inverness Caledonian Thistle|| 1|| — || — || 1 ||rowspan="2"| '''3''' |- | Ross County || 1|| — || — || — |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|IRE}} Richie Foran || Inverness Caledonian Thistle||1 ||2 || — || — || '''3''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Ross Stewart || Ross County ||1 ||2 || — || — || '''3''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Jordan White || Inverness Caledonian Thistle||1 ||2 || — || — || '''3''' |- | align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Michael Gardyne || Ross County ||1 ||1 || 1 || — || '''3''' |}
==Managerial records== ''As of 2 April 2021. Minimum 5 Highland Derby games as manager.''
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="text-align: center" |- ! rowspan="2" |Name ! rowspan="2" |Team ! rowspan="2" |Years ! colspan="3" |Overall Record ! colspan="3" |League Record |- !Games!!Wins!!Win %!!Games!!Wins!!Win % |- | rowspan="2" align="left" |John Hughes {{flagicon|SCO}} |Inverness Caledonian Thistle |2013–2016 |10 |6 |60.00% |9 |6 |66.66% |- |Ross County |2020–2021 |1 |0 |0.00% |0 |0 |0.00% |- |align=left|Steve Paterson {{flagicon|SCO}} |Inverness Caledonian Thistle |1995–2002 |18 |9 |50.00% |18 |9 |50.00% |- |align=left|Terry Butcher {{flagicon|ENG}} |Inverness Caledonian Thistle |2009–2013 |11 |5 |45.45% |8 |3 |37.50% |- |align=left|Robert Wilson {{flagicon|SCO}} |Ross County |1987–1996 |8 |3 |37.50% |8 |3 |37.50% |- |align=left|Jim McIntyre {{flagicon|SCO}} |Ross County |2014–2017 |11 |4 |36.36% |10 |3 |30.00% |- |align=left|Stuart Kettlewell {{Flagicon|SCO}} and Steven Ferguson {{flagicon|SCO}} |Ross County |2018–2020 |6 |2 |33.33% |4 |2 |50% |- |align=left|Derek Adams {{flagicon|SCO}} |Ross County |2007–2010, <br> 2011–2014 |14 |4 |28.57% |11 |4 |43% |- |align=left|John Robertson {{flagicon|SCO}} |Inverness Caledonian Thistle |2002–2004, <br> 2017–2021 |14 |4 |28.57% |10 |2 |20.00% |- |align=left|Alex Smith {{flagicon|SCO}} |Ross County |2002–2005 |8 |2 |25.00% |6 |2 |33.33% |- |align=left|Neale Cooper {{flagicon|SCO}} |Ross County |1996–2002 |14 |2 |14.28% |14 |2 |14.28% |- |} {{notelist}}
==Notable players and managers of both clubs== A number of players have played for both clubs. Craig Brewster is a former player and manager of ICT who then played for and coached Ross County.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/ross_county/7871910.stm |title=Ross County sign Brewster at 42 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 February 2009 |access-date=16 October 2010}}</ref> John Robertson and John Hughes have had spells as manager at both clubs.
Among the players who have featured for both sides are:
{{div col|colwidth=18em}} * Andrew Barrowman * Graham Bayne * Mark Brown * Joe Chalmers * Alex Cooper * Don Cowie * Lionel Djebi-Zadi * Coll Donaldson * Ross Draper * Russell Duncan * Michael Fraser * Les Fridge * Stuart Golabek * Richie Hart * Richard Hastings * Jay Henderson * Steven Hislop<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/2713009.stm |title=Hislop in Highland switch |date=13 February 2003 |access-date=16 October 2010 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> * Adam Mackinnon * Roy McBain * Mark McCulloch * Billy McKay * Gary McSwegan * Alan Morgan * Grant Munro * John Rankin * Antonio Reguero<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk/news/reguero-joins.aspx|publisher=Ross County website|title=Reguero Joins|date=16 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140616154817/http://www.rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk/news/reguero-joins.aspx|archive-date=16 June 2014}}</ref> * Mark Ridgers * Hugh Robertson * Alex Samuel * Greg Tansey * Ross Tokely * Lewis Toshney * Carl Tremarco * Iain Vigurs<ref name = "v and w">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/ross_county/8081122.stm |title=Inverness pair join Ross County|publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=16 October 2010 |date=3 June 2009}}</ref> * Nicky Walker * Steven Watt * Jordan White * Barry Wilson * Garry Wood<ref name = "v and w"/> {{div col end}}
==Clubs' honours== These are the football honours of Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County since they joined the Scottish League in 1994–95:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;font-size:95%" ! National Titles ! width="100" | Inverness Caledonian Thistle ! width="100" | Ross County |- | First Division/Championship | 2 '''(2/0)''' | 2 '''(1/1)''' |- | Second Division/League One | 1 '''(0/1)''' | 1 '''(1/0)''' |- | Third Division | 1 | 1 |- | Scottish Cup | 1 | — |- | Scottish League Cup | — | 1 |- | Scottish Challenge Cup | 3 | 3 |- |- | '''Total''' | '''8''' |'''8''' |}
These are the football honours of Caledonian, Inverness Thistle and Ross County until they joined the Scottish League in 1994–95:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;font-size:95%" ! National Competition ! width="100" | Caledonian ! width="100" | Inverness Thistle ! width="100" | Ross County |- | Highland Football League | 18 | 8 | 3 |- | Highland League Cup | 5 | 3 | 4 |- | North of Scotland Cup | 20 | 13 | 4 |- |- | '''Total''' | '''43''' | '''24''' | '''11''' |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=482&team2_id=2117&teamTabs=h2h All-time matches between Inverness CT and Ross County] at Soccerbase
{{Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.}} {{Ross County F.C.}} {{United Kingdom Football Derbies}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Highland Derby}} Category:Football derbies in Scotland Category:Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. Category:Ross County F.C. Category:Football in Highland (council area) Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1994