Ross County Database

1965-1966 Sammy Wilson

Sammy Wilson, part of the legendary 1957 League Cup winning side for Celtic, took over as player coach in the early 1960’s. Sammy signed for County as a player in the mid 1960’s and was part of a County side that appeared to be going places despite strong challenges from the other great Highland league sides of the time, Elgin and Caley.

As mentioned previously 1964/65 saw Sammy take over a leading role in the coaching.

County finished 4th in 64/5, 17 wins and 5 draws in their 30 games. 109 scored and 68 conceded. An average scoreline of 3.63 v 2.27 (6 goals a game!). The only game that season with less than one goal was a 1-0 defeat to Brora away in the North of Scotland Cup.

1965/66 County moved up to 3rd place. Oddly they only played 29 games (one game versus Keith was not played. It made no difference to County but Keith could have got to 4th place with a win). 19 wins and 2 draws, 92 scored and 50 conceded.

Sammy was actually manager at the start of County’s championship winning season, 1966/67, and had made some new signings in Ian and Gordon Davidson from the East Coast and Jack Lornie from Tranmere Rovers.                   ·

County took some criticism in the local press for their poor preparation for the new season with only two weeks training which concentrated mostly on ball skills and not muscular strength! I wonder what modern critics would say?

At the end of July they travelled to Orkney and beat a local select 2-0. Shortly after a trial match took place between the first and second XI at Victoria Park. This was the Saturday before the season officially started. Sammy’s first five games of the season were to be away from home to give the newly sewn grass a chance to grow!