Ross County Database

1966-1968 Ian McNeill

Sammy Wilson resigned just a few games into the 1966/7 season having taken over a hotel in Tain allowing Ian McNeill to take over as player coach. County had lost three points in their previous two games. MacNeill’s first team lined up H Fraser, Wallace, Brett, McNeill, Greig, MacMillan, Thomson, MacKenzie, Lornie, Hosie, Ian Davidson (Angus Fraser was the sub in what I think was the first Highland League season to have substitutes, indeed it’s worth also noting that subs were initially only for injured players but the next season it was changed to allow tactical changes. Probably on the back of astute moves by the likes of Don Revie which made the governing bodies realise the sense of doing so). The date was 17th September and bizarrely this was County’s first game of the season at Victoria Park. It was a tremendous boost for MacNeill and the team, a 10-1 victory over Huntly. Jim Hosie scored 4 goals with the others coming from McNeill himself, MacMillan, Lornie (2) and G Davidson (2). County had led 5-0 at half time. (the playing surface had been reseeded and time was allowed for the grass to grow)

County’s next game however saw another set back as Peterhead knocked them out of the Qualifying Cup denying them Scottish Cup participation that season.

As lan McNeill’s position at the club grew so did the team and after a draw with Forres, County carried on their league form with an 8-1 win over Deveronvale. Next week, oddly, the fixture list was reversed as County visited Princess Royal Park and started off where they left the previous week with a Jack Lornie goal in the first minute. After 28 minutes the Vale keeper failed to intercept a Lornie cross and Davidson increased the lead and only 60 seconds later the keeper got in a tangle with one of his defenders allowing Mackenzie in to make it 3-0.

Lornie made it 4 -0 a minute after the second half restart a lead County held until the hour mark before Vale scored their only goal of the game. lan McNeill raced through unchallenged with only four minutes left to complete the scoring at 5-1 and continue County’s title challenge.

County’s cup form under McNeill also changed as they lifted the Inverness Cup, thanks to a 2-1 win at Grant Street Park against Inverness Caley.

The Victorious County team lined up

FRASER, WALLACE, BRETT, MCNEILL, GREIG, LAUGHTON, GRANT, IAN DAVIDSON, LORNIE, GORDON DAVIDSON, VASS, MACKENZIE, & MACMILLAN.

County then defeated Elgin 4-0 in the North of Scotland Cup, a result made more significant by Elgin’s tremendous performance and narrow defeat against Celtic (eventual European champions) in the Scottish Cup the following week.

County progressed to the North of Scotland Cup Final and were clear favourites to beat Forres Mechanics, but in a surprise scoreline went down 3-0.

County eventually entertained Fraserburgh in Dingwall with victory to guarantee the championship. MacNeill’s men won comfortably 3-0 to ensure him his place of Ross County history. There were still two games left in the league season. County had scored 107 goals that season, conceding just 32. County had been unbeaten in League football since McNeill took charge until the league was won.

County would finish runners up in 1967/68 to Elgin City by six points. Solid defensively with 35 conceded but “only” 82 scored this season. County actually picked up 3 [oints against Elgin in their two games, albeit their 1-0 win came in the last game of the season after the league race was over. Of the 5 cup games that season County won only 1, the opening Qualifying Cup game versus Lossiemouth. The fans must have enjoyed the 9-6 spectacle, Hosie scoring 4 for County and a Cowie hat trick for the visitors.

Towards the end of the following season 1967/68 lan McNeill accepted the post of Player Manager of ambitious English non-league side Wigan Athletic. He stayed until the end of the season and saw County inflict Elgin’s only defeat of the season upon them with a 1-0 win in Dingwall thanks to a Jim Hosie effort. MacNeill had played a significant role in the progress of Ross County in delivering their first ever Highland League Championship.

Ian would return to manage County in the early 1970’s.