Dundee travel to the Highlands this weekend to take on Inverness Caledonian Thistle and so we take a look at a player who has played for both clubs, our very own Invernesian Nick Ross; a Scottish Cup winner with Caley and a derby hero with Dundee.
Nick Ross was born in Inverness on November 11th 1991 and started his football career at Inverness Caledonian Thistle where he came through the youth ranks. After Caley were relegated in the summer of 2009, manager Terry Butcher said that he was going to give youth a chance as they looked to gain promotion back to the SPL at the first attempt and in the first game of the 2009/10 season, Ross came on to make his Thistle debut against Montrose in the Challenge Cup.
Inverness won the game 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw and Nick then made his league debut in a 0-0 draw against Ayr United on August 15th. Butcher had considered putting Nick out on loan to get some regular first team experience after Caley struggled at the start of the season but he deferred that decision after Ross scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Greeenock Morton.
It was a memorable week for Nick as two days later the teenager helped ICT win the Inverness Cup against Clachnacuddin by scoring from the spot. Caley had fielded a strong side against their Highland League opponents with the likes Nauris Bulvitis, Robert Eagle, Lionel Djebi-Zadi. Dani Sanchez and ex-Dee Roy McBain in the team and it was the Bulvitis who opened the scoring on 18 minutes. When a corner broke to Sanchez, he hit the post before under-17 starlet Calum Dingwall had his shot blocked from the rebound and the Latvian pounced to prod the ball over the line.
Nine minutes after the break, ICT scored the killer second when Djebi-Zadi was brought down when he drove into the box and won his side a penalty. Nick Ross stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the net to seal some silver success for the Caley Jags and it wouldnât be the last time he scored an important spot kick for his home town team.
Ross would go onto to make six appearances in the league to help Caley pip Dundee to the First Division title and became a regular for them in the SPL, making 34 appearances despite being sidelined by injury twice.
His consistency in the top flight earned Ross a call up to the Scotland Under-21 side in November and he scored in the match against Northern Ireland at Firhill.
After being offered a new two year contract in May, Ross celebrated by providing an ‘assist’ for the winning goal from Shane Sutherland, in a 3â2 victory over Celtic and a week later scored his first SPL goal, a 20-yard volley in a match against Hibernian.
However Ross sustained a serious groin injury in October which put him out for a few months but not before he got in some practice for coming to Dens by scoring against Dundee United.
He returned to the side in February by scoring in a 1-1 draw with Dunfermline and would score against St Mirren in the opening game of the 2012/13 season but suffered a serious injury during a match against Celtic when he dislocated his shoulder and eventually had to undergo an operation.
It would keep Nick out for three months and manager Terry Butcher described it as a âmassive blowâ but while on the sidelines, signed a new two-year deal with the club.
Ross returned after Christmas and scored two goals in two games against Celtic and Kilmarnock as Caley pushed on towards a Europa League spot but were denied on the final day of the season when they lost to Highland rivals Ross County.
Following the departure of Terry Butcher to Easter Road, Nick would come back to haunt his old boss when scored his first goal of the season in a 2â0 win over Hibs on November 9th 2013.
Butcher had left Inverness in the semi-final of Scottish League Cup and against Hearts at Easter Road, Ross came off the bench in the last few minutes and scored a dramatic late equaliser to send the match into extra-time. The game then went to penalties and Nick stepped up to convert the fourth spot kick to help Inverness to win and reach their first ever major final.
In the League Cup Final against Aberdeen at Celtic Park, Ross was again on the bench and he came on for Marley Watkins in the 80th minute. Like the semi, the final went to penalty kicks and Ross converted the fourth in the shoot-out but had to be content with a runners-up medal but as Inverness CT lost 4â2 after the match had ended 0-0.
Nick did however get a winners medal the following season when Inverness won the Scottish Cup against Falkirk at Hampden in May 2015. Once again he came off the bench for Marley Watkins, this time in injury time but by then current Dundee team mate James Vincent had scored an 86th minute winner in the 2-1 victory.
It was a proud moment for the hometown boy when he climbed the Hampden steps to receive his winnersâ medal and a framed picture of Nick holding aloft the Scottish Cup adorns the wall behind the press box at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.
Having been used primarily as a substitute by John Hughes, Nick decided to give up the chance of playing in the Europa League with Caley in search of regular first team football and signed for Dundee in June 2015. Perhaps he was destined for Dens having scored again against Dundee United in his final league game for Caley.
Ross made his debut for Dundee in the impressive opening day 4-0 win at Kilmarnock and in his inaugural dark blue season made 42 appearances. Then, having become part of Caley folklore before mvoing to Sandeman Street, he would do similar at Dens Park when he scored the winner in a New Year derby.
Dundee met Dundee United at home on January 2nd 2016 and the Arabs were rooted to the bottom, destined to be relegated at the same venue later in the year. Dundee hadnât played United for almost five months, having met every other team twice but were determined to help the Arabs on their way to the Championship.
United however seem determined to help themselves when after taking the lead, debut keeper Eiji Kawashima punched a Nicky Low free kick straight up in the air allowing Kane Hemmings to volley home and equalize.
There was little the Japanese keeper could do about the winner however, which propelled Nick Ross into Dundee derby legend. Gary Harkins chipped a free kick into the United box which Guy Demel headed up into the air and when it dropped down at the edge of the box, Ross took a great first touch to control it and turned John Rankin in one swift move. Nick then shot for goal and when the ball deflected off Sean Dillon, it sent Kawashima the wrong way and nestled into the net to give Dundee a priceless 2-1 win.
That goal is on the opening credits of Sportscene every week so even if you want to avoid watching the show, it is always worth tuning in to watch Nickâs goal and his celebration where he slides in front of the South Enclosure, super imposed onto the home dug out at Dens.
Ross had a strong end to the season, forging a good partnership with Paul McGowan in the middle of the park in the wake of skipper Kevin Thomsonâs January departure and played in the famous âDoon Derbyâ in May alongside Julen Etxabeguren in midfield who came on for the injured Paul McGowan after just 17 minutes.
Ross has been in and out the side this season making 14 appearances so far and was back in the starting line up against Aberdeen last week. Having missed the win over Inverness last November, Nick has yet to beat his old side with Dundee but will be looking to put that right at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium on Saturday despite being a born and bred Highlander.
