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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Visiting a cup final ghost town | Visiting a cup final ghost town |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Steven McKenzie Highlands and Islands reporter, BBC Scotland news website A sign outside a beauty salon in a Dingwall side street | By Steven McKenzie Highlands and Islands reporter, BBC Scotland news website A sign outside a beauty salon in a Dingwall side street |
| The main street of Dingwall was decked in the dark blue, white and red of Ross County FC. | The main street of Dingwall was decked in the dark blue, white and red of Ross County FC. |
| One man strolled through the centre of the Highland town, which is home to the Scottish First Division club. | One man strolled through the centre of the Highland town, which is home to the Scottish First Division club. |
| It seemed as though he was the only person in the place not to be taken over by the excitement of County's appearance in the Scottish Cup final for the first time. | It seemed as though he was the only person in the place not to be taken over by the excitement of County's appearance in the Scottish Cup final for the first time. |
| "Cracking day," he said smiling as he walked in the sunshine - wearing the green and black away shirt of Celtic FC. | "Cracking day," he said smiling as he walked in the sunshine - wearing the green and black away shirt of Celtic FC. |
| Ross County, who were a Highland league side until 1994, beat the Glasgow giants 2-0 on the way to the final at Hampden - an occasion that has gripped Dingwall and the wider community of Ross-shire. | Ross County, who were a Highland league side until 1994, beat the Glasgow giants 2-0 on the way to the final at Hampden - an occasion that has gripped Dingwall and the wider community of Ross-shire. |
| The warm weather appeared to have eased any pain the Celtic fan may have at not seeing his team in the final. | The warm weather appeared to have eased any pain the Celtic fan may have at not seeing his team in the final. |
| Thousands of fans have left the small town to watch the game Fans gather at Scottish Cup Final In pictures: Ross County fans class="" href="/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/8682861.stm">United clinch cup final win | |
| There are an estimated 17,000 Ross County fans at Hampden for the final. | There are an estimated 17,000 Ross County fans at Hampden for the final. |
| The town's population is about 5,000. | The town's population is about 5,000. |
| A sign directed at traffic leaving the town on the road to Inverness that reads: "Last one out turn the lights off" has itself become an attraction. | A sign directed at traffic leaving the town on the road to Inverness that reads: "Last one out turn the lights off" has itself become an attraction. |
| A car had pulled over the verge nearby and one of the passenger had got out to take a picture of it on her camera phone. | A car had pulled over the verge nearby and one of the passenger had got out to take a picture of it on her camera phone. |
| The sign reflected what many have been thinking, with a crowd numbering more than triple the town's population cheering on County in Glasgow. | The sign reflected what many have been thinking, with a crowd numbering more than triple the town's population cheering on County in Glasgow. |
| Blue ribbons flutter from the street lights and every shop in Dingwall - including a pet shop and children's fashion store - have signs and posters proclaiming support for the Staggies. | Blue ribbons flutter from the street lights and every shop in Dingwall - including a pet shop and children's fashion store - have signs and posters proclaiming support for the Staggies. |
| Bemused tourists paused at the window of a bakers and stared at a teddy bear wearing a County shirt and holding a football. | Bemused tourists paused at the window of a bakers and stared at a teddy bear wearing a County shirt and holding a football. |
| Of the people still about in the town there appeared to be a higher ratio of women to men and more older people than young. | Of the people still about in the town there appeared to be a higher ratio of women to men and more older people than young. |
| And there is no getting away from the impact the match has had on Ross-shire. | And there is no getting away from the impact the match has had on Ross-shire. |
| The timing of an annual event held to mark a gathering of Highlanders on a hillside in the Black Isle in the 13th Century was moved forward to avoid clashing with the match. | The timing of an annual event held to mark a gathering of Highlanders on a hillside in the Black Isle in the 13th Century was moved forward to avoid clashing with the match. |
| The North Rising recalls Andrew De Moray's calling together of fighters at Avoch in 1297, before they marched south to join William Wallace and defeat an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. | The North Rising recalls Andrew De Moray's calling together of fighters at Avoch in 1297, before they marched south to join William Wallace and defeat an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. |
| So participants could get away to watch the final, the event was held earlier than usual. | So participants could get away to watch the final, the event was held earlier than usual. |
| A teddy and sign in a bakers in Dingwall town centre | A teddy and sign in a bakers in Dingwall town centre |
| Organiser SNP MSP Rob Gibson said: "We might be near enough the only people left in Ross-shire. | Organiser SNP MSP Rob Gibson said: "We might be near enough the only people left in Ross-shire. |
| "But we will still watch the match. We moved the start march so that we can get back in time for kick-off time." | "But we will still watch the match. We moved the start march so that we can get back in time for kick-off time." |
| High profile County fans headed for Hampden include BBC Scotland weather forecaster Gail McGrane, who hails from Dingwall. | High profile County fans headed for Hampden include BBC Scotland weather forecaster Gail McGrane, who hails from Dingwall. |
| She told BBC Radio Scotland's Off The Ball programme that she had felt superstitious and had chosen to wear the same outfit she wore to previous round of the cup. | She told BBC Radio Scotland's Off The Ball programme that she had felt superstitious and had chosen to wear the same outfit she wore to previous round of the cup. |
| Another caller to the show - ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly - said she was meant to be in New York interviewing the cast of Sex and the City but had passed up the chance to support her beloved Dundee United. | Another caller to the show - ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly - said she was meant to be in New York interviewing the cast of Sex and the City but had passed up the chance to support her beloved Dundee United. |
| The cup final has captured the attention and imagination of fans on both side. By the end of the day their dreams will have been realised or shattered. | The cup final has captured the attention and imagination of fans on both side. By the end of the day their dreams will have been realised or shattered. |
| Or maybe like the lone Celtic fan in a sea of dark blue, white and red it is just a nice day to be out. | Or maybe like the lone Celtic fan in a sea of dark blue, white and red it is just a nice day to be out. |