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Visiting a cup final ghost town Visiting a cup final ghost town
(about 1 hour later)
By Steven McKenzie Highlands and Islands reporter, BBC Scotland news website A sign outside a beauty salon in a Dingwall side streetBy 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. In the end there was no coming back from the dead for the ghost town.
One man strolled through the centre of the Highland town, which is home to the Scottish First Division club. The streets of Dingwall in Ross-shire were deserted as the home team Ross County played out the Scottish Cup final against Dundee United.
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. The residents who had not joined the army of supporters at Hampden in Glasgow were at home or in a pub watching the game.
"Cracking day," he said smiling as he walked in the sunshine - wearing the green and black away shirt of Celtic FC. Even as the Staggies went one, then two goals down in the second half, the fans clung to the hope that their team would equalise and go on to win the game.
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. County have form for stage spectacular come-backs.
The warm weather appeared to have eased any pain the Celtic fan may have at not seeing his team in the final. They had fought back twice to earn a 2-2 draw with Hibernian at Easter Road to secure a replay earlier in the competition.
Thousands of fans have left the small town to watch the game Fans gather at Scottish Cup Final In pictures: Ross County fans United clinch cup final winThousands of fans have left the small town to watch the game Fans gather at Scottish Cup Final In pictures: Ross County fans United clinch cup final win
There are an estimated 17,000 Ross County fans at Hampden for the final. Just minutes after the final whistle following their 3-0 defeat to Dundee United, Dingwall's empty town centre began to fill with sad yet proud Staggies supporters.
They spilled out of the British Legion's main hall.
Deborah Alliston, 29, from Dingwall, said: "It is heart-breaking, but we can't wait for the boys to come back home."
Grace Sutherland, from Conon, who watched the game with friends including five-year-old Sophie Dent, of Muir of Ord, said for the team to reach the final had been tremendous.
She said: "No-one has stopped talking about it. It was amazing for them to get to the final."
There were 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 read: "Last one out turn the lights off".
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. Earlier, 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 fluttered from the street lights and every shop in Dingwall - including a pet shop and children's fashion store - had 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. High profile County fans who headed for Hampden included BBC Scotland weather forecaster Gail McGrane, who hails from Dingwall.
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.
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
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."
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 had captured the attention and imagination of fans on both side.
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. But even having seen its team defeated, Dingwall was a place filled with pride rather than dejection.