Malky Mackay hopes history can inspire current generation of Ross County stars to emulate League Cup success ahead of opening game of 2023/24 group stage at Stranraer
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
At the start of every new season, everyone involved in football dreams of lifting a trophy.
In recent years, Ross County are one of the few to say they have managed it. In March 2016, the Staggies defeated Hibernian 2-1 in the League Cup final thanks to goals from Michael Gardyne and Alex Schalk to get their hands on the silverware.
Fast forward seven years, and they are due to start another League Cup campaign this afternoon away at Stranraer hoping to emulate those heroes.
The influence of history is not lost on County manager Malky Mackay either, and he has made sure that his current crop of players are aware of what the Dingwall club can achieve.
"I really enjoy the history of this club, and I wanted to know as much as I could when I turned up," Mackay said.
"Since then I have branded the training ground as much as I could with a variety of things, such as pictures of Hampden.
"Winning the League Cup at Hampden was an incredible achievement. I spoke to the players about their own careers and wanting to do the best they can, reach peaks and play at the best stadia.
"It doesn't get better than playing at Hampden. I managed to do that myself, but it was normally for Queen's Park in front of 400 people.
"To play and be involved in cup finals is sensational. I would love our players to do that at this club again in the near future.
"It's important for our communities and for our youngsters that are in our foundation, and in our academy, to grab on to something, to want to see something on TV and love to do that and ask their dads how they can start that and for dads to say 'we're taking you to this'.
"The Monday after our play-off final, the queues for the new strip and for season tickets were huge. These are important markers for youngsters who are going to become the future supporters or players of the academy."
As County found out last year, if they are to have a chance of reaching Hampden in the League Cup every point in the group stage is crucial.
With a long trip down to Stranraer this weekend, then, Mackay is looking forward to a slightly different challenge than the top-flight Staggies may be used to.
"They're a football team and they want to play, so it will actually be really good to go and test ourselves against another team who are going to pass the ball," Mackay added.
"I know myself, when you're in a lower division and you're playing against a team from a higher division, you raise your game because you want to cause a shock. You want to prove yourself against these guys and show that you can play at a higher level.
"As a manager again, I want to test myself against teams higher up in our division, so I am sure we'll get that from Stranraer.
"They're at home as well, so I am taking nothing for granted."
