Ross missed the boat... but made a splash in the Faroes

FROM his vantage point of home on the southernmost Faroe Island, Maurice Ross could watch the daily boat drift out of the harbour and off on a North Atlantic journey frequently made a touch treacherous by wild winds. Early one Sunday morning in September 2017, an awful feeling swept over Ross when he caught sight of the vessel disappearing into the distance.

The elements had nothing to do with experiencing his worst dread on the archipelago since being 2-0 down with Berti Vogts’ shambolic team in Toftir 15 years earlier.

Rather, it was the fact the entire team and staff of TB/FCS/Royn were setting sail for two hours to the nearest island for a game against champions Vikingur Gota — apart from one exception.

Manager Ross had mixed up his departure times. And so began a Helicopter Sunday with a difference for the 2005 Rangers title winner.

He recalled: ‘The boat was just across from where I lived. So I used to just get up, have a quick shower, head over and that was me on it.

‘This day, I thought the boat was quarter to nine. But it left at half eight. I looked out the window and there it was, turning away.

‘We were playing the champions and there were rumours I was going to go there to manage them.

‘There were no more boats that day, so I phoned my chairman and said, “Get a dinghy, a lifeboat, anything”. It was mental weather but I was willing to do it. He said: “Let me phone the coastguard”.

‘But, by luck, one of our sponsors worked with a helicopter company. They flew one from the airport to the southernmost island to pick me up.

‘I came in like James Bond and ended up getting there before the players. I was in the restaurant for the pre-match meal as the team came in.

‘They were hammering me for being ‘Billy Big Time’, helicoptered in. But what an experience. We beat Vikingur 3-2 to secure our place in the league with games to spare.’

That’s one of the many colourful tales Ross can recount from his two years coaching on the islands.

Rumours of Vikingur’s interest in him were true, so scheming a surprise success on their ground clearly did no harm.

He became their manager a few weeks later and, although that stint was less fruitful, Ross only speaks with great fondness and passion about the nation and its 53,000 inhabitants.

A coaching career that began in Norway took a fascinating diversion in 2016 to remote Suduroy.

‘It was a brilliant experience,’ he recalled. ‘It almost felt like a boot camp. Away from your family, no distractions. Just football. I absolutely loved it.

‘I don’t do anything by half, do I? I mean, there are 18 islands and 16 are connected by tunnel or bridge.

‘I was on the southernmost one, which is a two-hour journey on the boat.

‘You’d set goals and cones up for training, go back inside and when you head back out they’ve all blown off to one corner of the pitch because the wind has come in like crazy.

‘The sheep are the indicator for when bad weather is coming. They come down from the hills, into the town. When that happens, it’s time to get under the bed.

‘The average temperature in the Faroes is about six degrees in the winter, so it’s never freezing but never warm. They get a bit of the Gulf Stream protecting it.’

The Scotland national team will arrive in the capital Torshavn and the artificial surface at the Torsvollur Stadium for a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Ross (below) is well aware that is a comfort for Steve Clarke’s side compared to the experiences of previous Scottish missions on the rugged terrain of Toftir.

In 1999, Matt Elliott was sent off as Craig Brown’s team were pulled back to a 1-1 embarrassment. Then, as a 21-year-old Rangers right-back earning his ninth cap in September 2002, Ross was involved in yet another high-profile debacle. Scotland were just 12 minutes into their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign when falling 2-0 down to a double from schoolteacher John Peterson. Paul Lambert and Barry Ferguson strikes in the second half pinched a point.

The Faroes had so much fun making the Scots uncomfortable that they took another tie to Toftir, in 2007, even though a shiny new complex was available in Torshavn. Alex McLeish’s men avoided ignominy with a 2-0 win.

Ross discovered colleagues with long memories when he settled in to find a happy home on Suduroy.

‘The staff hammered me,’ Ross recalled. ‘You were terrible, you were at fault for the first goal, etc.

‘I actually watched the 2-2 game back years later. I was intrigued. I thought: “They’re not a bad side and could’ve scored more against us”.

‘When you look at their body shape now, they’re more like professional athletes, streamlined. Back then they were solid, robust.

‘I think the venue is too nice for visiting teams now. So that will help Scotland. Toftir was horrible to play in, freezing, undulations on the pitch. Now it’s a bowling green, astroturf and really good.

‘The people were amazing towards me, I felt so welcome. It was a home from home. They just love their Scottish, too.

‘They serve Tunnock’s Tea Cakes in the stores, they’ve Caramel Wafers, too.’

Following his switch to Gota, Ross coached brothers and likely opponents of Scotland this week, Solvi and Gunnar Vatnhamar, at Vikingur. They both played in the 4-0 defeat against Scotland at Hampden in March.

Ross, who will be on a coaching trip to three German clubs with Mark Fotheringham this week, anticipates a more taxing assignment for Clarke’s team.

He added: ‘Solvi and Gunnar were lovely boys and great players.

‘It’s actually a brilliant football nation — they love their football. I felt they did all right in March, although they played some players in the wrong positions.

‘I’d like to think at home they’d be a bit more adventurous.

‘I always look out for their results. I’ve got a big affection for them. I just hope they don’t beat Scotland.’