Caley Thistle midfielder Ross Draper reckons his team’s will to win came from many of the squad taking the hard path to Scottish Cup success from toiling in part-time football.
After being released by Shrewsbury Town as an 18-year-old, Draper was forced into part-time football with Stafford Rangers in 2007, before moving to Hednesford Town a year later.
During his time in the English non-leagues, Draper took up a job with a mortgage company in Birmingham.
His performances earned a move back to full-time football with Cheshire club Macclesfield Town in 2009, prior to moving to Caley Jags three years later.
The 26-year-old said: “The squad is full of young, hungry players who have been in non-league football and scrapped around and had jobs.
“Myself, Gary Warren and Danny Williams have all had jobs and played part-time football.
“We appreciated it when we came up here.
“I think any player needs to be the right person and all of us together are a good mix.
“I had a good job, but then I got the chance to go to Macclesfield on a full-time contract so I had to quit.”
Draper has played an important Inverness role this season, making 38 appearances in the most successful campaign in the club’s history.
John Hughes’ side recorded its highest league finish by coming third in the Premiership, prior to Saturday’s Scottish Cup final triumph against Falkirk that secured Caley Jags’ first major silverware.
With European football to follow for the first time in the club’s 21-year existence next season, Draper reckons a move to the Highlands ought to appeal for any player circling England’s lower leagues.
Draper added: “Realistically, with Macclesfield the first or second round of the cup was as far as we were going to go.
“In Scotland there is more chance of a cup run because I’m with a good team.
“In England, I could have tried to find a good League 2 club and hoped to go on to League 1.
“But I was a holding midfielder so I was never going to score 20 goals and it’s hard to get noticed.
“That’s why it’s easy to rattle about League 2 for an entire career and never achieve anything which is why I think it’s an easy decision to come up here.
“I’d recommend it to anyone who gets a chance.
“It doesn’t matter what club it’s with. Inverness is fantastic but I’d suggest the move to Scotland to anyone.”