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STIRLING ALBION F.C. OFFICIAL MAGAZINE I APRIL 2015
DOWN AND OUT BINOS SECURE FIRST HOME WIN OF THE SEASON BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH AS RELEGATION IS CONFIRMED
#37
ISSUE #37 I £3.00
Editor’s Notes It’s a strange feeling writing this month’s notes considering it is extremely likely to be my last. With my impending graduation, it wouldn’t be right to commit to carrying on in this role, since I don’t know what the next year will hold. Hopefully a full-time job in the media industry... we shall see! In any case, following three years covering the club it is time to hang up my boots and move on to pastures new. I’ve had a great time producing this magazine alongside Stuart Kenny and more challengingly this year with more responsibility following the way things turned out. I hope the magazine has been of a good standard - of course there have been a few errors, but I still like to think I’ve helped to make one of the best-looking programmes in Scotland’s football leagues. I’d hope to be bowing out on a more positive note, but life has other plans. The relegation of the club has sadly
been confirmed and while it was probably a weight off a lot of people’s minds, it was no less disappointing. I started this magazine as someone who just worked for the club, but in a way that I can’t explain I’ve been sucked into being a fan. It’s not an easy journey, but football never is. We’ve got the relevant match reports to catch you up on the latest events, with previews for the remaining three fixtures. Lee Hamilton features in this month’s The Locker Room while you can see what Chairman Stuart Brown and Manager Stuart McLaren have to say following recent events. Andy Todd’s Community Corner will catch you up with all the goings on in that department. I’d like to give a special thanks to David Ogilvie and Jim Thomson for the help over the years, and everyone at the club for the opportunity. I’d also like to thank you for supporting the magazine; without that support we couldn’t have kept it going.
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THE LOCKER ROOM: LEE HAMILTON
Director David McFarlane Members Graham Douglas Jim Thomson Administrator Neil Mackay Football Management Manager Stuart McLaren Assistant Manager Martyn Corrigan Physiotherapist Jenna Orr Goalkeeping Coach David Westwood Club Doctor Michael Beyer Heads of Youth Stewart Taylor (Admin) Blair Cremin (Coaching) Under 19 Coaches Graeme Donald David Binnie
Club Mascot Bino the Bear Club Chaplain Duncan Strathdee (0778 991 2259)
REGULAR FEATURES:
APR. 2015 I #37
03. INSIDE THE BOX 04. ALBION NEWS 06. VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT 14. THE LOCKER ROOM
HOME PREVIEW: GREENOCK MORTON
Commercial Director John Hunter
Modern Apprentice Stephen Al-Sayed
@DavidJChalmers magazine@stirlingalbionfc.co.uk
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Finance Director Alan Christie
Community Engagement Manager Andrew Todd
David Chalmers Editor & Head of Design
CONTENTS
Club Executive Team Chair and Operations Director Stuart Brown
04. INSIDE THE BOX 05. ALBION NEWS 06. VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT 08. MATCH REPORT VS. DUNFERMLINE 09. MATCH REPORT VS. STRANRAER 10. MATCH REPORT VS. PETERHEAD 11. MATCH REPORT VS. FORFAR 12. MATCH REPORT VS. AIRDRIEONIANS 13. MATCH REPORT VS. BRECHIN CITY 14. THE LOCKER ROOM: LEE HAMILTON 16. HOME PREVIEW: GREENOCK MORTON 24. AWAY PREVIEW: AYR UNITED 26. HOME PREVIEW: STENHOUSEMUIR 28. MEN UNITED VS PROSTATE CANCER 29. SUPPORTERS DIRECT 30. ACTION REPLAY: HURLFORD UNITED 32. COMMUNITY CORNER 34. JUNIOR BINOS 35. START-UP STIRLING 36. SQUAD AND SPONSOR PROFILES
2 / A PR IL 2 0 1 5 / W W W .S T I R L IN G A L BI ONF C. CO. UK
THE ALBION MAGAZINE Editors: David Chalmers & Ben Ramage Contributors: Jim Thomson, Ben Ramage, Andy Todd, Stuart Brown, Niels Bootsma, Stuart McLaren Thanks to: Lee Hamilton, Supporters Direct, Men United vs. Prostate Cancer, Stuart McLaren, Stuart Brown, Andy Todd, Jim Thomson, Alan Christie, David Brown, Neil Mackay, Start-Up Stirling Photography: Niels Bootsma, Colin Poultney, Tony Fimister, Prudential, Daily Record, BBC, Andy Todd, SNS Group, The Scotsman, The Herald, David Sargent, Getty Images, Brechin City FC, Airdrieonians FC, Robert Dalzell, Jim Thomson, Ayr United FC, Greenock Morton FC Design: David Chalmers Printing: Mailboxes Etc. Stirling Contact: magazine@stirlingalbionfc.co.uk Interact: T| 01786 450399 E| office@stirlingalbionfc.co.uk W| stirlingalbionfc.co.uk CLUB HONOURS C Division Champions 1946/47 B Division Champions 1952/53 Second Division Champions 1957/58, 1976/77, 1990/91, 1995/96, 2009/10 Division One Play-off Winners 2006/07 League Two Play-off Winners 2013/14 Stirlingshire Cup Winners 1953/54, 54/55, 58/59, 71/72, 73/74, 76/77, 77/78, 83/84, 88/89, 91/92, 98/99, 2003/04, 04/05, 05/06 facebook.com/thealbionmagazine facebook.com/stirlingalbionfc twitter.com/StirAlbionMag twitter.com/Stirling_Albion
3 / A P R IL 2015 / W W W .S T I R LI N G ALB I O N F C. CO . U K
INSIDE THE BOX
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Our target for next season is promotion. Anything less will fall short of the Board’s, the Manager’s, the coaching staffs’ and I’ve no doubt the fans expectation.
T
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he fat lady has uttered her final chorus and our fate is confirmed. Our stay in the third flight of the SPFL was a short one and next season we will ply our trade in SPFL2. No one, least of all me, is hiding from the fact that this season has fallen way below expectation; however I’m not one for dwelling on the past aside from learning from it and trying not to repeat the same mistakes. Two (of many!) things I have learned during my time on the Board are one, never make promises about what you will achieve and two, there’s no such thing in football as “should” (e.g. we should be a Championship Team). In football, over the piece, you get what you deserve and on this occasion it was relegation. Our target for next season is promotion. Anything less will fall short of the Board’s, the Manager’s, the coaching staffs’ and I’ve no doubt the fans expectation. Everything possible will be (and is already being) done to ensure promotion is what we deserve. We’ve still got three matches left to play this season and I extend a warm welcome to everyone associated with our remaining visitors - Greenock Morton and Stenhousemuir. Whilst our season may be over, it certainly isn’t for any of our three opponents (Ayr United away being our other game) and rest assured, we will be giving everything to try and improve on our win column statistic. Turning away from on field matters, as the season draws to a close, I would wish to thank everyone who has played a part in everything we have
STUART BROWN achieved behind the scenes. There are too many to list by name but without taking anything away from those I don’t personally mention, I would like to record an extra special thank you to the following… Jim Inglis, for his tireless masterminding of our Match Day Hospitality. Whilst he (and his team) perform their Mein Host duties on Saturday afternoons impeccably, hospitality doesn’t just happen and Jim is a very regular visitor to the Club during the week, dropping of the alcohol supplies and generally ensuring everything is ship shape in advance of the day itself. Margaret McFarlane for ensuring our Boardroom Hospitality and Players’ / Officials’ refreshments are without question the best in the league. Stef Torrance, Jimmy and Lynne Watson for managing (and manning) the Supporters Bar - a particularly difficult task in a season where on field performances have been so disappointing. Finally, and more than worthy of his own paragraph, a very, very special thank you to our Club Chaplain, Duncan Strathdee. A number of people associated with the Club have faced personal tragedies or difficulties over the course of this season and unseen and unheralded Duncan has provided them with a listening ear, comfort and guidance that I know has been very much appreciated.
Stuart Brown Chairman SAFC 4 / A PR I L 2 0 1 5 / W W W .S T IR L I N G A L BI ONF C. CO. UK
ALBION NEWS RELEGATION CONFIRMED Our relegation to League 2 was confirmed on April 11 when we were beaten 2-1 by Brechin at Glebe Park. We went into that game knowing only a win would keep alive our slim survival hopes but Andy Jackson’s double, either side of Sandy Cunningham’s equaliser, earned City all three points. SAFC COMPLETE LEAGUE RECORD 1945/46 - Eastern League 1946/47 - Division C - 1st (promoted) 1947/48 - Division B - 8th 1948/49 - Division B - 2nd (promoted) 1949/50 - Division A - 16th (relegated) 1950/51 - Division B - 2nd (promoted) 1951/52 - Division A - 16th (relegated) 1952/53 - Division B - 1st (promoted) 1953/54 - Division A - 14th 1954/55 - Division A - 16th 1955/56 - Division A - 18th (relegated) 1956/57 - Division 2 - 8th 1957/58 - Division 2 - 1st (promoted) 1958/59 - Division 1 - 12th (highest ever league position) 1959/60 - Division 1 - 17th (relegated) 1960/61 - Division 2 - 1st (promoted) 1961/62 - Division 1 - 18th (relegated) 1962/63 - Division 2 - 10th 1963/64 - Division 2 - 19th 1964/65 - Division 2 - 1st (promoted) 1965/66 - Division 1 - 15th 1966/67 - Division 1 - 16th 1967/68 - Division 1 - 18th (relegated) 1968/69 - Division 2 - 4th 1969/70 - Division 2 - 4th 1970/71 - Division 2 - 12th 1971/72 - Division 2 - 3rd 1972/73 - Division 2 - 4th 1973/74 - Division 2 - 7th 1974/75 - Division 2 - 8th 1975/76 - Division 2 - 6th 1976/77 - Division 2 - 1st (promoted) 1977/78 - Division 1 - 5th 1978/79 - Division 1 - 8th 1979/80 - Division 1 - 8th 1980/81 - Division 1 - 13th (relegated) 1981/82 - Division 2 - 8th 1982/83 - Division 2 - 5th 1983/84 - Division 2 - 4th 1984/85 - Division 2 - 6th
1985/86 - Division 2 - 5th 1986/87 - Division 2 - 3rd 1987/88 - Division 2 - 5th 1988/89 - Division 2 - 4th 1989/90 - Division 2 - 3rd 1990/91 - Division 2 - 1st (promoted) 1991/92 - Division 1 - 8th 1992/93 - Division 1 - 10th 1993/94 - Division 1 - 9th (relegated) 1994/95 - Division 2 - 3rd 1995/96 - Division 2 - 1st (promoted) 1996/97 - Division 1 - 7th 1997/98 - Division 1 - 10th (relegated) 1998/99 - Division 2 - 6th 1999/00 - Division 2 - 7th 2000/01 - Division 2 - 10th (relegated) 2001/02 - Division 3 - 9th 2002/03 - Division 3 - 5th 2003/04 - Division 3 - 2nd (promoted) 2004/05 - Division 2 - 4th 2005/06 - Division 2 - 5th 2006/07 - Division 2 - 2nd (promoted via play-offs) 2007/08 - Division 1 - 10th (relegated) 2008/09 - Division 2 - 5th 2009/10 - Division 2 - 1st (promoted) 2010/11 - Division 1 - 10th (relegated) 2011/12 - Division 2 - 10th (relegated) 2012/13 - Division 3 - 7th 2013/14 - League 2 - 3rd (promoted via play-offs) 2014/15 - League 1 - 10th (relegated) UNDER CONTRACT FOR 2015/16 A reminder that four players are currently under contract for next season - striker Sandy Cunningham and defenders Lee Hamilton, Ross McGeachie and Kevin McKinlay. Updated squad news in the coming weeks will appear on the official website in the first instance. TOP SCORERS 9 Gordon Smith 6 Sandy Cunningham 6 Steven Doris 3 Darren Lee Smith 3 Craig Wedderburn 2 Phil Johnston 2 Ross McGeachie 2 Chris Smith
1 Angus Beith 1 Craig Comrie 1 Lewis Coult 1 Dale Fulton 1 Andy Stirling 1 Graham Weir LEAGUE ONE TABLE (04/03/2015) P Pts 1 Forfar 33 63 2 Stranraer 33 61 3 Morton 33 60 4 Brechin City 33 55 5 Airdrieonians 33 49 6 Dunfermline 33 48 7 Peterhead 33 48 8 Ayr United 33 28 9 Stenhousemuir 33 28 10 Stirling Albion 33 17 SPFL MANAGER AWARDS FOR MARCH Premiership Manager of the Month: Jim McIntyre (Ross County) Championship Manager of the Month: Robbie Neilson (Hearts) League 1 Manager of the Month: Dick Campbell (Forfar Athletic) League 2 Manager of the Month: Craig Tully (East Stirlingshire) SPFL PLAY-OFF Montrose will play Brora Rangers or Edinburgh City on May 9 and May 16 for a place in League 2 next season. The Highland League and Lowland League winners meet on April 25 and May 2, with Brora at home in the second leg. BOBBY JOHNSTONE We are sorry to hear of the passing of Bobby Johnstone, an Albion stalwart of the early 1960s. A left-half, Bobby joined the club in January 1959 from Muirkirk Juniors and remained at Annfield until moving to Airdrieonians in October 1963. Bobby was an ever present in the 1960/61 Division Two title-winning team and overall played in 166 games for the club. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
FIXTURES 26 Jul 2 Aug 9 Aug 16 Aug 19 Aug 23 Aug 30 Aug 13 Sep 20 Sep 27 Sep 4 Oct 11 Oct 18 Oct 25 Oct 1 Nov
PTC R1 Elgin City LC R1 Alloa L1 Peterhead L1 Ayr United PTC R2 Alloa L1 Stenhousemuir L1 Airdrieonians L1 Brechin City L1 Forfar Athletic L1 Stranraer L1 Dunfermline L1 Morton L1 Stenhousemuir L1 Airdrieonians SC Hurlford United
3-0 0-1 1-1 1-3 1-2 5-4 0-0 0-5 2-2 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-4 2-2 1-1
8 Nov SC Hurlford United 2-2 (AET: Stirling win 13-12 on penalties) 11 Nov L1 Brechin City 1-2 15 Nov L1 Stranraer 1-1 22 Nov L1 Dunfermline 0-4 29 Nov SC Raith Rovers 0-2 6 Dec L1 Peterhead 2-3 13 Dec L1 Forfar Athletic 1-2 20 Dec L1 Ayr United 2-2 27 Dec L1 Morton 3-4 3 Jan L1 Stenhousemuir 2-1 10 Jan L1 Dunfermline 2-2 17 Jan L1 Peterhead 1-2 24 Jan L1 Forfar Athletic 0-1 31 Jan L1 Stranraer 0-1
5 / A P R IL 2015 / W W W .S T I R LI N G ALB I O N F C. CO . U K
14 Feb L1 21 Feb L1 28 Feb L1 3 Mar L1 14 Mar L1 17 Mar L1 21 Mar L1 28 Mar L1 4 Apr L1 11 Apr L1 18 Apr L1 25 Apr L1 2 May L1
Ayr United Brechin City Airdrieonians Morton Dunfermline Stranraer Peterhead Forfar Athletic Airdrieonians Brechin City Morton Ayr United Stenhousemuir
1-4 0-1 1-4 0-4 1-1 0-1 2-1 0-4 0-2 1-2
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
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In the immediate term I would like to echo the Chairman’s words by stressing that despite not having a league position to play for we will be giving everything we have in each of the last three games.
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otivation to succeed is not short in supply. If we did need any more however, we found it in the confines of the compact away change room at Glebe Park Brechin last Saturday. Results over recent weeks had led us further down the road to relegation but that did nothing to reduce the sickening feeling that set in after the final whistle. Experiencing feelings at the complete opposite end of the spectrum, feelings brought on by achieving goals, are what we must all aim for. With that in mind I can assure our supporters that steps are being taken on the journey to making Stirling Albion FC the best club we can possibly be. Like any journey we have points we’d like to reach along the way but what is most important is that we focus on how we are going to get there. There are obviously many facets to this last point but underpinning them all has to be our culture. Culture has become one of those buzzwords for sporting organisations. Often bandied about with little meaning or understanding. Culture, as I see it in a football club context, is best described as ‘the unwritten rules that become accepted’ or in more straight forward terms, ‘the way we do things round here’. Through the good work of the people involved in the club (past and present) the culture at Stirling Albion FC could never be described as poor, so that gives us a good starting point. There is, however, always room for improvement particularly from the football department.
STUART MCLAREN In order to be successful we must behave like successful people off the pitch and this will reflect how we behave on the training and match day pitches. Continuation of the culture and subsequently success then becomes a naturally occurring event. As the group develops a positive culture other individuals of the right character will be drawn to it and as a result strengthen it. In the immediate term I would like to echo the Chairman’s words by stressing that despite not having a league position to play for we will be giving everything we have in each of the last three games. By doing that we will be demonstrating a fundamental characteristic of the culture we are striving to create, integrity. Other clubs at both ends of SPFL League 1 will expect nothing less in our matches against Morton, Ayr, and Stenhousemuir. Of equal importance to us is the fact that we, at the very least, owe our supporters is a couple of performances and hopefully with that results that they can be proud of. Finally the message I have for supporters of Stirling Albion FC is please recognise the importance of the role you play in the club. Your behaviour is of equal importance to creating a positive culture as that of our players, staff, and board members. There is great strength in unity and I know that together we can achieve many things. See you in 2015/16.
Stuart McLaren 6 / A PR IL 2 0 1 5 / W W W .S T I R L IN G A LBI ONF C. CO. UK
MATCH REPORT
GEGGAN CANCELS OUT SMITH OPENER IN EAST END DRAW LEFT: Phil Johnston in action against Dunfermline
PHOTO: Niels Bootsma
1 DUNFERMLINE GEGGAN 75
1 STIRLING ALBION G. SMITH 70
G
ordon Smith’s ninth goal of the season earned us a draw at East End Park as Stirling Albion ended a seven-match losing streak in League 1. The ex-Raith striker opened the scoring with 20 minutes left, after Lewis Coult had seen his header come back off the bar, but Dunfermline equalised five minutes later when Andy Geggan nodded home at the far post. Stuart McLaren’s men were well worth the draw. The Binos boss recalled keeper Callum Reidford in a line-up that showed four changes from the team beaten at Cappielow on March 3. Coult, Sandy Cunningham and Kevin McKinlay also returned, with on-loan Andy Stirling ruled out against his parent club, Angus Beith injured and Ross Forsyth unavailable. U20 defender Scott Davidson was included in the squad for the first time. Dunfermline were unchanged from the side that beat Ayr 2-1 the previous week but they lacked urgency and Stirling looked comfortable in the first half in a revised system that saw
LEAGUE ONE SAT 14TH MAR 2015 ATT: 2,318
Scully Millen Urquhart Martin McAusland Spence (71) George (34) Geggan Allan (65) Moffat Hopkirk
Reidford McGeachie McKinlay C. Smith Cummins Robertson Johnston Comrie Coult (80) G. Smith (76) Cunningham
Subs: Goodfellow Whittle (71) Byrne Buchananan Falkingham (34) El Bakhtaoui Barrowman (65)
Subs: Paterson Hamilton (76) Herron Davidson Weir Shepherd (80) Paton
McKinlay and Phil Johnston deployed as wingbacks. Adam Cummins came close but the centrehalf prodded the ball wide of the post after Ryan Scully had parried a header. The Pars threatened only occasionally but Michael Moffat wasn’t far away when he cracked a shot against the top of the bar. We always looked capable of causing problems from set-pieces and it was a corner that led to the opening goal. Craig Comrie whipped in a terrific delivery, Coult’s near-post header was tipped on to the bar and Gordon Smith nodded in the rebound. Dunfermline levelled five minutes later when Alex Whittle, just on as a substitute, swung in a cross from the left wing and ex-Ayr man Geggan rose highest to head home from close range. John Potter’s side applied some late pressure and Reidford did well to push out an Andy Barrowman header as we held on for our first point since the 2-2 draw with the same opponents in January. 8 / A PR IL 2 0 1 5 / W W W .S T I R L IN G A LBI ONF C. CO. UK
MATCH REPORT
GIBSON SEALS THE POINTS FOR THE TRAVELLING BLUES LEFT: Chris Smith playing at Forthbank in another game
PHOTO: Niels Bootsma
0 STIRLING ALBION 1 STRANRAER GIBSON 68
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illie Gibson scored the only goal midway through the second half to take Stranraer to the top of League 1 and leave us still searching for a home win. Admission prices had been cut for the midweek fixture, that was due to be played on Saturday March 7 but was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, but it was a frustrating night for the home fans. It was a poor game of a few clear-cut chances but Gibson’s free-kick proved decisive as Stephen Aitken’s men recovered from back-to-back defeats. Binos boss Stuart McLaren made one change to the team that drew at Dunfermline, with on-loan winger Andy Stirling replacing Sandy Cunningham. Steven Doris, Darren Lee Smith and Angus Beith were ruled out and there was a place on the bench for U20 midfielder Ally Petrie. The best of the first-half chances fell to the
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LEAGUE ONE TUE 17TH MAR 2015 ATT: 442
Reidford McGeachie McKinlay C. Smith Cummins Robertson Johnston (67) Comrie Coult G. Smith (80) Stirling (71)
Mitchell Pettigrew Longridge Rumsby McKeown Aitken (71) Winter Gallagher Malcolm (82) Longworth (88) Gibson
Subs: Paterson Hamilton (67) Forsyth Petrie Weir Shepherd (80) Cunningham (71)
Subs: Tobin Russell Robertson Bell (71) Stoney (82) Stirling (88)
visitors but Sean Winter sent a header wide and the same player was thwarted by a terrific block from Callum Reidford. We had our best spell early in the second half but Lewis Coult was denied his first Albion goal when David Mitchell managed to block his shot with a reaction save after the exAirdrie striker had diverted Willie Robertson’s drive towards the net. A first goalless draw since the stalemate at Airdrie in August looked on the cards but Stranraer took the lead in 68 minutes. Craig Comrie conceded a free-kick for a push on Jamie Longworth and Gibson’s curling shot was missed by everyone and sneaked just inside the right-hand post. Thereafter, we never looked like getting back in the game and Steven Bell, on as a substitute for fellow ex-Bino Chris Aitken, saw his effort deflected narrowly wide as the visitors chased a second goal.
A first goalless draw since the stalemate at Airdrie in August looked on the cards but Stranraer took the lead in 68 minutes.
9 / A PR IL 2015 / W W W .S TI R L I N G ALB I O N F C. CO . U K
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MATCH REPORT
ON-LOAN STIRLING GIVES BINOS FIRST HOME WIN OF SEASON LEFT: Goalscorer Lewis Coult in action against Dunfermline at Forthbank
PHOTO: Niels Bootsma
2 STIRLING ALBION COULT 5, STIRLING 84
1 PETERHEAD McALLISTER 4
O
n-loan Dunfermline midfielder Andy Stirling scored a late winner as we came from behind to claim our first home victory of the season in League 1. Rory McAllister’s deflected free-kick gave the Blue Toon the lead after just four minutes but Lewis Coult equalised 60 seconds later with his first Albion goal and his assist saw Stirling net the clincher six minutes from time. The result put us 10 points behind secondbottom Ayr United with six games to play while Peterhead remained four points outside the playoff zone. Binos boss Stuart McLaren made three changes to the side beaten 1-0 by Stranraer, with Ross Forsyth replacing the injured Kevin McKinlay and Sandy Cunningham and Lee Hamilton getting the nod ahead of Phil Johnston and Gordon Smith. Steven Doris, Darren Lee Smith and Angus Beith were ruled out against a Peterhead side who had won their previous two home games but arrived at Forthbank having earned just one point out of 12 on their travels since beating Airdrie in January.
LEAGUE ONE SAT 21ST MAR 2015 ATT: 479
Reidford McGeachie Forsyth Robertson Cummins C. Smith Hamilton Comrie Coult (89) Stirling Cunningham (70)
G. Smith Kerr Noble Ross R. Smith (75) McDonald Dzierzawski (85) Strachan McAllister Stevenson Cox (61)
Subs: Paterson Johnston Weir Davidson Shepherd Paton (89) G. Smith (70)
Subs: Macdonald Cowie Donaldson Riley (75) Brown (85) Rodgers (61)
We fell behind when Callum Reidford was left helpless when McAllister’s free-kick went in off the wall but the response was immediate. Hamilton’s persistence forced an error from keeper Graeme Smith and the wing-back got to the ball first, before squaring it for Coult to steer into the empty net. Reidford made good saves from David Cox and McAllister as half-time approached while Cunningham had a decent opportunity at the other end. It was the visitors who looked the more likely team to find a winner in the second half. McAllister forced a fine stop from Reidford and Gary McDonald rattled the bar from distance, with McAllister’s follow-up brilliantly blocked by the Albion No 1. We were struggling to create chances but a quick break saw Coult pick out Stirling and he made no mistake from close range. Peterhead almost equalised when Jamie Stevenson’s free-kick bounced off the bar and they will feel hard done by as we finally won at home at the 15th attempt. 10 / A PR I L 2 0 1 5 / W W W .S T IR L I N G A L BI ONF C. CO. UK
MATCH REPORT
FOUR-FAR TOO GOOD FOR STIRLING AT STATION PARK LEFT: Gordon Smith up against Forfar earlier this season
PHOTO: Niels Bootsma
4 FORFAR HILSON 20, C SMITH OG 22, KADER 72, TEMPLEMAN 89
0 STIRLING ALBION
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wo goals in each half earned Forfar an emphatic victory to keep them a point behind leaders Stranraer and pushed us closer to relegation. Stuart McLaren’s men created a number of good chances but failed to take them and two goals in two minutes midway through the first half put Dick Campbell’s side in control. It was always going to be an uphill struggle in the second half but we missed some decent opportunities before Forfar added to their lead in the closing stages. For the first time this season, we fielded an unchanged team as we looked to build on the 2-1 home win over Peterhead against a Forfar side with the best home record in the division. There was a gale blowing down the pitch at Station Park and the Binos had the advantage in the first half. We started strongly and within two minutes Sandy Cunningham was clean through but the teenager allowed a defender to recover and prod the ball inches wide of his own post. Stirling came close again when the lively Andy Stirling picked out Chris Smith but he sent the ball wide when he should have hit the target and,
11 / A P R IL 2015 / W W W .S T I R LI N G ALB I O N F C. CO . U K
LEAGUE ONE SAT 28TH MAR 2015 ATT: 606
Douglas Reidford (46) Baxter McGeachie Campbell Forsyth Dunlop Robertson Dods Cummins Mallin (65) C. Smith Denholm (46) Hamilton (73) Fotheringham (65) Comrie Templeman Coult Swankie Stirling Hilson Cunningham (81) Subs: King Kennedy Hay Clark Husband (65) Kader (46) Dale (65)
Subs: Binnie (46) Herron Sinclair Davidson Johnston (73) G. Smith (81)
out of nothing, Forfar took the lead in 20 minutes. A ball over the top released Dale Hilson and the ex-Dundee United forward beat Callum Reidford with a perfectly-judged lob. There was worse to come. A corner was headed goalwards by Michael Dunlop and the ball appeared to go in off Chris Smith as the Loons doubled their advantage. Cunningham had another great chance when he latched on to a long ball and sent his effort wide, although it appeared Rab Douglas got a touch, then Lewis Coult had a clever flick cleared off the line following a corner as we enjoyed a good spell. It was all over in 72 minutes when Forfar broke quickly and substitute Omar Kader raced in on goal to beat replacement keeper Cammy Binnie with a cool finish. The 17-year-old had come on for his debut at half-time after Callum Reidford took a knock and made some good saves but was left exposed as we chased the game. Both Dunlop and Iain Campbell rattled the crossbar for the hosts before former Bino Chris Templeman rounded things off with a close-range header in the last minute.
MATCH REPORT
TROUTEN PENALTY SEES BRECHIN EDGE IT OVER ALBION LEFT: Ross Forsyth playing at Forthbank in another game
PHOTO: Colin Poultney
0 STIRLING ALBION 2 AIRDRIEONIANS PRUNTY PEN 53, PEN 79
B
ryan Prunty converted two second-half penalties as Airdrie kept their play-off hopes alive and pushed us to the brink of League 2 football next season. Binos boss Stuart McLaren made three changes to the team beaten 4-0 at Forfar – Angus Beith replaced the suspended Craig Comrie, Gordon Smith came in for the injured Lewis Coult and Kevin McKinlay got the nod in place of Chris Smith. There was a debut for U20 midfielder Jordan Sinclair, who replaced Willie Robertson late on. We started the game well and Robertson saw a shot blocked before Andy McNeil pushed out an effort from Andy Stirling but the Diamonds came to life as half-time approached and Callum Reidford made a couple of fine saves to keep the
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LEAGUE ONE SAT 4TH APR 2015 ATT: 942
Reidford McGeachie McKinlay Robertson (81) Cummins Forsyth Hamilton Beith G. Smith (76) Stirling (65) Cunningham
McNeil Bain Boyle McHugh Gasparotto Lindsay Gray (65) Fitzpatrick Prunty (81) Fraser Morton (81)
Subs: Binnie C. Smith McAllister Sinclair (81) Johnston )65 Davidson Paton (76)
Subs: Ferguson Wilson Stewart O’Neil Boyle (81) Blockely (81) Watt (65)
score level. Airdrie, who have lost only to leaders Stranraer on their travels since September, took the lead in 53 minutes when Prunty found the corner from the spot despite Reidford getting a hand to the ball. The kick had been awarded when Bob McHugh, on loan from Motherwell, went down under a challenge from his Fir Park team-mate Adam Cummins and the visitors went close again when Luca Gasparotto headed against the bar following a corner. We struggled to make inroads and Airdrie sealed the points 11 minutes from time when Prunty smashed his penalty down the middle after Brian Colvin deemed Ross Forsyth had impeded on-loan Dundee United midfielder Scott Fraser.
Airdrie sealed the points 11 minutes from time when Prunty smashed his penalty down the middle after Brian Colvin deemed Ross Forsyth had impeded on-loan Dundee United midfielder Scott Fraser.
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12 / A PR I L 2 0 1 5 / W W W .S T IR L I N G A L BI ONF C. CO. UK
MATCH REPORT
LAST-MINUTE JACKSON WINNER RELEGATES STIRLING ALBION LEFT: Goalscorer Sandy Cunningham at Forthbank in another fixture
PHOTO: Niels Bootsma
2 BRECHIN CITY A JACKSON 12, 90
1 STIRLING ALBION CUNNINGHAM 86
A
ndy Jackson scored a stoppage-time winner as our relegation to League 2 was confirmed at Glebe Park. Jackson gave Brechin an early lead and Ray McKinnon’s men missed several good chances before substitute Sandy Cunningham headed the equaliser four minutes from the end. Only a win would have kept our slim survival hopes alive but that never looked likely and we must now prepare for a return to the fourth tier in 2015/16. Binos boss Stuart McLaren made two changes to the team beaten 2-0 by Airdrie, with Craig Comrie and Phil Johnston replacing Lee Hamilton and Cunningham. Brechin, who had already beaten us three times this season, went ahead in 12 minutes when we failed to deal with a cross from a free-kick on the right flank and Jackson lashed the ball into the net.
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LEAGUE ONE SAT 11TH APR 2015
Smith McLean Hamilton McCormack McNeil Fusco Barr Molloy A. Jackson Masson Thomas (80)
Reidford McGeachie McKinlay Robertson (30) Cummins Forsyth Beith (79) Johnston Comrie G. Smith (79) Stirling
Subs: O’Neil Durojaiye Ferguson Trouten S. Jackson Tapping (80)
Subs: Binnie C. Smith Hamilton (30) Sinclair (79) Weir Cunningham (79)
ATT: 427
Robert Thomson then had an effort disallowed for offside after on-loan Aberdeen midfielder Jamie Masson had rattled the post and Bobby Barr missed a good chance to double the lead as City bossed the first half. Masson and Thomson squandered further good opportunities after the break and we took advantage to level through Cunningham’s close-range header. However, we couldn’t hold on. Jackson fired wide when clean through but made amends in added time when he hooked the ball past Callum Reidford to move Brechin six points clear in fourth place in the race for the play-offs. This is our third relegation in five seasons since we clinched the Division Two title at Glebe Park in May 2010 and there are still three games to play - against Morton, Ayr United and Stenhousemuir.
This is our third relegation in five seasons since we clinched the Division Two title at Glebe Park in May 2010.
13 / A P R IL 2015 / W W W .STI R L I N G ALB I O N F C. CO . U K
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THE LOCKER ROOM
VERSATILE LEE HAMILTON CAUGHT UP WITH EDITOR DAVID CHALMERS TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PAST SEASON AND HOPES FOR NEXT SEASON DC: What’s the mood in the dressing room been like since the confirmed relegation?
season, do you think you’ve improved as a player?
LH: Obviously we’ve been dissappointed and everybody hates getting relegated especially after last season with all the boys in the team getting promoted and just getting relegated the season after is hard to take but we’ve just got to build on it and hopefully get a few wins in the last few games of the season and next season try and push ourselves to get back up again.
Definitely. I think especially playing against players this season that are full-time and in training every day and experienced players who’ve played with higher clubs and now they’re settled in this division. Myself, personally, I feel it’s improved me because I’m learning how to play against them, especially if we can push next season to get promoted again then I’ll be prepared better because I know what the mindset is like and how they play.
Obviously last season the side finished 4th and then won the playoffs; do you think it was maybe a season too early? It maybe was, but it made us push ourselves, it really did. This season, it showed us that we can keep up with teams but unfortunately we can’t get the end result but if we match the teams in the performance aspect, so maybe it was a season too early but hopefully if we go up next season we’ll be better prepared for it. As a young player and moving up a division this
You’re quite a versatile player, we’ve seen you play in a few positions now; where do you see yourself on the park long-term? Anywhere. I’d play any position as long as I’m playing! That’s the same as any player, if you’re going to be playing you’ll be happy to play in any role whether that’s up front, midfield or defence. I like both roles - midfield and defence - but with midfield you obviously get to get forward a bit more, but I need a bit more experience there to be able to push myself. You’ve got three games left despite the relegation, is it important to stay professional?
14 / A PR I L 2 0 1 5 / W W W .S T IR L I N G A L BI ONF C. CO. UK
THE LOCKER ROOM Definitely. The gaffer is always one to tell us to remain professional and keep the faith and hopefully if we do that in the last few games, get some wins to show that we can actually finish off games. Obviously it’s going to be difficult because we know the situation but I don’t think the boys heads will go down, I think we could maybe get a couple of results. Do you think it might help, playing without fear? I think it’ll take some weight off our shoulders and we can just relax and play our game. Hopefully we can just score a few goals and stop conceding goals in the last few minutes of games and losing. Late goals do appear to be a problem for the team, why do you think that might be? I think it’s just bad luck because we’ve been playing well for the majority of games and in a lot of games we’ve actually been the better team but we just struggle to hold out and I don’t know what it is. We try and work different things out in training defensively, go through set-pieces but I think it’s mostly bad luck to be honest. How important was it to get the win over Peterhead, giving the fans that first home win of the season? It was good. It was good for ourselves to get a win for a start, but it was good to give the fans that come and watch every week, they’ve obviously
been disapointed that we’ve not had any wins until the Peterhead game. It’s disappointing but to get a win when we were borderline relegated, just to give the fans something because we were still fighting to stay up. It gave them some hope, it gave us some hope. It was good. While staying professional, there’s three games left - does the focus start to turn to next season and a promotion push? Definitely. I think with the ability we’ve got in the team just now and whatever players we keep on and whatever players we bring in, I think we have got the potential to come straight back up again whether that’s through winning the league or via the play-offs. But we’ve got to focus on the last few games this season with in mind next season and get what we need. Results obviously haven’t went the teams way but since Stuart McLaren has come in the team do genuinely look like they’ve improved a lot. The board obviously believe he’s the right man to take the team forward, why do you think that is? He’s got a good knowledge for the game. He’s very tactical in his training and game preparation. He gets into the right mindset for games. He focuses on parts of your game that you do need to improve on and we know that it is helping us, strategically. It has been helping us and we have been playing better but sadly results haven’t been going our way.
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The gaffer is always one to tell us to remain professional and keep the faith and hopefully if we do that in the last few games, get some wins to show that we can actually finish off games.
15 / A P R IL 2015 / W W W .STI R L I N G ALB I O N F C. CO . U K
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LEE HAMILTON
MATCH PREVIEW
STIRLING ALBION VS. GREENOCK MORTON LEAGUE ONE SAT 18TH APRIL 2015 15:00 KO FORTHBANK
GREENOCK MORTON FACTFILE FOUNDED: 1874 NICKNAME: THE TON STADIUM: CAPPIELOW PARK CAPACITY: 11,589 CURRENT MANAGER: JIM DUFFY BEN RAMAGE
T
he Albion welcome title-chasing Morton to the Forthbank for the second last home game of the season. With relegation now confirmed, it will be interesting to see whether the Binos can put in a better performance now that the extreme pressure of getting results to close the gap has been removed. M o r t o n , meanwhile, will be dying to keep up the pressure on fellow title rivals Forfar and Stranraer sitting just three points behind their fellow challengers. The ‘Ton have led for large periods of the season, but have hit a rough patch of form just at the wrong time as the season closes in. Jim Duffy‘s side have lost three of their last six fixtures, including what could prove to be a costly 2 - 0 home defeat to Brechin
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City at the start of April. The gaffer has impressed in his first season at the reins at Cappielow Park, but will surely be judged on whether he can guide Morton back to the Championship at the first attempt, whether via the title or the play-offs. Much will rely on the continued form of Aberdeen loanee Declan McManus, who has proved a masterstroke of a signing by Duffy. The twice capped Scotland Under-21 star has notched an impressive 16 league goals in his second spell at Morton, and the striker will be vital to their chances of a successful end to the season. Fellow forward Stefan McCluskey has also chipped in up front, adding seven goals to what has proved to be a real strength of the Pride of the Clyde this season. The Albion face a strong task in trying to halt what will be a hugely determined side who can ill-afford any other slip ups in their few remaining games.
The ‘Ton have led for large periods of the season, but have hit a rough patch of form just at the wrong time as the season closes in.
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16 / A PR I L 2 0 1 5 / W W W .S T IR L I N G A L BI ONF C. CO. UK
FIXTURES
SQUAD LIST Goalkeepers: Derek Gaton Nicolas Caraux
STIRLING vs MORTON APR 18th | LEAGUE ONE | FORTHBANK
Defenders: Lee Kilday Ricki Lamie Michal Miller Stefan Milokevic
Sean Crighton Thomas Oware Midfielders: Jamie McCluskey Cono Pepper Joe McKee Jordan Allan Reece Hands
Forwards: Andrew Barrowman David McNeill Declan McManus Stefan McCluskey Jon Scullion Peter MacDonald
STRANRAER vs MORTON APR 25th | LEAGUE ONE | STAIR PARK
MORTON vs PETERHEAD MAY 2nd | LEAGUE ONE | CAPPIELOW
THE GAFFER JIM DUFFY Glaswegian Jim Duffy, 55, took over at Greenock after a three year spell at Clyde, having previously managed Hibernian, Dundee and Falkirk. He has hit the ground running, turning around a demoralised relegated side who now look like they could head straight back up at the first attempt. A strong centre back as a player, Duffy came through the Celtic youth system before moving to the team he now manages, amassing over 100 appearances for Morton during his three years there.
KEY PLAYER DECLAN MCMANUS Declan McManus, 20 has been one of the starts of League One this season, bagging 16 goals so far for the Ton this season which could see him end the campaign as outright top scorer. The exciting forward has been sent out by Aberdeen to gain some valuable first team experience, and has grasped the opportunity of consistent first team football brilliantly. Glasgowborn Declan’s form has not gone unnoticed, and his relentless goalscoring saw him called up and make his first appearances for the Scotland Under 21’s. The youngster is definitely one to watch.
LAST TIME LEAGUE ONE SAT 3RD MAR 2015 ATT: 1,037
4 GREENOCK MORTON S MCCLUSKEY 35, 62, 78, MCMANUS 82
0 STIRLING ALBION
March snowfall almost forced the game to be postponed the last time the Albion met the ‘Ton in March, but thankfully it passed a pitch inspection after rainfall cleared the snow just in time for kick-off. Stirling started the game brightly and could have taken the lead had Morton goalkeeper Derek Gaston not brilliantly denied first Gordon Smith and then Angus Beith. Stirling were left to rue those misses, as they have so often this season, as Morton put the visitors to the sword thanks to a brilliant hattrick by striker Stefan McCluskey. This was added to by a stunning 25-yard strike by McManus, which left Albion keeper Paterson with no chance. The travelling Bino fans were left with another depressing journey home, while the result put Morton two points clear at the top of table at the time.
17 / A P R IL 2015 / W W W .S T I R LI N G ALB I O N F C. CO . U K
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MATCH PREVIEW
AYR UNITED VS. STIRLING ALBION LEAGUE ONE SAT 25TH APRIL 2015 15:00 KO SOMERSET PARK
AYR UNITED FACTFILE FOUNDED: 1910 NICKNAME: THE HONEST MEN STADIUM: SOMERSET PARK CAPACITY: 10,185 CURRENT MANAGER: IAN McCALL DAVID CHALMERS
T
he Binos will travel to south-west Scotland to face Ian McCall’s men in what should be a chance for Stirling to play with the shackles
off. A long and laborious trip to Somerset Park will give the squad the opportunity to go for one last away win this season following two wins over Stenhousemuir at Ochilview. The Honest Men were tipped last year as candidates for promotion but instead Mark Roberts found himself trying to steer the club away from the bottom of the table, but to no avail. At the start of 2015 the board decided Roberts’ time was up and got in touch with Ian McCall to see if his experience could salvage their season. While the team can’t exactly start the party, they’ve managed a few shock results and that’s managed to see them almost over the line. As it stands, the club sit in eighth place, level
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on points and goal difference with Stenhousemuir. Those two will battle it out to stay in the league with the Albion already relegated and seventhplaced Peterhead 20 points ahead with just nine left to play for. The last time we travelled to Ayr Steven Doris bagged a brace to put the Binos 2-1 up with just 10 minutes left on the clock; however, former Celtic and West Bromwich Albion striker Craig Beattie scored a last-minute equaliser to save an allimportant point, denying Stuart McLaren’s men an all-important two points. Without Beattie’s equaliser, this could have been a real six-pointer. Alas, football can be cruel and late goals have been a problem all season and Stirling are relegated. Instead, McLaren and his players must look at this as an opportunity to show that his team deserves to bounce straight back up this division next season by beating teams like Ayr and Stenhousemuir in their last few fixtures.
Stuart McLaren must see this encounter as a winnable fixture with Ayr’s current form
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24 / A PR I L 2 0 1 5 / W W W .S T IR L I N G A L BI ONF C. CO. UK
FIXTURES
SQUAD LIST Goalkeepers: David Hutton Shaun Newman
AIRDRIEONIANS vs AYR UNITED APR 18th | LEAGUE ONE | EXCELSIOR
Defenders: Josh McArthur Martyn Campbell Nicky Devlin Peter Murphy Andrew Muir
Midfielders: Alan Forrest Michael Donald Michael Wardrope Brian Gilmour Peter McGill Robbie Crawford Paul Slane
Forwards: Mark Roberts Jon Paul McGovern Sean McKenzie Ryan Donnelly Dale Shirkie Craig Beattie
AYR UNITED vs STIRLING ALBION APR 25th | LEAGUE ONE | SOMERSET PARK
FORFAR vs AYR UNITED MAY 2nd | LEAGUE ONE | STATION PARK
THE GAFFER IAN McCALL 50-year-old McCall took over the role of manager of Ayr United from Mark Roberts in January this year with the board believing his experience could save the club from relegation. While they could still go down via the play-offs, they have done enough to avoid automatic relegation. He joined the club after four years out of management, with his last role being at Partick Thistle during 2007-2011. His best spell as a manager was in charge of Falkirk where he oversaw 18 wins in just 30 matches before moving onto Dundee United.
KEY PLAYER ALAN FORREST Forrest, younger brother of Celtic star James Forrest, is an exciting younf forward who made an immediate impact on his Ayr United debut at the start of last season when he came off the bench at Hampden Park to score United’s winner against Queen’s Park in the Ramsdens Cup, becoming the club’s youngest ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 321 days. His dynamic style of play makes him a threat as you never know which flank he’s coming from. With eight goals this campaign he is Ayr’s star man.
LAST TIME LEAGUE ONE SAT 14TH FEB 2015 ATT: 785
1 STIRLING ALBION JOHNSTON 54
4 AYR UNITED ROBERTSON 12, G SMITH OG 15, BEATTIE 74, PRESTON 83
Ian McCall’s men made a strong start at Forthbank and were two goals ahead inside 15 minutes thanks to midfielder David Robertson and a Gordon Smith own goal as they capitalised on some poor defending. Phil Johnston gave us hope with his second goal of the season early in the second half but substitute Craig Beattie and Jordan Preston - one of five new signings in the Ayr line-up - sealed an emphatic away victory. We were soon under pressure as Ayr seized the initiative and Robbie Crawford headed against the post before Robertson, on his debut after moving from Livingston, tucked the ball home after another effort had rebounded from the woodwork. Three minutes later Gordon Smith could only head Adam Blakeman’s cross into his own net, just 30 seconds after keeper Greg Paterson had done well to keep out a Craig Murray effort. We began to cause Ayr some problems and Shepherd was thwarted by keeper David Hutton before Angus Beith set up Lewis Coult, whose shot came back off the post. Johnston cut in from the left to drill a low drive into the corner nine minutes into the second half but we were unable to put the visitors under any sustained pressure. Beattie was left unmarked to head in Ayr’s third goal from a corner and he then teed up Preston, on loan from Blackburn Rovers, for the fourth with seven minutes left.
25 / A PR IL 2015 / W W W .STI R L I N G ALB I O N F C. CO . U K
MATCH PREVIEW
STIRLING ALBION VS. STENHOUSEMUIR LEAGUE ONE SAT 2ND MAY 2015 15:00 KO FORTHBANK STADIUM
STENHOUSEMUIR FACTFILE FOUNDED: 1884 CAPACITY: 3,746
NICKNAME: THE WARRIORS STADIUM: OCHILVIEW CURRENT MANAGER: SCOTT BOOTH
DAVID CHALMERS
I
t’s been something of a turbulent spell for Stenhousemuir recently with a series of changes behind the scenes at the Forth Valley club. In early 2015 the club changed hands with Gordon Thompson replacing Bill Darroch as Chairman, and the board also decided to give Scott Booth his marching orders following a dissappointing spell in charge of the team. Booth had a high-profile playing career and starred for Aberdeen, FC Twente and Borussia Dortmund as well as international honours with Scotland. He moved into club management with the Warriors after moving to Ochilview from a role coaching Scotland’s youth sides. However, the 43-year-old was deemed no longer suitable to lead the squad and instead 33-year-old Brown Ferguson, twice caretaker manager, has now been announced as the permanent manager of the team with the board putting faith into the former East Stirlingshire, Alloa Athletic, Hamilton Accies and Partick Thistle player. He joined the club in 2011 and has scored nine goals in 64 games. Since taking over in February, Ferguson has overseen 10 games with his team picking up just two
wins and a draw. If Stirling Albion could have turned a few draws into wins and some defeats into draws then it could very well have gone down to the wire with these two sides, but in any case they are still in danger of going down as they occupy the relegation play-off spot in League One and are level on points with Ayr United. With the Binos playing both sides in the remaining three fixtures, they could very well impact on both side’s finishing position. They threw away a 2-0 lead against Morton in Greenock last week with three goals in 12 minutes sealing a late comeback for the ’Ton and snatching all three points from Ferguson’s side. Their two wins over Peterhead and and Stranraer in early March are the reason they pulled away from the Albion. Many times recently they have taken the lead and ended up on the losing side, while their most recent matches have seen two sending off’s with both Anthony Marenghi and Ryan Millar seeing red in the games against Forfar and Airdrieonians. Binos boss Stuart McLaren will certainly be willing his side to give the fans a home win to end the season and this match should be an entertaining encounter with Stirling having Stenny’s number a few times this season. 26 / A PR I L 2 0 1 5 / W W W .S T IR L I N G A L BI ONF C. CO. UK
FIXTURES
SQUAD LIST Goalkeepers: Greg Fleming Craig Burns Dean Shaw Chris Smith
STRANRAER vs STENHOUSEMUIR APR 18th | LEAGUE ONE | STAIR PARK
Defenders: Robbie Duncan Stewart Greacen Alan Lithgow Ross McMillan Jamie McCormack Ross Meechan Nicolas Mortimer James Redpath
Ciaran Summers Fraser Thomson Midfielders: Mark Allan Ryan Coleman Rhys Craigie Sean Dickson Kyle Docherty Kris Faulds Lee Gallagher Gregor Fotheringham Bryan Hodge Anthony Marenghi Kieran Millar
Jamie Reid Mark Scott Josh Watt Tom Walsh Forwards: Stan Chitemere Fraser Eddington Martin Grehan Colin McMenamin Ryan Millar Gary Oliver Callum Robertson Paul Sludden Craig Sutherland
STENHOUSEMUIR vs BRECHIN CITY APR 25th | LEAGUE ONE | OCHILVIEW
STIRLING ALBION vs STENHOUSEMUIR MAY 2nd | LEAGUE ONE | FORTHBANK
THE GAFFER BROWN FERGUSON Ferguson took the reigns after Booth’s departure in early February and has been in charge for 10 games. Having claimed seven points to add to Booth’s 21, the 33-year-old has managed to steer the club from automatic relegation to League Two. However, he has a job to do in the remaining three fixtures to ensure the Warriors stay in League One. Formerly a midfielder with East Stirlingshire, Alloa Athletic, Hamilton Accies and Partick Thistle, he joined the club in 2011 and will be in charge of the team next season as permanent manager.
KEY PLAYER COLIN McMENAMIN 34-year-old McMenamin has proven his worth to the team with 14 goals this campaign. His career started at Queen of the South before moving to English giants Newcastle United for two years. He failed to make an appearance for the Toon before coming back to Scotland to Livingston and Falkirk. A season at Shrewesbury came before a prolific two year spell at Gretna with 23 goals in 46 games. He ammassed a huge 80 games for Dundee in two years and scored 21 goals there. 20 goals in 44 games for Ross County is another highlight of his career. An experienced goalthreat, and Stenny’s top scorer.
LAST TIME LEAGUE ONE SAT 3RD JAN 2015 ATT: 586
1 STENHOUSEMUIR MCMENAMIN 34
2 STIRLING ALBION COMRIE 24, G. SMITH 29
First-half goals from Craig Comrie and Gordon Smith earned us a vital victory in the New Year derby. Colin McMenamin pulled one back before the break but we held on for only our second League 1 win of the season - the first was 5-4 at the same venue in August - to close the gap on Ayr United to five points. There was a minute’s silence before the game in memory of Stenhousemuir U20 player Kyle Doherty, who tragically died earlier that week. Warriors keeper Greg Fleming had already made a good save to keep out a Gordon Smith header before we took the lead after 24 minutes. On-loan Hearts midfielder Angus Beith, who had an excellent match, took a corner short to Comrie and his low shot from just outside the box found the net with the aid of a slight deflection as Scott Booth’s team appealed in vain for offside. We doubled our advantage five minutes later thanks to an eighth goal of the season for Gordon Smith. The summer signing from Raith Rovers made a powerful run into the box and tucked the ball into the corner for his first goal since the end of October. Stenhousemuir got back in it before half-time when McMenamin hooked a shot high past Paterson and ex-Bino Alan Lithgow then hit the bar following a corner. Keeping goals out has been a problem all season but we restricted the Warriors to very few opportunities in the second half, although Paterson did well to claw away a Lithgow header in his first appearance since the August 23 game here. Gordon Smith forced a smart save from Fleming and Coult wasn’t far away from his first Albion goal as we started 2015 with a badly-needed win against our local rivals.
27 / A P R IL 2015 / W W W .STI R L I N G ALB I O N F C. CO . U K
See your friends more. Join Men United. We’re delighted to welcome Men United to Forthbank on Saturday. A team of volunteers will be raising money for Prostate Cancer UK, to help the fight against a disease that will affect 1 in 8 men in their lifetime. And as well as giving generously, you yourself can get involved. Men United is Prostate Cancer UK’s movement for everyone who believes men are worth fighting for. By joining Men United, you’ll get more opportunities to do great stuff with your friends, from bike rides to pub quizzes to Iron Man challenges. Whatever you and your mates love to do, you can do it for Men United and help beat a disease that kills one man every hour in the UK. Plus, you’ll find out about ways to make a difference on an even wider scale by uniting with men across the UK, like petitioning MPs or volunteering. Whether it’s big or small, signing a petition or running a marathon, doing it together is what really matters. What starts with a quick ‘hello’, a chat in the pub or a barbecue with mates can end with a nationwide movement of men - ready to fight for their friends, themselves and men everywhere.
Join Men United and help keep friendships alive. prostatecanceruk.org/menunited
SUPPORTER OWNERSHIP WEEK
You don’t need us to tell you that your club is important.
YOU KNOW IT IS
WHY WE ARE CROWDFUNDING?
Every penny that we raise from Supporter Ownership Week will allow us to:
You don’t need us to tell you that your club is important. You know it is- you’re supporter owned. You can own a part of it, and make the decisions that really matter to its future.
Create • More supporter owned clubs and provide professional support to assist in club conversions • New supporter ownership opportunities by working with (and establishing more) supporters trusts
We’re running Supporter Ownership Week this week as a celebration of ownership of clubs by people like you, and during it we’re running a series of events to showcase the work that people like you do to make supporter ownership happen at a club. We’ll be bringing you the stories of the people who make it possible, and telling the World about why what you do is pioneering, and why we want to do more of it. To make that possible we’ve also launched a crowdfunding campaign so that we can make it possible for others to take the same journey, so that others just like you can really say: “Ours”. We’d love you to supporter it and pledge. We have a number of rewards inclduing the our supporter ownership week t-shirt above for £25.
PLEDGE NOW >>>>>>>>>
Build • Look for funding opportunities to benefit supporter owned clubs • Develop policy, research and share best practice to benefit supporter owned clubs • The network of supporters trusts to en sure there is a credible and robust vehicle to own a club via its supporters. Promote • Supporter ownership as a concept across the U.K using a number of domestic and European success stories • Supporter owned clubs to opinion leaders across sport and beyond • Run events and campaign for supporter owned clubs including networking sessions
.CO.UK/SUPPORTER-OWNERSHIP-WEEK
Supporters Direct,
helps and supports 39 supporter-owned clubs across three different sports. We also represent over 180 supporters’ trusts in the UK which represent the interests of over 700,000 individual members.
Supporters Direct has helped to establish ove r39 supporter owned clubs and continues support a network of over 190 JOINtoTHE FILM CREW FOR supporters trusts who have been set up MATCH!!! toTODAYS represent and increase the influence of supporters. Today we want you to be part of the Club film crew and upload your videos to FanFootage. Chart the atmosphere around the stadium and some of the big moments of the match. If you film it, we want you to upload it! So get you phone out and upload your footage to:
WWW.FANFOOTAGE.COM
>
ACTION REPLAY
Steven Doris converted the decisive kick as we won an incredible 28-penalty shoot-out 13-12 after a 2-2 draw with Hurlford United at Forthbank. It could hardly have been a more dramatic debut for new manager Stuart McLaren and assistant Martyn Corrigan but we eventually came out on top in this William Hill Scottish Cup third-round replay after a 1-1 draw at Blair Park the previous. On a rain-lashed afternoon, Ross Chisholm and Doris missed first time round before Callum Reidford saved from Jamie Wilson to allow Doris to set up a fourth-round meeting at home to Raith Rovers on November 29. Ross Robertson fired Hurlford in front after 15 minutes but Doris levelled 13 minutes from time with his first goal for the club and grabbed a second equaliser deep into extra time after Stewart Kean had scored for the Junior Cup holders. In a repeat of the original tie, Hurlford scored early. Reidford had already made a fine save before Ross Robertson found space in the box to curl a shot into the top corner. Darren Henderson’s side looked comfortable in the first half but we were much improved in the second period and the ball was scrambled off the line before Johnston’s header suffered the same fate on an increasingly sodden pitch. The equaliser arrived when Robertson’s persistence allowed Doris to break beyond the Hurlford defence and he made no mistake. We finished the game strongly but keeper Ally Brown pulled off a great save to keep out a header and Gordon Smith fired over from close range after being picked out by Weir. The Ayrshire team stunned us in extra time when Kean, who scored last week, bundled the ball home from close range in a rare attack with nine minutes remaining but Doris equalised for the second time after a spell of penalty-box pinball. And so to what developed into an epic decider from 12 yards. John Dempster and Gordon Smith scored and Reidford saved from Ross Chisholm. Fulton stuck his penalty away but Wilson netted and Brown denied Doris to keep it at 2-2 after six kicks. Remarkably, there then followed 20 successful attempts - most of them of an incredibly high standard - before Reidford turned Wilson’s effort round the post. Doris sent us through with an emphatic final penalty in our first ever Scottish Cup shoot-out, 25 years after they were introduced to the competition.
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COMMUNITY CORNER
APR.
2015 EASTER CAMPS GOING WELL As the April edition of “The Albion“ goes to print, we are in the middle of our Easter Holiday Camps with our partners at Active Stirling. The first week of the camps went very well with over 50 children enjoying some Easter football out in some glorious sunshine. The numbers attending the camp continued to grow throughout the week and children also took part in our theme days including international Thursday, with a number of international kits on show, and Stirling Albion red day. There were Stirling Albion prizes awarded throughout the week and Bino the Bear even took time out of his schedule to pop down and meet the kids and join in with some of the sessions.
Boys and Girls 3-4 years old can enjoy Mini Kickers, which gives young children the opportunity to develop basic motor skills such as balance and co-ordination. There is a huge emphasis on fun and enjoyment in our Mini Kickers classes. Children aged 5-6 years and 7-12 years can attend our Play the Game Centres which develop skills and learning through a variety of small sided games and exercises. All the information on venues, days and times can be found at www.stirlingalbionfc.co.uk/community/ class-details/ or www.activestirling.org.uk/ kidstermtime. Bookings can be made via Active Stirling on 03000 280 101 or 01786 273 555.
Going into the second week, the number of children signed up is looking healthy again and if the weather is as good as the first week then it promises to be a fantastic end to the camps. We will have updates posted online so everyone can keep up with how the camps are progressing.
WEEKLY CLASSES AVAILABLE TO BOOK NOW!!! As always our weekly classes, run in partnership with Active Stirling, return and are available to book on NOW!! The classes run in various areas in and around Stirling and are available for children as young as 3 all the way up to 12 years old.
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COMMUNITY CORNER
SEASON REVIEW AND LOOK AHEAD As the season draws to a close, it has obviously been a disappointing one on the park but off the park and on the community front there is plenty to be proud of and optimistic of in the months and years to come. Stephen Al-Sayed has been a valuable member of the community team and has done a fantastic job as a coach since starting his apprenticeship. Stephen will continue working throughout the next few months and on the summer camps with his apprenticeship due to end around September. This season was our first with the u12s go FREE scheme which I think has been a fantastic addition to what we do out in the communities and definitely one that attracts more young fans and families to our games at Forthbank. Naturally when the team are doing well, the attendances will increase but our u12s scheme ensures that we can continue to grow the ways in which young children can get involved in the club and I’m sure this will strengthen next season as we continue to look at ways on how we can improve it. We delivered another successful Tesco Bank programme within some schools in Stirling providing six weeks of activity to primary 2s and 3s. This then links to a further six weeks of coaching at the football club with the aim of keeping the children involved in the junior academy with regular training sessions and games. The junior academy has continued to grow as a result of the programme with approximately 20 new children joining up. It is always a quieter period around Christmas and New Year until Easter kicks in and it gets really busy 33 / A PR IL 2015 / W W W .S TI R L I N G ALB I O N F C. CO . U K
again! We had our programme with Cowie Utd, which started between New Year and Easter, delivering within the schools out that way to help Cowie attract new members and Stephen Al-Sayed has been leading this up as part of his apprenticeship. This programme continues after Easter too. As you can see our Easter Camps have been going really well and we have our summer camps to look forward to as well over the next few months! As well as this we will be going into Nurseries again to deliver a similar programme to the one we ran last year in the run up to summer. It is becoming increasingly important to get children involved at a younger age and Mini Kickers sessions are always well received within the nurseries and by the children themselves so we are really looking forward to this programme again! As always we have a number of other exciting bits and pieces on the horizon, just not things that I can go into a lot of detail on quite yet. Even although we have a bit of a break from “the Albion” and first team duties, the community programme will still be plenty busy during this time so to keep up to date - follow us on Twitter, Facebook and keep an eye on the Community section of the website. Get following us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest!!
Facebook - www.facebook.com/SAFCCommunity Twitter - @SAFCCommunity Website - www.stirlingalbionfc.co.uk/community Email - community@stirlingalbionfc.co.uk
Andy
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JUNIOR BINOS ---------------------------CAN YOU HELP BINO TO FIND HIS EASTER EGGS?
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Supporting local individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness, housing difficulties and in financial hardship. A huge thanks to Stirling Albion FC for supporting our work. We were delighted to kick off our involvement with the Club with the bucket-collection at the Ayr game which raised a fantastic ÂŁ446.39! All funds raised will go towards our work with local people who are in crisis. Thank you to everyone who donated on the day. What we do: Run 3 Crisis Food Banks each week 1,500 people, including 400 children, received food from our Crisis Food Banks in 2014 51,000 meals were distributed throughout 2014 Provide practical support to people who are homeless 150 Home-Starter Packs of essential household items (e.g. kettle, bedding, pots and pans, cutlery) were given to people moving out of homelessness into their own tenancy. 143 Emergency-Packs (e.g. dried foods, tea/coffee, toiletries) were distributed to people becoming homeless and moving into temporary accommodation. More people are needing our help than ever before and all support you are able to give to our work will make a real and lasting difference. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter, visit our website at www.startupstirling.org. uk, email us at joanie@startupstirling.org.uk or phone Joanie on 01786 551027 to find out how you can get involved.
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STIRLING ALBION SQUAD LIST 2014/15 COACHING STAFF
GOALKEEPER
STUART McLAREN
MARTYN CORRIGAN
CALLUM REIDFORD
CAMMY BINNIE
INA SHAW MBE
DRON & DICKSON LTD
SAFC SUPPORTERS TRUST BOARD
VICTOR & DEBBIE NELSON
DEFENCE
ADAM CUMMINS
LEE HAMILTON
KEVIN McKINLAY
CHRIS SMITH
BRAEHEAD TAXIS
SAFC SUPPORTERS CLUB
DEFENCE
MIDFIELD
CRAIG WEDDERBURN
ROSS FORSYTH
ROSS McGEACHIE
PHIL JOHNSTON
IAIN GLEN
PETER MCKENZIE
MCKENZIE TRAILERS LTD
ROY & SHEENA MCFARLANE
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SQUAD LIST 2014/15 STIRLING ALBION MIDFIELD
DARREN LEE SMITH
CRAIG COMRIE
CRAIG SMITH
GARRY CAIRNS JOINERY
ANGUS BEITH
ALASDAIR DUNN
MIDFIELD
GRAHAM WEIR
WILLIAM ROBERTSON
FORWARD
ANDY STIRLING
VICTOR & DEBBIE NELSON
LEWIS COULT
GORDON SMITH
ROBERT MCCRINDLE
TYLAR ROWLEY
FORWARD
SANDY CUNNINGHAM
STEVEN DORIS
CRAIG STEWART
BRIDGE OF ALLAN SUPPORTERS
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CHRIS PATON
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