Match Webcast v Dunfermline
Video highlights of our match last Saturday against Dunfermline in the first round of the Challenge Cup have been uploaded to the official website.

Click to view the match highlights

New Challenge Cup Sponsor
The Scottish Football League have announced MG ALBA as the new title sponsor of the Challenge Cup for season 2008/2009. The Challenge Cup will now be re-named The ALBA Challenge Cup.

Unfortunately Stirling Albion were knocked out of this years competition at the first hurdle on Saturday against Dunfermline.

This new sponsorship will see the prize fund significantly increased and this years competition will include two live broadcasts, of one Semi-Final and the Final itself.

The SFL aim has always been to improve the coverage and profile of the Challenge Cup and to increase the awareness of the true community spirit attached to the competition. By rescheduling most of the rounds to Saturdays or Sundays on international weekends, they are giving the competition its own unique place in the calendar where possible.

Life Back In Division Two Set Begin
The new league season begins this Saturday with a trip to Glebe Park to face Brechin City.
We find ourselves back in Division Two after finishing bottom in a competitive Divison One last season and Allan Moore will be eager that his new look squad settle quickly and we can mount a promotion challenge.

With only 14 outfield players signed Moore is looking to bolster his squad and in particular midfield and is currently casting an eye over various trialists in training, Moore though is keen to see the trialists in action so a few are likely to be included in the squad that will travel to Brechin.

Looking ahead to the Division Two campaign Moore added "I don't think there will be much between a lot of the teams but it's importnant we make a good start because we have brought in a lot of new players and we want to build confidence."

Albion Avoid Fine
Stirling Albion have avoided an SFA fine after an improved disciplinary record in the second half of last season.

The Binos were warned in January but were not among the clubs censured or fined when the SFA announced the 2007/08 analysis earlier this week.

Dunfermline Athletic 3 v 0 Stirling Albion
Stirling lost 3-0 against Division One side Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park on Saturday in the Challenge Cup First Round.

Stirling team:- Christie, Graham, Lowing, Lawrie, Forsyth, O'Neill, Corr, Murphy, Harty, Waddell, Devine.
Subs:- McKenna(Waddell), Grehan(Harty), Taggart(Murphy), Rowcroft, Hogarth.

Booked - Lowing
Half time - Dunfermline 1 v 0 Stirling Albion

Crowd - 1340

New Strips
Stirling Albion will sport our new home kit tomorrow when we travel to East End Park to face Dunfermline Athletic in the first round of the Challenge Cup. Replicas of our new strips for public sale will not be available until late August.

Stirling team:- Christie, Lawrie, Lowing, Ross(Trialist), Graham, O'Neill, Taggart, Corr, Grehan, McKenna, Forsyth.
Subs:- Devine, Murphy, Harty, Waddell, Hogarth, Hamilton(Trialist), Gable(Trialist), Osorywalo(Trialist).

St Mirren team:- Smith, McAusland, Miranda, Mason, Haining, Shimmin, Murray, Dorman, Hamilton, Brighton, McCay.
Subs:- Malloy, Docherty, Burns, Cowan.

Full Draw
Montrose v Cowdenbeath
Ross County v Airdrie United
Dumbarton v Annan Athletic
Peterhead v Dunfermline Athletic
Stranraer v Morton
Alloa Athletic v Elgin City
Clyde v Queen's Park
Albion Rovers v Raith Rovers
Ayr United v Berwick Rangers
East Fife v Brechin City
Arbroath v Stirling Albion
Partick Thistle v Forfar Athletic
East Stirlingshire v Livingston
Stenhousemuir v St. Johnstone

Matches will take place on either Tuesday 5th or Wednesday 6th August.

Stirling Win East Kilbride Tournament
Stirling Albion have won the East Kilbride Tournament for the 3rd time in 4 years after a 2-0 win against the hosts East Kilbride Thistle. Manager Allan Moore fielded a mixture of first team players and trailists as two first half goals from new signings Steven Waddell and Martin Grehan were enough to see The Binos retain the trophy.

Captain Ross Forsyth receives the Tommy McGrane trophy.

The successful Stirling team -
back- McEwan, Grehan, Christie, Fallon, Taggart, O'Neill, Murphy, Waddell.
front - Corr, Gable, Ross.

FULL TIME -
East Kilbride Thistle 0 v 2 Stirling Albion

On another lovely afternoon the Albion retained the Tommy McGrane Trophy making it the third success in four years with a well deserved victory over hosts East Kilbride. After the difficult match the day before manager Allan Moore named a changed side which included a number of trialists with exotic names like Juan Carlos and Pierre Osorgwado.

Unlike the previous day when junior side Glenafton had a good deal of possession the Albion took control from the start in a match that was played at a far quicker pace than the day before. After seven minutes the outstanding Martin Grehan had a header well saved by McDonald in the Jags goal.

With Grehan and Waddell giving the Jags back four a torrid time and Paul Murphy dominating the centre of midfield and the pacey Hamilton down the right it was no surprise when the Binos took the lead. Grehan did well to keep control of the ball in the long grass to set up Waddell who shot strongly past the Jags keeper from just inside the box.

A minute later it was 2-0 when David Lowing who was attacking at will down the left crossed to the back post where Grehan climbed well to head home.

Grehan heads in Stirlings 2nd goal.

The only danger from the Jags in the first half came when McCrae broke free but Christie saved with his legs and the danger was cleared. In 34th minute an Albion corner saw Andy Graham rise to head the ball goal wards only for Moore to clear of the line.

At the break Moore took off Graham and Carlos who were replaced by Forsyth and McEwan. As both teams made substitutions through the half the game slowed down but the Albion were always in control. In the 56th minute Osorgwado had a goal bound shot deflected wide for a corner. Right on time Scott Christie made an excellent block at his right hand post.

The referee then blew for time and the Trophy was heading back to Forthbank.

Stirling team:- Christie, Carlos(Trialist), Lowing, Graham, Fallon(Trialist), Murphy, Hamilton(Trialist), Osorywalo(Trialist), Grehan, Waddell, Gable(Trialist).
Subs:- O'Neill(Osorywalo 83), Forsyth(Graham 45), Corr(Hamilton 83), Taggart(Lowing 54), McEwan(Trialist)(Carlos 45).

Sunday's other result:-
3rd/4th play off - Preston Athletic 3 v 2 Glenafton Athletic.

Final For Stirling
Stirling Albion and hosts East Kilbride Thistle will compete in the final of the East Kilbride Tournament on Sunday. Stirling defeated Glenafton 2-1, while the hosts won 4-3 against Preston Athletic in Saturday's matches.

Stirling are likely to field a mixture of first team players and trialists for the final. It is expected more trialists will feature on Sunday than what did against Glenafton.

Stirling Albion 2 v 1 Glenafton Athletic
Albion : Hogarth, Lawrie, Lowing, Graham, Ross(Trialist), Corr, Taggart, O'Neill, McKenna, Harty, Forsyth. Subs: Devine(Lowing 57), Murphy(O'Neill 59), Waddell(McKenna 62), Christie.

Glenafton: Fahey, Ramsay, Quinn, Gow, McGregor, Howie, McMillan, Cameron, Feroz, Anderson, Grant. Subs: Deeney, Kennedy, McCaig, Geenan, Matthews.

Stirling Albion headed off to the annual East Kilbride Tournament this weekend, to defend their reign as champions of the Tommy McGrane Memorial Cup. Joining East Kilbride and Stirling Albion this weekend are Gordon Dalzeil’s Glenafton Athletic from Loch Park in New Commock. The Ayrshire team known as the Glens play in the Scottish Junior Football Associations (SJFA) West Premier League. Also taking part this year is Stevie Myatt’s Preston Athletic from Penny Pit, Prestonpans. The Pannies were one of five teams from the East of Scotland League that applied to join the Scottish Football League after the demise of Gretna and finally our hosts East Kilbride make up the tournament quartet.

East Kilbride Thistle play in the West Region Super League Division 1 and are now managed by former Albion player Colin Mitchel after another former Bino, manager and player John Brogan stepped down unexpectedly at the end of last season.

In the first game of the competition hosts East Kilbride Thistle took on Preston Athletic and the hosts came away from the match worthy winners after defeating The Pannies 4 v 3.

The Binos kicked off their defence this weekend against Glenafton Athletic in Saturdays second game of the competition. It took a while for the Binos to get into gear as Glenafton piled the pressure on the Albion defence but the Binos soon settled into the match on the uneven Showpark pitch and John O’Neil scored the Binos first goal of the season when he headed home a cross from Ian Harty. The header was blasted past The Glens keeper Chris Fahey from close range.

John O'Neill heads the Albion in front.

As the half wore on both teams didn’t challenge much as passes went astray and players couldn’t control the ball when they went on the run. Ian Harty’s display today proved that he was going to be a good asset for the Binos with his ability to hold play up and threaten defences. Glenafton nearly equalised just before half time after Andy Graham slipped and John McMillan was able to ping a close range effort at Myles Hogarth but Hogarth made the save look easy.

Half Time: Stirling Albion 1 v 0 Glenafton Athletic.

Stirling started off the second period of the game with a good chance to double their lead as John O’Neil hit a shot towards goal but it was deflected into the path of Ian Harty who calmly controlled the ball before he hit his effort off Fahey’s left hand post. Stirling were the first to change things when Allan Moore decided to use all three substitutes as off came David Lowing, David McKenna and John O'Neill to be replaced with Stewart Devine, Steven Waddell and Paul Murphy respectively.

Stirling continued with the pressure from a Paul Murphy free kick that was taken quickly to Liam Corr who managed to send a shot directly at Fahey, the Glens keeper managed to gather the shot after a slight fumble. Things looked to by ticking over smoothly for the Binos but the referee soon halted the Stirling express to the final when he pointed to the spot after a Glenafton striker was brought down in the box.

Upstepped John Paul Grant to take the kick at a bemused Myles Hogarth and things were soon all even again. As time started to tick away it was looking like there was going to be another few penalties to decided who progresses to the final but Liam Corr soon had the Stirling express back on track when he took a shot at the Glenafton goal from 20 yards out and there was no chance for Fahey to stop it. Corrs goal deflated Glenafton and the Binos breezed through to the final where they will face East Kilbride Thistle.

Liam Corr fires home the winner.

Sundays matches:-
3rd/4th play off - 12pm - Preston Athletic v Glenafton Athletic.
Final - 3.30pm - Stirling Albion v East Kilbride Thistle.

Weekend Action For Stirling
Stirling Albion will compete in this weekend's East Kilbride Tournament. Stirling are the defending champions in the four team tournament which will take place on Saturday and Sunday at East Kilbride Thistle's Showpark ground.

Joining the hosts and The Binos at the weekend will be Glenafton Athletic and Preston Athletic. Stirling's first match will be against Glenafton Athletic on Saturday at 3.30pm and depending on that result will compete in either the 3rd/4th play off at 12pm or the final at 3.30pm on Sunday.

Stirling will give a run out to all our first team players with numerous trialists also expected to feature as Manager Allan Moore looks to finalise his starting line up ahead of the start of the new season on 26th July.

Prices for the tournament are:-
Single Match Adults - £5, Concession - £2
Daily Ticket Adults - £8, Concession - £3
Family (2 adults, 2 concessions) - £12
Weekend Ticket Adults - £10, Concession -
£4, Family (2 adults, 2 concessions) - £15

Matchday Ballboys/Ballgirls Required
The Stirling Albion Young Reds are providing the ball boys/girls for all home matches this season. The Young Reds currently provide 9/10 children at each home match and  have a pool of about a dozen boys and girls who are available to do this.

However, the Young Reds are looking for more boys and girls to join the squad so that  the pool is big enough to cover for holidays etc. The job is done on a rota basis so not everyone is required for each game. The perks include a jacket, free entry to the match and a half time snack.

If you are between the ages of 10 and 14 and would like to join the squad, please contact Ian Jones on 07918611692.

The Binos got off to a good start and had an early chance to take the lead through a Stewart Devine free kick from 25 yards out but Devine couldn't get the ball to dip soon enough as it went over the bar. Stirling continued with the pressure on the Thistle defence and were soon rewarded another free kick just outside the box and up stepped Assistant Manager John O'Neill who managed to curve the ball round the Thistle wall but Thistle keeper Craig Hinchcliffe made an easy save. Thistle were soon causing the Stirling defence problems when a trialist broke through the defensive ranks to get on the end of a cross from the right but his fumbled attempt went past the post for a goal kick.

Ian Harty nearly opened up his Stirling goal account with a shot that just went past Hinchcliffe's right hand post after he managed to make some space on the edge of the 18 yard box. The Binos had another chance to take the lead when John O'Neill managed to pick up a David McKenna cross but O'Neills shot looked like it was scuffed and went wide of Hinchcliffe's goal. Stirling were soon put on the back foot as Paul Paton managed to chip a shot over Myles Hogarth and in to the right hand corner for Thistle to take the lead. After the restart things started to stagnate on the pitch with neither team looking like they were going to be getting much action around goal. Thistle had a good chance to double their lead through their trialist forward who managed to get under a lob into the box and his header forced Hogarth into making a excellent backwards dive to tip the ball on to the cross bar and out for a corner.

Half Time - Stirling Albion 0 v 1 Partick Thistle.

Allan Moore made a couple of changes at the start of the second half with Stewart Devine, Sean Roycroft and Nathan Taggart making way for David Lowing, Andy Graham and Paul Murphy. Thistle were soon back to attacking the Stirling goal and were only denied their second goal by Andy Grahams quick thinking to clear the ball off the line.

The Stirling coaching team of Allan Moore and Roddy Grant made another couple of changes as Myles Hogarth and Ian Harty made way for Scott Christie and Steven Waddle respectively. Steven Waddle almost made his appearance worth it as he had a superb chance to level things up for the Binos but the youngster took one too many touches to get past the Thistle defence and his shot went into the side netting.

Liam Corr was soon making himself a threat on the Thistle goal as he managed to get a shot off at Hinchcliffe but the experienced keeper managed to gather the goal bound shot from the young Bino. Stirling soon went further behind as Thistle capitalised on some poor defending at a corner where he was given room at the back post to head home for Thistles second. David McKenna nearly scored for the Binos after he got on the end of a Liam Corr cross but unfortunately for McKenna his shot tipped the bar as it went out for a goal kick.

Steven Waddle was the next Bino to impress as he managed to skip into the box and around Hinchcliffe but Waddle's chip shot went over the bar. The Binos were soon back attacking Hinchcliffe's goal as Liam Corr managed to dart in from the right wing and get into the box before fireing in a low shot to the bottom left hand corner of the goal but again Hinchcliffe managed to pounce on the ball to deny the youngster the goal. The final notable shot of the game came from John O'Neill as he tried to sweep in a shot from the left but his effort went across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.

So another preseason game down and things look like things are improving but as we all know there is a lack of goals and Allan Moore mentioned this in his post match interview "It's a worry at the moment that we are not looking like we can score goals, we have three new players up front and it will take time for them to settle, but a lot of the problem is down though to the lack of delivery into the box from midfield. That's a problem for us and so was the disappointing way we lost both goals tonight". Moore added that he is still trying to bring in some new signings to bolster the midfield and if finances allow him he may look at bringing in players on loan.

The next outing for the Binos is at the East Kilbride tournament where the Binos face Glenafton Athletic at 3.30pm this Saturday and hosts East Kilbride take on Preston Athletic at 12pm. See you all there for the Binos defence of the Tommy McGrane Memorial Trophy.

Lack Of Goals A Worry
No goals in three pre-season matches is starting to worry Manager Allan Moore. Speaking after the 2-0 defeat against Partick Thistle Moore said "Its a worry at the moment that we are not looking like we can score goals, we have three new players up front and it will take time for them to settle, but a lot of the problem is down though to the lack of delivery into the box from midfield. Thats is a problem for us and so was the dissapointing way we lost both goals tonight".

Moore added thats he is still trying to strengthen the squad, in particular the midfield and he would not rule out bringing in players on loan if finances permitted more new signings.

Partick team:- Hinchcliffe, Paton, Twaddle, Robertson, Kinniburgh, Maxwell, McKeown, Rowson, Trialist, Donnelly, Eaglesham.
Subs: - Tuffey, Roberts, Harkins, McKinlay, Chaplain, McStay, Little, Ardallany, Storey.

Stirling Albion 0 v 3 Dundee
Stirling's first public pre-season friendly ended in a 3-0 defeat on Wednesday evening. Three first half goals were enough to see First Division side Dundee ease to victory.

Scorers - Dundee McMenamin 30, 39, 41

Stirling: Christie, Lawrie, Forsyth, Graham, Trialist, Murphy, Taggart, Corr, Grehan, Trialist, Devine.
Subs:-Trialist, McKenna, Lowing, O'Neil, Hogarth, Trialist, Trialist.

Dundee: Roy, Paton, Malone, Trialist, MacKenzie, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, McMenamin, Davidson, Gilhaney.
Subs: Grant, Collins, Milne, Marshall, McHale

Stirling Albion took on Dundee tonight in their first public preseason friendly. Both teams featured many trialist's including Ian Harty for the Binos.
Stirling did look lively in patches and had a couple of chances to score through Martin Grehan but unfortunately for the Binos, Grehan still has to set his radar.
Dundee managed to walk away victorious thanks to a hat-trick from Colin McMenamin in the first half with all 3 goals coming in a ten minute spell. The first goal was from a 25 yard low shot that somehow found the back of Scott Christie's net. The second was from a free kick that was taken quickly out on the right and McMenamin managed to take advantage of the woeful defending by the Binos.
For his hat-trick McMenamin forced a save from Christie at close range but Christie fumbled the ball and McMenamin took advantage to slot the ball home for 3 v 0 Dundee.

The second half was non eventful with both teams looking a bit off the boil but again as was learned last season a part time team will find it difficult against an experienced full time squad. It looks like Allan Moore and John O'Neil have their work cut out over the next few weeks trying to put together a team that will play well with each other when the season gets under way at East End Park for the first round of the Challenge Cup on July 26^th.

Crowd - 317

Stirling v Dundee
Tonight (Wednesday) will see the Binos back in public action as we entertain Dundee at Forthbank.

The pre-season match against the Division One side kicks off at 7.30pm.

Admission prices for tonight's match and our other home pre-season matches will be Adults £6.00 and Juveniles/Senior Citizens £4.00.

Companies, individuals, organisations etc wishing to advertise should contact the programme editor-  Email Forthbank News Editor.
Back issues of programmes are still available also, details can be found here.

Season 2008/2009 Official Matchday Programme Advertising Opportunites.
½ page coloured advert  (1 available)       £370
½ page black and white   (2 available)      £300
¼ page black and white   (1 available)      £210
Small page (8 on a page)  (6 available)     £120
Page Sponsorship (New)  (10 available)     £20

Stirling 0 v 2 Clyde - Pre-Season Match
Stirling's first pre-season match took place on Saturday against Clyde. The Division One side ran out 2-0 winners, scoring one in each half in this closed door match.

New signing's  David Lowing and Andy Lawrie didn't feature in the match with John O'Neill also missing as he is still on holiday.
Former St Johnstone star Roddy Grant stood in for O'Neill in the coaching role supporting Manager Allan Moore.

New signing Martin Grehan featured in the match as did trialist forward Ian Harty.