Stand Delivered

In September 1987 most of Annfield's East Stand shell had completely disappeared, leaving a gaping gap-site on the car park side of Annfield. The roof of the stand was removed two years earlier  after gale damage, but the walls remained standing until 1987

What may surprise Albion fans even more is the story as to where the stand has gone - contrary to popular belief it was not demolished - it was carefully dismantled, and will be reconstructed on a new site - in the UNITED STATES  OF AMERICA.

The story goes right back to 1945. An American G.I. by the name of Kip Gisstan was on leave from his base in the South of England, and decided to use his travel warrant to see something of Scotland before being demobbed and returning home to his home in the United States of America. In September 1945 he found himself in the town of Stirling, and along with a mysterious friend from the town, he attended a match at Annfield, between Stirling Albion and Forfar - one of the first ever matches on the ground.

Kip enjoyed the match immensely - he reckoned it was much better than the baseball he had been brought up to watch Stateside. However this was to be his only visit to Stirling, although he never forgot the football match he had seen.

Upon his return to the United States, Kip settled in the state of Montana, on the high plains close to the Rocky Mountains. He bought a small farm, and found that cattle rearing was a lucrative business. Kip made an important discovery in the field of electric fencing, which drastically cut down the amount of labour required on his ranch. He was able to sack many of his cowboys, and having patented his invention, proceeded to become a millionaire. The Gisstan Fencing Corporation is the major supplier of electrified fencing to Ranches from Texas to California, under the trade name 'Electric Cowboy'.

At the time in 1987  Kip lived as a virtual recluse on his Montana ranch. He took a keen interest in sport, and was recently reading the "Atlantic Sports Review" section in the High Plains Drifter, his local weekly newspaper. The column includes anecdotes about sport from Britain and included an item about the ground developments taking place at Annfield. It mentioned the installation of the new synthetic pitch, and that the stand was to be demolished to make way for the construction of a new stand in 1988. Kip remembered his visit to Annfield and recalled his mysterious liason with an inhabitant of Stirling back in 1945. Tears filled his eyes as he thought back to an Autumn weekend in Scotland and he suddenly had an amazing idea.

Within an hour the telephone lines were buzzing. Kip contacted the Gisstan Corporations Marketing Director, who had contacts in Scotland. The aim - find the telephone number of Stirling Albion F.C. That proved to be no problem, as Gisstan had links with the Electric Shepherd company of Aberdeen and they were able to obtain the club phone number via directory enquiries.

Kip himself telephoned Annfield in early September 1987, but was told that any questions regarding the ground should be directed to Stirling District Council. Quite unperturbed, he dialed the Council and explained that he wanted to buy the Annfield grandstand!

After a quick meeting it was agreed that there would be no problem and a Council official telephoned Montana to give Kip the good news. He would have his memories of Scotland right there on his ranch!

The only drawback is the gap in the centre where the Director's Box remained.

Kip  obtained supplies of corrugated iron to re-roof the building for its arrival in America. It was packaged in crates and was flown from Prestwick to New York, finishing its journey to Montana by railroad. The railroad have actually supplied old sleepers to floor the stand and Kip hopes to obtain old cinema seats from the Gaumont Great Falls to complete the authentic effect.

The stand was supposed to be eventually  used to seat spectators for rodeo events on the Montana ranch. Kip had no plans to return to Scotland in the  future, but he  now has a permanent reminder of his visit back in 1945!