A warm welcome to everyone attending Forthbank Stadium for the final match of the season.
Today’s match is a “dead rubber” for our opponents, Edinburgh City, having secured a play-off spot last weekend. For us, we need at least a point to ensure we don’t fall behind Elgin City in the table. It is beyond question this is not the outcome to the season that we had hoped for, indeed targeted but I addressed that in my last article and I’m not going to go over old ground again.
I choose instead to use this copy space to record my personal thank you messages to those that have unwaveringly assisted in “keeping the show on the road” throughout the season.
To my Board colleagues for their largely unseen and unheralded input to the significant and never-ending challenges of running the business of a professional football club. Special mention to Alan Christie and Graham Douglas who have recently stood down from their long serving roles as Finance Director and Company Secretary respectively.
To Donna Hanlon-Gray, for never saying no when asked to tackle a multitude of tasks ranging from technical IT matters to keeping the Club website & Official social media up to date.
To Ben McAdam for his second to none SATV coverage.
To the volunteers who ensure all the home match day tasks are covered; Sue Lauder & Kelly-Marie Wilson, Turnstiles, Bill Gillespie, Programme Sales, Andy Rintoul, 50/50 Sales, Matthew Reid, Tannoy and everyone else who has assisted with ensuring safe access to the Stadium, especially when the restrictions imposed by Covid Protocols were at their peak.
To Jim Inglis and his Hospitality Team for unarguably delivering the best experience in the lower leagues and arguably within Scottish Football. To Frank Gordon, Boardroom Mein Host, for ensuring our visiting Club Directors and guests are well looked after.
To everyone who ensured the recent Club Dinner at the Golden Lion Hotel was a resounding success both on the night and financially.
To everyone within Stirling Albion’s Junior Academy, Youth Development, and Community Engagement. The combined Stirling Albion family caters for people of all ages, and this simply wouldn’t be possible without your contribution.
To the Official Stirling Albion Supporters Club for your loyal support and perseverance during a difficult season. I repeat the Board’s promise that we continue to do everything possible to secure the return of the onsite match day supporters’ bar which was lost during the pandemic to accommodate the relocation of Active Stirling’s Yoga Suite from The Peak.
To the 1945 Crew for your energy, enthusiasm, and efforts to work with the Club to ensure behaviours stay on the right side of the law. A special mention to the Coatbridge 3 + drum who undertook the two-train return journey last Saturday! I trust you enjoyed your Pie & Bovril – you can keep the change!
To every loyal supporter of Stirling Albion, thank you and haste ye back in July. On behalf of the Club Board, I give you my assurance we will give Darren Young and his backroom staff our full, undivided support in trying to deliver everyone’s ambition for Season 22/23, namely promotion to SPFL1. Darren has confirmation of the Playing Budget and recruitment / retention of players is underway.
Apologies to everyone I’ve not mentioned by name; your support is none the less appreciated!
And finally, the biggest thanks of all goes to my wife for putting up with me and Stirling Albion!
C’mon the Binos!
Stuart
