The following was published in the match day programme on sat 8th January 2022:

An entire decade has already passed since a young Ross McGeachie joined Stirling Albion Football Club at just 13 years old.

Only a school boy, a substitute teacher recruited the youngster to go for a trial at Stirling Albion.

“Basically there were trials going on for the U13s Stirling Albion team and a substitute teacher recommended that me and another boy went to the trials” said Ross.

The teacher was none other than Stewart Taylor, Stirling Albion’s head of Youth Development.

Ross said “I went to the trials and ended up getting into the team but to be honest at that age, I wasn’t sure if I was even good enough to get into the team.”

Rewind, and it seems that McGeachie was destined to play professional football one day.

His father George played for Dundee FC for 13 years. He even had his testimonial against Liverpool in 1987 against a squad that consisted of the likes of Kenny Dalglish, John Barnes, and Ray Houghton.

“The biggest influence in my football is my dad.”

“He played for years, until he was 39. That was his job, he played full time. He played for Dundee FC and then Raith Rovers for 5-6 seasons after that so he’s my main influence and somebody that I rely on.” said McGeachie.

Fast forward to 2012, and an 18 year old Ross McGeachie makes his first team debut for Stirling Albion on May 5th, just a day after his eighteenth birthday.

“Obviously it was good, brilliant. That’s what you’re aiming for”

“It was scary, I can remember being nervous. I think it was the 2011/12 season so I’m sure it was the last game of the season. It was against Albion Rovers away from home.” said Ross.

A few months later, McGeachie was on the bench at Ibrox in front of 50,000 fans.

Ross said “One big memory for me personally is playing against Rangers at Ibrox which was ten years ago so it would have been the 140 year anniversary and Ibrox was sold out.”

“Playing at Stirling Albion, you get a good crowd at this level. But obviously going from 500-600 to 50,000 was pretty mental.”

When Stirling got promoted in 2013, the defender saw what it was like to achieve it all. But the experience was hampered by injury.

“I think it was 2013/14 we got promoted so that was kind of memorable but at the same time I had been in and out the team with injuries so I had been playing a few games before we made the play-offs and then I got an injury so I had to heavily strap my ankle but I was on the bench.” said Ross

The next season, the Stirling club got relegated and McGeachie felt the lows of football.

“We got relegated the following season so you are on a high going up to the next division and then on the low again when you come back down.”

“Obviously you have lows when you are injured or out of the team, but relegation tops that” said McGeachie.

In 2021, the now captain of the first team looks forward to what lies ahead this season as the club pushes for promotion.

“This season we’ve got a good chance of doing something.”

“My main goal probably, short term, is this season to get us promoted” said McGeachie.

McGeachie still has a significant amount of his career to go and has experienced a lot already.  But the 27 year old looks to what lies ahead as he tries to bring the club to new heights.