The Season Is Over

The 2007/2008 football season for Stirling Albion is now over in what has been a frustrating season in The Scottish League Division One.

Relegation back into Division Two was confirmed more than two weeks ago and we now have a three month wait until the new competitive season starts in late July.

In the meantime The Stirling Albion Official Website will update fans with all the latest news in the close season.

Poor Stirling Are Relegated

Its been nearly a week since the inevitable happened, Stirling Albion were relegated from The Scottish League Division One. To be truthful its been on the cards for a couple of months, but nonetheless it still hurts when it becomes a reality.

So our status as the Yo Yo team of Scottish Football is continually confirmed and its back to Division Two football, where in truth thats the level the club deserve to be, as our lack of ambition off the field doesn't merit a higher place in Scottish Football.

Theres only two matches to go this season, before a three month break and then the competitive matches begin again and if its anything like our last season in Division Two its sure to be an exciting season - I'm not certain though if we will enjoy that same success. Time will tell though.

Hampden Roar

So what is it like attending a Scotland football match, well-

The Grand Old Lady of Mount Florida was at her majestic best yesterday as Scotland took another massive stride towards qualification for next summers Euro 2008 football championships in Austria and Switzerland.

The 3-1 win against Ukraine, means qualification is still in Scotland hands, requiring 4 points from the remaining six available, with matches against Georgia on Wednesday 17th October and then on Saturday 17th November against World Champions Italy at Hampden Park.

Having decided to kick start our day in Glasgow early, my wife Jennifer and I set off from Stirling just after 9am arriving in Glasgow in enough time for our first sip of lager for the day before the clock struck 10am. The Counting House near Queen Street Station was our first port of call, before we headed closer to Hampden to Strathies Pub where the music for the pre-match entertainment was by Ted Christopher, a local musician from here in Stirling.

Strathies was our meeting with old friends and fellow travel companions to many a Scotland away match. I have always stated that if you are to take up the challenge of following our national football team to away games, you obviously must have a desire and passion for football, as that is always the focal point of any trip abroad, but by god the fellow fans you meet from all over the world and friendships that are born and the fantastic cities and countries you get to see all over Europe and beyond, is something special and at times can be hard to describe.

Having soaked up the pre-match atmosphere it was off to Hampden, just in time time to witness the playing of the National Anthems and then within 15 minutes Scotland were in dreamland. 2-0 up against the last World Cup quarter finalists and Scotland were off to a fantastic start in the quest for the 7 points over the next 3 matches that would secure qualification. Ukraine pulled a goal back just before half time but midway through the second half Scotland restored their 2 goal lead and eventually cruised to an excellent 3-1 win as fellow fans- men, women, boys and girls most of them all strangers hugged, danced and sung their hearts out in unison.

Post match was in O'Neills close to Hampden before heading back into the Glasgow city centre for a planned meal with our group of friends in Cafe Uno. Afterwards it was onto the Iron Horse on West Nile Street to end the day before our train back to Stirling, where we arrived just before midnight, tired, sore from walking, a little worse for the wear, but we were totally satisfied with the result and day we just had.

Following the Scotland football team is a joy- the people you meet, the places you see, the euphoria of a victory and the despair of a defeat, but it is a fantastic experience, one that is well and truly recommended.

The Football's Back

It's been two months without it but it finally returned on Saturday - Yes my beloved Stirling Albion were back in action.

That last match two months ago saw Stirling Albion defeat Airdrie United to gain promotion to Division One, the second tier of football in Scotland - what a day that was and a day that will live in the memory for many many years.

Last Saturday saw the first of a number of pre-season matches as Premier League Hibernian came to Forthbank. The higher league opposition proved too much to the experimental Stirling side as the Edinburgh side ran out 5-0 winners as Stirling prepare for their opening Division One league match at the beginning of August.

This season will see better teams and bigger crowds at Forthbank and it would be great to see many new faces down at Forthbank cheering on Stirling as they try and defy the odds and stay in Division One against full time teams.

There are plenty of Stirling Albion information on the internet with reports, photos, message boards and info all updated daily by the relevant websites.

So get down to Forthbank, buy a pie and bovril, grab your red and white scarf and prepare yourself for the rollercoaster ride which is supporting Stirling Albion.

For match photos visit www.stirlingalbionfc.co.uk
For match reports visit RedWeb
For club information visit www.stirlingalbion.com
For the fans message board click here

Welcome

Welcome to Scott's Electric Blog - a look into every day life as an electrician and owner of Stirling Electrical Services Ltd. - a fast growing electrical contracting company based in Stirling, Scotland.

Here i will discuss what's happening in our industry, Scotland, football plus lots more