[andriod boxes / Kodi]

My one was decent enough last week but the St Mirren game went down.

[Anyone else giving serious thought to calling it a day?]

If they bring in Colt teams then I’m done. I’ll get pished instead in my mancave on a Saturday with the IPTV for the live games.

[The 42]

1) how many have you visited
42

2) how many have you seen Stirling Albion play at
40, only Pitoddrie and Tynecastle to go with the Albion. I think it was 1977 the last time Stirling was away to Aberdeen and 1984 for Hearts away. Managed to get St Mirren’s new ground last season in the Mickey Mouse Cup.

3) what was the first one you visited
I think it was Brockville, but it was a home game in the cup for Stirling as Rangers shat out of playing the game at Annfield.

4) what was the last one you visited
A 3-1 defeat up at Elgin.

5) what was your favourite (for whatever reason you like)
Annan away for the Shed.

6) what was your least favourite?
Annan away for the Stewards.

[Stirling Albion Thread]

Tell me he’s not our traditional midget striker signing?

[Remakes]

I agree with you on the remake Hawaii Five 0.
Entertaining pish as they say.
Just started on the remake Magnum PI, now a couple of episodes in. As I have fond memories of the original I was sceptical of whether I would take to it but I’m going to stick with it.
They’ve made Higgins a woman of course but I can see why they have.

[Best/Worst League 2 Stadium]

Annan, Cove and Edinburgh are easily the most soul destroying modern venues. Cowdenbeath and Albion Rovers will be finished when their grounds fail a safety certificate.
Hampden is bearable with the social club at lesser. Hope they build a decent ground there at lesser and not some Annan, Cove, Spartans flat surface with no decent view.
Brechin is fine if the pitch is playable. The hedge is a non-event for me. They’ve got a hedge, who gives a flying f**k?
Elgin is only spoiled by the journey there. Decent day out. Had some classics days out in fact. Decent view and plenty of cover and a wee drinky at half-time.
Stenhousemuir. Terrible view behind the goals. Always ruins it for me.

[As modern stadiums go, Forthbank is pretty good but we need to get both stands open for atmosphere and that will only happen when the team starts playing watchable football. Our home form has been dreadful compared to the away form. ]

[Stirling Albion Thread]

Delighted with the news, personally. For me, Ross McGeachie is everything you wanted in a club Captain

Really?
Paul McLean embodies the role of a captain much more than Ross. Talking players through a game and organising everyone around you us not a strength of Ross as he is concentrating on his own game fully.

[Stirling Albion Thread]

Offering to refund season ticket money is a good idea and absolutely the right thing to do.
That's why I suggested it.
You're welcome.

You should put yourself forward for some position at the club or Trust.

[Stirling Albion Thread]

Excellent statement from the Club Board. The offer is there for the a refund on your season ticket. Be interesting how many will take up that up. Money will be tight for some so it is clearly the right thing to do.

We’ll see if those who are quick to give out the stick will acknowledge this statement in the right manner.

[Stirling Albion Thread]

Hot off the presses:


Club statement

Perhaps not a Beautiful Sunday but, with movement restricted like never before, as good a time as any to update you on a number of important topics. Social distancing may be the order of the day (weeks and months) but bringing supporters closer to all things Stirling Albion is most certainly something within the Club Board’s power to deliver on.

CLUB STABILITY

In the short to medium term, thanks in large part to the Government Job Retention Scheme (JRS) and the GoFundMe campaign, the Club is in a strong financial position to handle the ongoing hiatus. The recent announcement of the extension of the JRS until the end of June is very welcome news and in “normal” times, by the beginning of July, pre-season training would be well under way with the Betfred Cup kicking off mid-month. However, these are not normal times and every week of delay to this schedule will undoubtedly see, not just Stirling Albion but every football club experience expenditure exceeding income. Never has the expression “watch this space” been more appropriate. You can be assured that the Club Board are already doing everything possible to mitigate this challenge.

SEASON TICKETS – 2019/20

Following the acceptance of the SPFL Resolution to terminate the League Season 2019/20 in the Championship, League 1 and League 2, there will be no more games played at Forthbank until next season, whenever that may be.

Obviously, everyone who purchased a season ticket for 2019/20 will have missed five games through no fault of their own and the Club Board feel it is only right to offer supporters the opportunity to apply for the following refunds in each category :

Adult – £53; 65 & over and Students – £32; 12 to 15 – £14

We would respectfully ask that all supporters seeking a refund, consider carrying this forward to next season when it will be allowed as a discount from the cost of renewal of their ticket.

However, in the current situation, we appreciate that many may be experiencing financial challenges and, accordingly, anyone who requests a refund now will, of course, receive it as soon as possible.

If you fall into that category, please contact the Club by email at office@stirlingalbionfc.co.uk with your name, address, seat number (if possible) and your bank account details (full name as on the account, sort code and account number) and the refund being applied for, so that we can arrange the transfer. Please be patient, this is a one-man job!

NB. Please note that, as we cannot access Forthbank during lockdown, we are unable to take phone calls.

HOME SHIRT 20/21

It is around this time of year that we would be making plans to choose our home shirt for the following two seasons. However, after much deliberation, taking account of all the relevant circumstances, the Club Board have decided not to proceed.

Whilst we appreciate the annual announcement of alternating the new home and away kit is eagerly anticipated, the Board was equally and acutely conscious that the devastating economic impact of Covid-19 will undoubtedly bite hard on the pocket of many of our supporters – the majority of whom will have already generously contributed to the GoFundMe campaign – and on balance we determined postponing replacement for this coming season, was the right thing to do.

We do, however, have a contractual responsibility to our kit supplier and once we have greater certainty of what the future holds in respect of a return, not just of football, but to at least a semblance of normality to life in general, we intend progressing plans to celebrate our 75th Anniversary with some form(s) of Macron leisure wear. Consultation with supporters will most certainly be part of that process. Another case of “watch this space”!

PLAYING MATTERS

With all footballing activity currently suspended and with no certainty as to when there will be a return, planning for the coming season is incredibly complex and challenging, particularly in respect of signing players against a backcloth of financial uncertainty. This has the inevitable knock-on effect of delaying announcements of those staying, going and indeed coming.

We fully understand the frustration this will cause for supporters who are desperate for some fitba’ news. Please believe us, we are too and all we can do is apologise and ask for your patience!

Despite the constraints, the Club isn’t standing still, and discussions are underway with a number of players Kevin Rutkiewicz is hoping to retain. With talks going well, we expect to be in a position to start the process of announcing players who have agreed to extend their contract, as early as this coming week.

As things stand currently, with player contracts due to expire in early June, following then we will have one player! Namely, goalkeeper, Blair Currie who is close to regaining full physical fitness and entering the second year of his two-year contract.

In respect of backroom staff, as previously announced, Kevin’s Assistant, Martin Hardie, has moved on and Kevin is considering his options for next season. The Gaffer, as well as anyone, is conscious of the financial constraints that face the Club the longer the delay in competitive football returning and the most likely outcome is a player/coach. Again, we expect to be in a position to make an announcement in the near future.

All of the players who are currently under contract are working hard individually to maintain a level of physical fitness as the weeks pass and turn into months.

We repeat our apologies for what appears to be a delay in announcing developments with regards to playing matters, but it is worth remembering that if it were business as usual, we’d still have two fixtures of the 19/20 season to play!

Our best wishes to all Binos and indeed our extended community at this hugely difficult time.

Stuart, Alan, Colin, Graham and Grant

SAFC Club Board

[Stirling Albion Thread]

So we're allowed to disagree with Stuart Brown just not while there's a pandemic on??

Have you told Rangers?

The club and trust launched an appeal for funds from the wider community because they claimed the city needs to keep its successful team and they can only achieve that by putting on football matches which they can't do because of the virus.

Now with the money in the bank, playing football matches is apparently the worst thing that Stirling Albion can do because, according to someone off the trust board, the team's crap and it's not going to get any better next season either.

In 2014, everyone thought Albion's season was over with six games to go but they went on a run, sneaked a play-off spot and the momentum won them promotion.

The club and manager have said the play-offs is the aim for this season and the chairman's just been on TV saying that 4th spot is still up for grabs. 

So why the lack of ambition and rush to cancel the season in mid-April? 

It is not in the club's sporting or financial interests to lack a drive to succeed and that's where I disagree with you.

PS  As for season tickets, if you're extending the current season ticket into the first five games of next season, it's exactly the same effect as a refund and the club will still be out of pocket...think about it.

 

Now now, that was a bit naughty.
Describing the season as mediocre (which is accurate) is not the same as describing the team as crap. An apology is due and I thank you in advance.
Will he squad be better than last season, well if Jordan McGregor goes up the leagues then replacing him will be very difficult. Paul McLean has had a terrific season at centre-half replacing his experience would be difficult, if he goes. That is why you, nor I, can guarantee we will have a better squad next season.
One thing is for certain, the club have backed the team financially this season (and the seasons before.) That cannot be questioned.
Let’s see what you try to twist that statement into.

[Stirling Albion Thread]

Who’s caved in? You seriously suggesting that the Albion team is capable of winning the playoffs? Cove game was the end of our season in my opinion.

Of course, new squad after the summer but I would not put my mortgage on our squad being much better than it currently is.

 

How many fans would take up the offer to take back season ticket money? I won’t be but there will be some who will be affected by the economical downturn who will have to.

Perhaps the current season ticket will run for the first four/five games of new season instead?

 

The players union will not allow the players to be put at risk so no training until social isolating is over and that is a decision by the government which will probably be June in my opinion, maybe later.

 

 

[Stirling Albion Thread]

After the Cove result midweek just before the shutdown, you have mad to predict success in the playoffs for the Albion. Not a lack of ambition but the grim reality of a mediocre season.
Had we finished 4th or 3rd in the league then it would be one poorly attended midweek game at home in the playoff semi and then out. No chance we would get the better of Elgin or Queens Park on the (then) current form to win playoffs.
Attendances at the remaining home leagues games would dwindle again, like they did last season when the team gave up on the playoffs. They already have season ticket money in anyway and that would be the majority of the attendees for the remaining games.

Add into that the players contracts ending in June, who is going to play these games should the season be extended?

Any finishing of the season would probably mean the loss of the a League Cup (Group stages at least) and they can bring in comparatively more cash than dead rubber league games, especially a game like Hibs on a Saturday.

[Vote on Curtailment of the season]

Not bothered if there is no promotion/relegation at all.
No relegation from League 2, stuff the non-league. None of them were certain to go up due to the structure so SPFL must look after their own first.

[Old Firm Colts in L2]

They bring in Colt teams and I won’t be back. Rather get pished in my man cave on a Saturday instead.

[The Binos v Cove Rangers]

Mike Runcone is the ref so I’m lowering expectations on this one.

[The Darren Smith Derby (Binos vs Clyde)]

Wetherspoon is closer to the historic battle field at the top of Friar Street for yer neds looking for a fight.

[The Binos v Annan Ath]

 

Haven’t been able to make the last few games due to work but despite there being a long way to go, why not? After a poor start we appear to have turned the corner and if nothing else we’re hard to beat so if this continues over the coming months, then I wouldn’t write us off.

 

Still think we’ll need to get a couple of players off the wage bill. Wouldn’t be shocked to see 1 of Hawke, Mackin or Wright leaving and will we ever see Rodger ever be seen in a Stirling strip?

 

Rodgers played up at Elgin in the League Cup.

We were rotten that day and he was given the runaround.

[Cove Rangers v The Binos]

This.

Went down today with United not playing, and to visit a new ground. It is the coldest ground in Scotland. Arbroath will be raging. I do hope Cove look at putting some more cover in, maybe joining up all the bus shelters.

1-0 really flatters the Binos, Cove could have won 3-0 today and had no complaints. Great to Declan Glass is playing excellently, we'll take him back in January thank you. Also really good to see Fyvie comfortable playing again.

Fair play to the fair number of Albion fans who made the journey up, pretty vocal too.

You must have been raging that the Albion have stolen Beautiful Sunday from you!

[League 2 - player wages]

I'd be very surprised if the total player wagebill for any L2 club (other than QP for the time being obviously) was appreciably below £100k - is that a reasonable minimum budget for this league?

I know the player budget for two clubs in L2 and your statement is correct for those two clubs. Actually you are a bit low.

[Albion Rovers v The Binos]

[emoji23] you still greetin' about this?  Agyeman, one of our players that you accused of feigning injury, was out injured for 3 weeks after your big  lump tried to put him into the stand. Dry them.

 

 

Players can get the fook out my club if they pull that shite. Paul McGrillen dives in an early game for us and our fans went Tonto on him and he cut it out for the rest of his Albion career.

 

I take it it wasn’t the keeper who was out three weeks. Fecking embarrassing stuff it was from Queens Park. Not saying Albion players don’t dive at times but our fans don’t let hem away with it. I’d rather go down that swallow that shite.

[Albion Rovers v The Binos]

That’s the first time this season that Albion has looked competent enough and a goal scoring threat.
Once the first win comes I think we’ll jump up the league a bit and it will be game on this season with everyone threatened with finishing bottom.

I’m becoming sick of the playacting going on by some players. Lewis Hawke for us was at it at Edinburgh a fortnight back for us and he was quite rightly telt by our fans to ”get the f**k up”.
Albion Rovers and Queens Park we’re both at it in the same way that made Airdrie so hated by everyone back in the 90s. No need for it.

[Stirling Albion v Queen's Park]

Aw diddums. .....where does it say in the laws of the game that it's only a straight red card if a player is injured?
We drew 1-1 with you at Forthbank on 19 January and nobody was sent off that day. Good effort though   

Someone did it last season and we had a game where an Albion player was sent off in haste. Will need to trawl last season’s games to think who it was. Genuinely can’t remember which team it was at the moment but it seems to be a tactic some teams are using.

I see you didn’t address the severe injury to your goalkeeper. That poor soul souls be on the phone to DigbyBrown by now such was the viciousness of the assault.

Anyway, QP deserves the points and the Albion have hopefully brought in a striker to score double figures this season and keep us up (such is my ambition for this season)

[Stirling Albion Thread]

Praying he can bring some knowhow to the attacking department. We have three non-scoring strikers and a big lump in the squad currently.

[Stirling Albion v Queen's Park]

Didn't see the incident but the reaction of the QP players said it all. You don't get that kind of response unless it's a really bad foul.

Totally disagree. Once QP scored they seemed to start some sort of routine to break up the game. All three at the back rushed forward together, in my opinion, to influence the ref to send of the player off quickly to “calm” the situation. The play acting kicked in at that stage. No way was the player who was tackled by McGeachie injured at all and did the whole fake limp thing that Maradona loved to do way back. He was battering-ramming everything within a minute or so again. Hmmmmm.
The booking Banner got was a joke, never touched the boy and when you watch the “injury” to the goalie on the video it only confirms that this was some sort of tactic to slow the game down. I have no memories of this sort of thing happening before QP scores.

Someone tried the mass rushing the ref to influence a sending off before at Forthbank. I’m beginning to think it was Queen’s Park. Did we beat you 2-1 with a late goal with 10 men at 1-1 back in January/February?

Mind you, QP deserved the points. Stirling were pretty rotten going forward. I spent Saturday night with the fear of finishing bottom. Wasn’t a good night. Let’s see if Darryl Duffy can organise us up front.