Dead

In the whole of our history we have never taken this approach before and got management and players on board for the next season this far out. Seriously this miles and miles into new territory. I personally think it is a great thing given the turmoil the club has gone through season after season for the last 15 odd years. Plans take time and we now have that.

Yes. Your corect on both the League title in 47/48 and the Cup win the Victory Cup Qualifying Tournament (though there was no trophy). Given these are so long ago that is why we treasure those rare Shire Cup wins since the1940's so much.

Both these guys extending their stay at the club is most welcomed indeed. Early Christmas present for the fans

Yes indeedy ! Meant to say that but well didn't Feeling reasonably sober for the amount of beer I have had today but obvious not as on the form as I thought I was. Was just updating my Shire stats and see Granty has now scored 22 league goals in his 15 league apps this season and Andy Rodgers 14 league goals in his 14 apps (13 plus 1 sub app). Some scoring.

9/9/1950 11-1 v Burntisland Shipyard (h) Scottish Qualifying Cup. Boy are the Shire currently keeping me busy every weekend recently looking into club records. It is a very good thing ! Will post a few record updates on my twitter later. Though straight off the last time Shire have scored 10 or more goals away was 25/10/1890 v Camelon when we won a Scottish Cup 3rd Round Replay 10-6. Also this is only the 2nd competitive away we have scored 10 or more goals in our history, the other was our club record 17-0 win v Carron in the Shire Cup in 1884/85 (note there were also 2 neutral venue games around that time when we went double figures). Hattricks or more from Shire players in the last four games equalling the known club record (possibly their is a longer run in 1889 of 6 games but I have yet to absolutely confirm all the goalscorers as they are aren't all recorded in the newspapers of the day). The result today equalled the record away margin of victory for the Lowland League and Shire are the 1st team to score 10 away from home in the Lowland League. Given the weather at the start of the game I really thought it would take a turn for the worst and be abandoned. After 30 years of watching the Shire I am so glad the fog didn't get worse in the 2nd half. Not so long along we lost 1-9 away to Stirling Albion so huge respect for GFR officials taking the time to talk to us in their social club after the game. I know how low I felt after that result. Also glad they made a decent sum for their charities.

Congrats on another win for EK tonight. Seriously. No matter what this probably is the best winning run we win be around to witness and hear about in our generation. For EK players to go out each game and know that not to win will collapse "the house of cards" is pressure enough but then to still go onto win again and again is special.

Been cleaning out old Shire stuff in my loft over the last few days and came across a Daily Record newspaper cutting from Friday 28th February, 2003. The interview was with the then Shire manager Danny Diver.. "..I don't think East Stirling supporters deserve anything because their attitude to the club is appalling. In all my time they haven't done anything constructive. They mump and moan and are happy to be third. That's not a supporter. They can't live with guys such as us because they are happy to be beaten 1-0 by Morton. I can't accept that. I have to accept not getting the results this season because this is the way we're had to go to move forward. We had a meeting with them and I asked what if we moved to a new stadium, won the league, did well and we're called Grangemouth FC would they support us ? They said no because it took away the name of their club. In this day and age, that is a nonsense." But a tenner a week ! Diver said: "East Stirlingshire have never won games on a regular basis and have never challenged for anything. The difference is now we are not paying £7000 a week to fail. People say it's hard to motivate them on that money but they were on a massive bonus to beat Threave Rovers in the Scottish Cup and it made not one bit of difference. Montrose have something like £150,000 on players this season and they are just 9 points better off than us. What's the point in that ?" But at the risk of being derisory, what is the point in East Stirling ? Diver said: " I have to say that I don't think there is any point in East Stirling." The context to this interview was that the Shire had only won 2 of their 27 games played so far that season (weirdly both wins were away at Hampden). At the start of season 2002/03 following a promising previous season with the youth system bearing fruit chairman Alan Mackin ripped up everything and went to a £10pw wage for the players. What was bad about this was he announced this and revealed in it meaning all decent players avoided the Shire like the plague. East Fife in same season dropped their wages to £15 pw but kept reasonably quiet about it and for them life went on. For Shire it was the start of the downwards roller coaster which had taken the club to the 5th tier this season and without a ground. At the time of the interview Shire were bottom in the league having already lost 72 league goals and would go onto play an incredible 44 players in the league campaign. They had been knocked out the Scottish Cup by Threave Rovers 2 months earlier with Diver playing himself after promising not to come out of retirement that season. As great an ex-Shire player Diver was he was massively out of his depth in management and this interview incensed an already protesting fan base who took their struggle to new levels. Diver would leave the club shortly after following him being ridiculed by a protest giant pair of pants hung from the stand over his head in the dugout which read "Your pants Diver" (there were other way more ruder banners as well). A photo of this made the papers. From the depths of 13 years ago until now. Massive changed days to the current Shire management and players who take the time to acknowledge and speak to the fans no matter the result. Long may that continue. The club can only go forward with everyone together.

Away fans today what a joy to see them. 1st of any note in the league this season at our home games. Fans are football and anyone the that takes the time and effort to follow their club home and away is way up there with me. Last time we played the Star was is a pre-season friendly a good number of years ago midweek at grangemouth stadium and I'm sure a remember a least a few DS fans coming up for that game as well.

Congrats. Getting closer to Belfast Celtic's senior league record of 31 games. Was looking into non league records this week around the world and well they are not recorded but will still keep digging. Did laugh at a Czech (or some or nationally) I saw who won 51 games in a row in the 1920s but no one was able to verify the record ! The whole think is a minefield which is a shame as if EK do break a World Record it should by shouted from the rooftops.

Your right. After yet another last kick of the ball defeat for the Shire in a big game today I can only be very jealous of the way EK can win games at the death when up against it time and time again. They are good for the Lowland League and if they progress beyond our level then good luck to them.

Not getting into the issue re the game won from the penalty mark after a drawn game I am not remotely a believer in today's record equalling win. The fabulous run East Kilbride are on is something I would love my club to even get to a part of. However, the British 1st class record (I think) for consecutive wins is 31 which Belfast Celtic recorded in season 1947/48 in Irish League and Irish Cup games. I have no idea what the non-league record is in Britain far less records from around the world. I think is at best ridiculous that a national newspaper can champion a so called world record without checking basic facts. Did they not do something similar with a certain team playing in the 4th tier with the size of their crowds. Good luck to EK on their winning run, however long it may go on for. They may reach world record status yet if someone somewhere can tell us that the max number of games is xxx. Otherwise it can only be a British Record that they aim for.

Very very decent draw. Was dreading if we got a home game or an away game to Clyde. A draw away to fellow non-league opposition is something to look forward to if we can get through. Would have taken an away game v Stenny (as we would have got the terracing) as think we could take them. Now Saturday it's all about getting through against Annan Athletic. We were well on top at Galabank in the 1st half, I counted 11 good chances against an Annan Athletic team that didn't appear up for it, but we just couldn't score. More of that 1st half performance this Saturday will give us a very decent chance of heading north in the next round.

Cheers for answering a question I was just about to ask! He did come on as the no. 16 (very talll chap) didn't he ? Read the shire match report on the official site which said it was Murray who came on. Think I must be losing it. Re yesterday's game though BSC Glasgow really competed well against us and their no. 8 was running the show for spells in the 1st half. As the game went on Shire did get more in control but BSC to their credit remained very competitive.

Ok. 20 years since I've seen a game at Wick. Re the Annan Athletic draw, We will definitely take more fans to the game that they did earlier in the season when played them at home in the League Cup. O fans was their shocking away fan figure unless I missed one.

Did you drink it all yourself?! Your Mrs seemed most impressed that you were tipsy at the game. Wish I had been tipsy myself at the game and the memories of it were more blurred

Oh boy .As horrendous a defensive performance I have seen by a Shire team. Even with that we could have won if we'd put away some more of the glaring 2nd half misses . We didn't and well done to Selkirk for the result, they certainly took their chances. Our team look so imbalanced in the midfield. Del needs more support which turn will allow the defence to get the missing help it desperately requires from the midfield. Now for my 1st drink of the day. It better be a good one

Ah yesterday's game... I was mightly impressed with Vale of Leithen's team formation in that they rightly went for it rather that just come to defend. In the 1st half Shire had the majority of chances but failed to get the 2nd goal and Vale, after a glaring miss from Sean Stewart ?, got one at the death of the 1st half. Boy did Vale come at us in the 2nd half from the off and after 2 near misses they went ahead. From then till the end of the game both teams did have great chances, Vale having the majority. They should have scored with the chance they had which resulted in their penalty and even with the last kick of the ball they nearly scored in the top corner (shire tv didn't show that chance). Vale of Leithen's attitude all game was positive and their fitness levels looked good, even though they played with 3 up at times their midfield coped and was able to support the forward line and help there defence. As for Shire there was no fluidity between the lines with the forward line receiving slow or little support in the 2nd half especially. The defence also didn't not get great support from the midfield and at times was way way too loose in structure and simple marking and following runners went out the window. If Shire had put away the 1st half chances then the 2nd half poor play won't have mattered but they didn't. At the moment the team still have to learn to function as a unit. Shire got away with a point yesterday. I hope the 1st midweek off we have had since the season started will give us a chance to iron out a few issues for the trip to Whitehill Welfare on Saturday. I'm looking forward to that. Last time we were there we sneaked away with a lucky win.

Bought my season ticket via the website today as working again on Sat

Of course ! Cheers, I should never just rely on my memory, I was thinking of the Shire 1987 away strip but you are right. Somewhere I do have a list of club strips, I should refer to it. Definately can't remember any orange away strip 1970 or before. Re the season ticket that's interesting. Nothing wrong with selling season tickets and club stuff anyway you can. Just though ES would have said season tickets could be bought this way as well for those unable to pick them up at source. Boy do the club need as much money as we can get this season so all avenues should be promoted. Personally I think we should have gone with £100 season tickets for this 1st season in the LL but what do I know. Shire have never been that far out with away strips - Red, light blue, gold, white etc. I do have a fetching dark blue away 1990s shire strip a drawer somewhere. There was, of course, the awful wimbledon half and half ball boy away top from the late 1990s and the blue and white opposite of the crazy 1994/95 strip. One of the club of the current ES directors has been collecting ES strips for a new of years and has a huge collection, he did have website with pics of the strips - will need to try and find the link again. Craigiemack - I agree . Change is good !

So so glad we have not gone with the terrible orange away strip which had no historical link to our club (it only started appearing in the late 1980s). Yellow is close to the Gold away strip we used to play in around the end of the 1960s/start of the earlier 1970s so I'm fine will that until we go back to our original white away strip. I still have to get my season ticket as being on hols and work late nights on Thursdays so was surprised and interested to see Shire Season tickets on sale at the Football Nation website where the away strip is also being sold. How does that work ? Are the club using that website as a selling agent ? Fine with that if they are. Good for people that can't get to the cash selling points/time to buy season tickets as still no option for non cash purchases. Also, normally the club mail the season ticket holders to renew for the new season, really surprised that that hasn't happen. For the cost of a stamp the club are missing a trick as not all season ticket holders are local etc. In the end if I don't buy a season ticket I'm not too worried as over the season I will give the club more buy paying at the gate and the club wins

King Edward Park is a million million times better than the ground Shire currently don't have. If only we even had something like this to allow us to rebuild the club instead of giving 10 of thousands of £s each year just to get Ochilview for a few hrs every 2nd Saturday when the money could be spend on the club. Planning my overnight trip already for the game ! Only 1 of 7 teams/grounds I have not been to before in this draw so so seriously happy at the tie we have landed.