Forthbank

15^th August 1998

Stirling Albion 1-2 Clyde

There is a neat symmetry to Stirling Albion playing at a ground called Forthbank (although, I believe it is presently groaning under the cumbersome moniker of The DoubleTree Dunblane Stadium), as this was the name of the home of the town’s first senior football club, Kings Park.

Formed in 1875, Kings Park joined the Scottish League Division 2 in 1921, where they remained until the start of the Second World War.  They only once, in season 1927/28, looked like they might attain promotion to the top flight, but the club nonetheless acquitted themselves admirably at league level.  Especially when one considers the fate of so many other clubs who entered the Scottish League during the 1920s. 

It was, however, the Luftwaffe who put paid to Kings Park when, in 1940, a German bomber dropped part of its payload on the town of Stirling, hoping to destroy Stirling Castle where Rudolf Hess was supposedly hiding out.  

Well wide of the mark, one bomb landed on the stand at Forthbank, totally destroying it.  After the war the present club, playing at a new ground Annfield was formed, and Kings Park FC was consigned to history.

A fact I always find Quite Interesting is that during the early 1970s, whilst Bill Shankly was manager at Liverpool (who, as we all know, play at Anfield), his older brother Bob was, for a spell, managing Annfield based Stirling Albion.  Spooky, or what? 

I personally have three claims to football fame:

1.      I once played for a Scottish Junior club.  OK, so it may only have been Bathgate Thistle, and it was only a pre-season friendly, and it was only because I was Treasurer at the time, and only 10 players turned up.  But I have played Junior Football nonetheless.  Sort of.

2.     I once scored two goals in a 3-2 win over I cannot remember who (but they were good), in the Livingston Gala 5-aside tournament at Craigshill Sports Centre.

3.     I have played at Annfield.  Twice.  Not the Liverpool one, which only has one n, but the Stirling one.  Towards the end of the ground’s life Stirling Council who owned it, in an attempt to maximise income from their property had lain down astroturf, and the pitch could be rented out by any bunch of Herberts.  Thus did I strut my stuff at a Scottish Football League ground. 

I need hardly point out all of the above occurred during the 1980s when I was considerably less spherical than I am now.

But, by the early 1990s, it became clear Annfield had no long term future, not even as a public facility, so Stirling council sold the ground for housing development and built Stirling Albion a new ground on the eastern outskirts of the town.   The club moved into these new facilities, named Forthbank to honour the old stadium, in time for the 1993/94 season.

The approach to Forthbank.

This particular match took place during Albion’s fifth season at their new home, and quite a diverting one it proved to be, with visitors Clyde handing out an object lesson in the art of finishing.  Stirling Albion dominated possession throughout most of the proceedings, but time and again fluffed the frequent opportunities they carved out – Clyde, by contrast, scored early and late in the game with brutal efficiency.  

Mark McGRAW it was who opened for Clyde in the 7^th minute.  Although looking well offside when he received Steve Convery’s pass he didn’t muck about, tapping the ball past home ‘keeper Mark McGeown, leaving any subsequent discussions to take place between the Stirling defenders and the officials.

The home lads then passed up a clutch of chances to equalise – Alex Bone, Graeme Donald and Andy Paterson all should be blushing at this point.  But on 34 minutes BONE, finally carved out a leveller and I, and probably most of the other 1059 in Forthbank Stadium thought Albion would then go on to win.  

But the rest of the match was just more of the same, although Clyde’s Scott McHarg didn’t half give the Albion crossbar a helluva dunt just before the break.  Then with just 8 minutes remaining came the inevitable sucker punch, as substitute Andy O’BRIEN punished the home side’s profligacy.



Bino's Attack !

Forthbank Stadium, Stirling.

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Stirling Albion 1-1 Stenhousemuir

April 28th 2018

Stirling Albion v Stenhousemuir - April 2018

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Stirling Albion 3-1 Annan Athletic

April 22nd 2023

Stirling Albion v Annan Athletic  -  April 2023

Darren Young, whom I recall with some fondness from his five
seasons at East End Park, is Stirling Albion manager these days.

Former Kilmarnock winger Chris JOHNSTON opened the scoring for Annan on 27 minutes....

....a lead which lasted less than a minute before a corner bounced off
Max KILBY's knee, and into his own goal.

Although, I would attest that Kilsby was put off balance beforehand, by a sneaky
little shove in the back by Albion's Jordan McGregor. 

Annan's cause was pretty much lost when Scott Hooper
was shown a red card with just five minutes remaining. 
Stirling were at this point 2-1 up following Jack LEITCH's
strike ten minutes after the break.

Flynn DUFFY's injury time third wrapped things up for the home side, and initiated a wee pitch invasion....

....and a solitary lonely flare.....

....and also Albion manager Darren Young being sent to the stand, for his part in the
premature, if understandable, third goal exuberance.  Wee bro' Derek,
who also had a spell at East End Park, was on hand to offer sympathy and congratulations.

Loadsa Happy Binos...

...and one oddly glum one.

Robbie Hamilton  -  Stirling Albion

Jack Leitch  -  Stirling Albion
He did a lot of tumbling over early on, but soon came
onto a fine game, scoring Stirling's important second. 

Mark Weir  -  Stirling Albion

I briefly though we were going to see a Wembley '77 incident with the goalposts.

Scottish Cinch League Two Champions 2022/23, Stirling Albion.
I was a bit underwhelmed by the trophy, though.
I just though it would be a bit less...well...inflatable.  😁