Association football club in Scotland
Football club
University of Stirling Football Club
are a
football
club based in
Stirling
, Scotland. They are associated with the
University of Stirling
and have played in the
Lowland Football League
since 2013. The club operates six teams which compete in a combination of
BUCS Football League
(British university competitions) and in senior and amateur leagues across Scotland.
The club currently have six teams in the
BUCS Football League
and also a team in the
Lowland Football League
,
East of Scotland Football League
, Lowlands U20 Development League and the
Caledonian Amateur Football League
.
The university deliver a High Performance Football Programme which provides players to the first team. As part of this programme, students can be offered football scholarships to study for a degree and play football at the university.
[2]
The football scholarship programme is named after Craig Gowans, a talented
Falkirk
player who died in 2005 while training with the university.
[3]
History
[
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]
The club was admitted to the First Division of the
East of Scotland Football League
in 2008, after
Berwick Rangers
withdrew their
reserve team
. The
2009?10 season
was one of great success for the students, as they won the First Division title in only the team's second season in the East of Scotland League. They also won the Scottish Universities Championship and reached the King Cup final, losing to East of Scotland Premier Division champions
Spartans
0?2 at Ferguson Park,
Rosewell
. In the
2010?11 season
, in their first season in the East of Scotland Premier Division, the students secured a second-place finish and also suffered defeat in the King Cup final at the hands of Spartans at the
Falkirk Stadium
. They were successful in the Alex Jack Cup, winning the final 7?0 against
Lothian Thistle
at the Falkirk Stadium.
In 2012, Stirling University again won the Alex Jack Cup, beating
Gretna 2008
in the final. In March 2012, the university's first year scholar Stephen Hoyle left the program to sign for
ASB Premiership
side
Hawke's Bay United
in
New Zealand
. Stirling University had a remarkable
2011?12 season
, bringing three trophies back to the university, including the East of Scotland Premier Division title for the first time.
[4]
This saw the university compete in the
2012?13 Scottish Cup
, participating in the
Scottish Cup
for the first time in the club's history. Stirling University were drawn against
Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
in the second round, with the university losing 0?1.
[5]
It was announced in 2013 that Stirling University would be admitted to the
Lowland League
as a founding member.
[6]
The university would use
Stirling Albion
's
Forthbank Stadium
for their home fixtures.
[7]
In August 2014, the University of Stirling became the first senior club in Britain to appoint a female manager when
Shelley Kerr
took charge,
[8]
Kerr took over as Scotland women's head coach on 13 April 2017.
[9]
Following her departure, long-serving striker Chris Geddes was promoted to the role of first team coach after assisting Kerr throughout previous seasons.
[10]
Many of the University Scholars have gone on to play professionally in recent seasons. At the end of the
2012?13 season
, goalkeeper
Kevin Walker
left the university to sign a one-year professional contract with
Scottish Championship
side
Livingston
.
[11]
More recently, two of the first team players during the
2018?19 season
signed pre-contracts with professional clubs. Lewis Hunter and Blair Lyons signed professional terms with
Scottish League One
sides
East Fife F.C.
and
Montrose F.C.
respectively.
[12]
[13]
Former club captain, Angus Mailer signed a pre-contract with
Elgin City
ahead of the
2020?21 season
,
[14]
joining up with former Uni teammate Rory MacEwan, who signed for Elgin the season prior.
[15]
After the
COVID-19 pandemic
curtailed the
2019?20
and 2020?21 seasons, the university managed to complete the
2021?22 season
by finishing in 10th place, alongside a defeat in the Second round of the Scottish Cup to fellow Lowland League side
East Kilbride
.
[16]
The
2022?23 season
would turn out to be a fairly successful season for the university, by mid-January they would find themselves in 5th place in the League, but more impressively they had qualified to the
Fourth round
of the Scottish Cup, laying aside non league sides
Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
,
[17]
Dunbar United
[18]
in their run to the third round, where they would meet
League Two
side
Albion Rovers
[19]
at Rover's home ground
Cliftonhill
. The university managed to take the League side to extra-time in the tie, before in the 111th minute they took the lead and went on to win the tie to reach the fourth round for the first time in their history. The university were looking forward to a possible bumper tie, as
Premiership
sides entered the competition at this stage, and they were rewarded with a tie away to
Dundee United
where they took a 1,000+ crowd to
Tannadice Park
as the university lost against the Premiership side 3?0,
[20]
but nonetheless they were praised by many across Scottish football and beyond for their remarkable efforts. The university finished the campaign in 4th place, behind only
Celtic B
,
Rangers B
and league champions Spartans, this secured their best league finish since 2017.
Ground
[
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]
Since 2013 the university's first team have played their Lowland League matches at
Forthbank Stadium
, groundsharing with
Stirling Albion
(apart from the
2017?18
season when they played at the
Falkirk Stadium
). Prior to this they played at Gannochy Sports Centre, which is still used by their second team playing in the East of Scotland League.
[21]
Current squad
[
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]
- As of 20 August 2023
[22]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under
FIFA eligibility rules
. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Coaching staff
[
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]
Position
|
Name
|
Manager
|
Chris Geddes
|
Assistant manager
|
Sean Roycroft
|
First team coach
|
David O'Brien (footballer)
|
Goalkeeping coach
|
David Binnie
|
Analyst
|
Haepyeong Jeong
|
Women
[
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]
In 2014 the women's team joined forces with
Falkirk L.F.C.
and compete as
Stirling University and Falkirk L.F.C.
[23]
[24]
Season-by-season record
[
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]
Lowland League
[
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]
† Season curtailed due to coronavirus pandemic.
Honours
[
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]
Below is a list of honours won by the first team squad of Stirling University Football Club.
[25]
League
[
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]
- SFA
South Region Challenge Cup: 2011?12
- Lowland League Cup: 2013?14
- East of Scotland Qualifying Cup: 2022?23
- East of Scotland (City) Cup: 2022?23
- East of Scotland King Cup: 2011?12
- East of Scotland League Alex Jack Cup: 2010?11, 2011?12
- Stirling and District Amateur League Robertson Trophy: 1982?83
|
As students (1st XI only)
[
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]
- BUSA Premier Division North
: 2010?11, 2013?14, 2019?20, 2021?22, 2022?23, 2023?24
- BUSA Football Championship
: 2013?14
- SUFA
Queen's Park Shield
: 1981?82, 1982?83, 1983?84, 1984?85, 1988?89, 2000?01, 2008?09, 2009?10, 2011?12, 2012?13, 2013?14, 2016?17, 2022?23
|
External links
[
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]
References
[
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]