Stranraer's four year barron spell against the Binos was finally broken after nine man Stirling went down 2-1 at Stair Park. Stirling started the game with the same team as last week, but Steven Bell returned to the bench after recovering from the flu. The Binos got off to a great start when Marek Tomana put them ahead and it looked like there was more on the cards until Myles Hogarth brought down the Stranraer forward and was sent off for being the last man. Replacement Scott Christie pulled a fine double save to take the Binos into a 1-0 half time lead. Stirling eventually conceded from a corner after striking the post through O'Brien. Stirling went down to nine men after Ross Forsyth was sent off for a hand ball in the box and former Bino Stevie Nicholas converted the penalty to give struggling Stranraer a much needed three points. Match report below.

Stirlingalbion.com is going to be bringing you a new feature in which we will be doing interviews with former players and manager and also current players and possibly the management and staff as well. We are hoping to be able to get one done every Monday and the questions will be asked by the fans themselves. To be able to ask your question, then please sign up to the FORUM and look out for the threads in the main forum. Our second interview is slightly late due to the Christmas period, but for our second interview we have is with current Stirling player Stewart Devine. There is quite a few serious and funny questions in this interview and Stewart is very honest about being linked with Morton and his future in football. To read his interview, then please click on the link below. To read former player interviews, then please click on the left hand side of this screen named " Current & Former Player Interviews".

The Binos served up a Christmas cracker when they made it ten straight wins in a row for the first time since the mid sixties. Steven Bell and Ian Cashmore dropped out of the squad this week with John Fraser and Dene Shields making way in the starting line up. Paul Nugent and Chris Malseed returned to the bench and Chris made his league debut after coming on as a sub in the second half. The Binos got off to a great start and the goal hero's on the day were Dene Shields with two, Chris Aitken and David O'Brien. Morton managed to win over Raith at home and the gap at the top remains one point with the Bino's taking on Stranraer away next Saturday before the derby game on the 2nd January. Match report below.

Stirling manager Alan Moore has agreed to stay at Stirling for another two and half years after his contract was due to run out at the end of the season. This means Moore will be in charge of the Binos till at least season 2008/09 after improving Stirling year on year since joining at the start of season 2002/03 season when the Binos were languishing at the bottom of the third division. It was also announced today that Stirling Albion manager Alan Moore has received the manager of the month award for November. Stirling won their three games (two in the league, one in the Scottish Cup) in November which included a 5-0 mauling of local rivals Alloa Athletic. It may surprise some to hear that this is Alan's first manager of the month award this season despite the team being unbeaten in the league since the first game of the season (18 games in a row) and are the only team in Britain to be unbeaten away from home this season. Stirling have a 100% record in December, but Ayr United come to town on Saturday and they will be looking to upset the party. Stirling are playing some fantastic football this season, so why not get yourself along to Forthbank on Saturday and back your local team on their way to a possible title. The club shop will again be open before and after the game for any last minute presents for Christmas and mid term season tickets will again be on sale all this week and before the game ( Adults £85, Juveniles/Senior Citizens £45, Young Reds £35)in the office- contact the club on 01786 450399. Click on the link below to see the full photo of Allan Moore with his manager of the month award.

The Board of the Scottish Football Association have given the thumbs up to  a
Youth Initiative Grant Award to the Stirling Albion Youth Development
Programme for season 2006 - 2007.
The award follows a very stringent audit to ensure that the programme being
delivered currently meets the high criteria demands of the SFA. Coach
Qualification, Facilities, Medical cover, Sports Science Programme, Child
Protection, Parents Information pathways and Youth Development  Financial  arrangements
were subject to close scrutiny in the audit prepared by Youth  Development
Co-ordinator, Stewart Taylor. This season the SFA have recognised  the  progress of
the Youth Development Team in terms of continuing to improve  standards all
round.
Stewart Taylor said,' When, at the end of last season Chairman Peter
MacKenzie said that regrettably the club could not support the  financing of a  Youth
Development Programme for Stirling Albion it looked like the end of the  line.
However the Youth Development Committee with the support of parents,  coaches
and local business people proposed to Peter that we could continue to  run
the programme on a self financing basis. The club agreed to our proposals,
giving us permission to carry on under our own financial arrangements. Fund
raising has been a major priority and events like our Car Wash at  Blair Drummond
Safari Park, the very successful Sportsmans' Dinner and last week's  Bag Packing
at Sainsbury's have all been wonderful in helping us meet the substantial
costs  of the programme. Local support from the business community has also
given us  great encouragement. Dr Robert McElroy at Diageo continues his
magnificent  interest and support and Annie Niven at ATN Accountants,  Hugh Riley at
Riley  Surfacing, Ken Lowandowski at Mono Consultants and the Ford  Dealership at
Macrae  and Dick have contributed greatly and we are most grateful. The hard
work of  fund raising will continue to make the programme even better for our
young  players and the SFA award is the icing on the cake. The money  awarded is
'ring  fenced' to be spent only on the Youth Programme and it will support
our efforts  both for this season and in the future. We have to assure the SFA
about how we  will disburse the award - a terrific £20k but it is great news
for all concerned  - we are thrilled that the SFA have recognised our  hard work'

Producing talented youngsters is the major function of the Youth  Development
Progamme but not its only function. Co-ordinator Stewart Taylor  spent Sunday
at a Symposium on Child Protection ensuring that Stirling Albion is  fully
aware of its responsibilities in this important area of  development.  Of course
the fans are excited and pleased when they see  another product of the Youth
Programme progress into the first team. Goalkeeper  Scott Christie let  no one d
own when he deputised for Myles Hogarth in the  Scottish Cup tie at Meadowbank
a fortnight ago and Nathan Taggart continues to  get fans off their seats
with some electric wing play. Last week in a friendly  reserve team  game against
Stenhousemuir at Ochilview no fewer than ten Youth  players featured at some
point, including one player from the Under 17 team.  Striker Ross McEwan
impressed manager Allan Moore who continues to give his  support by  showing a great
interest in the development of the young  players.

The 19's team made the long journey North to Elgin on Sunday for a re -
scheduled League fixture and they secured a comfortable 3 - 0 win with  goals  from
midfielder's Kevin Fotheringham (2) and Paul Harkins. Thanks to club friend
Jack Bryson for his support of transport to the game.
The team concludes the first half of the season on Thursday 21st December
with an away fixture against Airdrie.

After a short Winter Shut Down it will be back to serious business for the
sixty or so young hopefuls who aim to be the next one off the Youth Player
production line.

Stirlingalbion.com is going to be bringing you a new feature in which we will be doing interviews with former players and manager and also current players and possibly the management and staff as well. We are hoping to be able to get one done every Monday and the questions will be asked by the fans themselves. To be able to ask your question, then please sign up to the FORUM and look out for the threads in the main forum. For our very first interview we have managed to get a hold of former Stirling legend Grétar Hjartarsson to go under the fans spotlight. Grétar played for Stirling from 1996 to 1998 when we were in the first division under Kevin Drinkell and he scored some vital goals in that time. To read his interview, then please click on the link below.

Stirling went into this game with only one change to last weeks starting line up with Myles Hogarth returning to the goalkeepers spot and Scott Christie returning to the bench were Chris Malseed made way for Dene Shields to return to the squad. This game was pretty similar to last weeks game in which we scored an early goal and missed a good chance through Tomana again to extend the lead. Colin Cramb was the goal hero this week to take his tally to eleven for the season and it was a double celebration for the Binos faithful after he signed a new contract to keep him at Forthbank till the end of the season. Cowdenbeath had more of the ball in the second half, but Stirling managed to keep their fifth clean sheet in the last seven games to give the Binos all three points and keep the pressure on league leaders Morton who won at Brechin. Stirling have now extended their unbeaten run to 18 games without defeat (last defeat was by Cowdenbeath in the challenge cup back in mid August) whilst extending their lead over fifthplace Cowdenbeath to a massive 17 points. Next week we entertain the Honest Men who are currently sitting fourth in the table. Match report below.

Mid term season tickets will be on sale from tomorrow's game against Cowdenbeath and again before the home game against Ayr United on Saturday 23rd December. You will also be able to buy them during the week by popping into the office Monday - Friday between 9-5pm. Prices are as follows: Adults £85, Juveniles/Senior Citizens £45, Young Reds £35. The ICT Scottish cup game is scheduled to go ahead on Saturday 6th January and if this game is postponed, then it will be played at Forthbank on Wednesday 17th January at 7-30pm and if replayed it will be Tuesday 16th January at 7-30pm in Inverness. Season Tickets will be valid for this game and prices will be £15 for adults and £8 for everyone else. This makes the price of the mid term season ticket even more better, so why not support the Binos and treat yourself to one this Christmas! On another note, a new order of home and away shirts has been received in and most sizes for adults and kids are now back in stock. Every Bino loves something with Stirling Albion on it for xmas, so why not drop into the club shop before the game tomorrow or next week and check out all the latest merchandise that is now on sale.

Players from the 15's side and the 17's side put in a great shift at the local Sainsbury's Store on Saturday where they offered store customers assistance with packing their shopping into bags. Their efforts raised a magnificent £1,442.00 and the thanks of Stirling Albion Youth Development  Programme go to customers and staff at the store for their support.
The boys' appearance, manners and helpful approach was highlighted by everyone. Well done boys ! Thanks too to Gordon McEwan for his efforts in the organisation of the event and to Finance Committee members, Garry Pender and Bob Nicolson for their support on the day. Under 15's coach Blair Cremin has begun another Coach Education Course to further his qualifications and broaden his knowledge to pass on to his young players. Blair started on Sunday the five day course, spread out over the Winter Shut Down period, for a Youth Level Four qualification. It is a tough course to pass so best wishes go to him and also our thanks for offering the considerable amount of time to take on the course. Young goalkeeper Daniel Cawley is the latest Youth product to progress to inclusion in the first team squad. On the morning of the recent re-arranged league game against Forfar, cover goalkeeper Scott Christie failed a fitness test. Daniel was given a 'late shout' to act as cover on the bench and
thoroughly enjoyed his first first team experience. The next night Daniel played for the first team reserves in a friendly against Sauchie Juniors and did well. Good progress then for the young keeper from Kirkintilloch. Goalkeeping coach, Dave Eccles will ensure that he continues to work hard at improving his  game as he works together with Myles Hogarth and Scott Christie each week. For all the latest youth team scores, click on the menu on the left hand side of the screen.

The Binos went into this game making several changes to the team that won 2-0 up at Forfar in midweek. Scott Christie made his first start of the season for the sick (food poisoning) Myles Hogarth, Andy Graham retained his starting place alongside Mark McNally whilst Stewart Devine made a rare start at left back. Nathan Taggart started on the left wing and Ian Cashmore retained his starting spot up front with Colin Cramb. The Binos scraped through to the next round thanks to a goal from in form Steven Bell. The result could have been so different if one of Citys shots hadn't been ruled off for offside. The Binos went into the hat for the third round and where rewarded with a home tie against high flying Premier league outfit Inverness Caley Thistle. Match report below.

The Binos racked up their seventh win on the spin tonight after a pretty comfortable win over bottom team Forfar to move within only a point from top of the league. This was the Binos 15th league game unbeaten, stretching back to the first league game, defeat by Ayr United and it see's them as only one of two teams in Britain not to have lost away from home in the league this season (the other is Manchester United). The Binos started the game with the same team as Saturday, but in stepped Andy Graham for Mark McNally, Stewart Devine for Nathan Taggart and a trialist keeper in place of Scott Christie on the bench. The Binos dominated the first half and after two previous efforts hitting the post, Colin Cramb scored his tenth goal of the season. Ian Cashmore who has started the last two games due to Dene Shields suspension scored an overhead kick for the Binos second and his second goal in two goals. The Binos have clawed a nine point gap from Morton back to a point over the last few months and can now consider themselves back in the hunt for the title this season. Next up is a break away from league business when the Binos travel to Meadowbank stadium to take on Edinburgh City in the second round of the Scottish cup. Match report below.

The Binos went into this game with the same team as the Shire cup game, except the suspended Dene Shields was replaced by Ian Cashmore up front whilst John Fraser returned to the bench. Stirling where 2-0 down after the only two attacks in the first half. The Binos came out a different team in the second half and I am sure all of the Binos that missed the long trip to Peterhead had wished they had seen one of the best come backs by the Albion foe a long time. Goals from Steven Bell, Ian Cashmore and a last minute winner from Douglas Wilson gave all three points to Binos in their bid for the title this season. Morton could only draw 1-1 at home to bottom place Forfar Athletic meaning the gap between the two teams reduced to four points with the Binos playing their next game (a game in hand) to Forfar at Station Park on Tuesday night with a hope of reducing the gap further. Match report below.