Stirlingalbion.com is proud to announce the return of the pocket sized fixture card and that they will be available at the home gates this Saturday when the Binos take on the Honest Men. These handy sized fixture cards are proudly sponsored by Stirling Albion official sponsors Prudential. They will be digitally printed by Perspektiv marketing who do similar work for Notts Forest, Leicester City and Carlsberg, to name a few of their clients.  Credit card sized, in fold out z-card format, they will look great in the wallets and purses of all the binos fans!!  Jim Mailer of Whyler photos kindly donated the images of the players for free, ground shot is courtesy of Graham Hamilton so many thanks to them. The fixture cars where originally done by the Stirling Observer, but they where unable to do them from last year onwards after business restructure. All credit must go to Steven Leiper (one of the key men in this huge locally based company sponsoring the Binos) of Prudential for doing this, so many thanks to Stephen for arranging this.

Stirling played their last pre-season game today against first division St Johnstone in boring draw today at Forthbank. Both the Binos and St Johnstone put out strong teams, but no one really shone in this game. Trialist Ian Cashmore was again in the starting line up for the Binos with fellow trialist Adam Kassim on the bench with youngsters Paul Donnelly and Nathan Taggart. Stirling lined up in a 3-5-2 formation with Paul Hay, Sean Roycroft and Andy Graham at the back and it could be that formation that the Binos will line up with against Ayr United next week. Stewart Devine and Ross Forsyth are both suspended next week with Mark McNally and long term injured Paul Nugent also missing the game through injury. With no natural left back at his disposal, the Binos might opt for the 3-5-2 formation on show today against Ayr next week. What ever happens, the Binos will need to do more around about the goal area if they are to get an opening day win over the Honest Men. Match report below.

According to the local paper, The Stirling Observer, Stirling have completed the signing of ex Partick and Stenhousemuir winger Andy Gibson (pictured left). Gibson has had two loan spells with the Binos in the past whilst he was with Partick Thistle. Gibson had a successful loan spell when he was on loan for six months at the start of the season 2003/04 season and played 16+1 times, scoring one goal, in Stirling's promotion winning season from the third division. He then went back to Partick and after a few games picked up an injury that seen him struggle to get back in the Jags team. He was then loaned to the Binos in November 2004 for two months and played 5 plus 2 subs appearances for the Binos in the second division. He then stayed on at Partick until the January transfer window last season where he then signed for third division Stenhousemuir. He then went on to play in nine games, scoring one goal before injury ended his season in March of this year. Gibson first appeared back in an Albion shirt in the 4-0 win over Alloa at the Recs in the Shire cup and he also came on against East Kilbride on Sunday as a sub and came pretty close to scoring with a header. On other news, the Binos won a bounce game last night at Lesser Hampden by four goals to one. Scorers for the Binos was man of the match Ross Forsyth, Colin Cramb and a double from trialist striker Ian Cashmore. The Binos will now take on St Johnstone on Saturday and once again season tickets will be on sale before the game. The prices are the same as last year, so please help the club and buy a season ticket.

Stirling drew Dumbarton away in the first round of the CIS league cup draw today at Hampden. The tie will take place on either Tuesday 8th or Wednesday 9th August. Dumbarton where relegated to division three last season after a terrible season in the second, but they still managed to take seven points from the Binos. The Binos never won at Dumbarton's ground last season and the Binos will hoping to break that duck this season after winning in the Shire cup last week after a penalty shoot out. The winner will go into the hat for round two and that game will take place on either Tuesday 22nd or 23rd August. The full draw was as follows:

AYR UNITED -v- BERWICK RANGERS
ALBION ROVERS -v- STENHOUSEMUIR
BRECHIN CITY -v- MORTON
MONTROSE -v- PETERHEAD
COWDENBEATH -v- EAST STIRLINGSHIRE
DUNDEE -v- PARTICK THISTLE
ROSS COUNTY -v- STRANRAER
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH -v- CLYDE
QUEEN’S PARK -v- HAMILTON ACADEMICAL
ARBROATH -v- ELGIN CITY
RAITH ROVERS -v- AIRDRIE UNITED
DUMBARTON -v- STIRLING ALBION
FORFAR ATHLETIC -v- ALLOA ATHLETIC
ST. JOHNSTONE -v- EAST FIFE

In a repeat of last year's final, Stirling took on hosts East Kilbride in the third/ fourth place game after going down to junior side Auckinleck Talbot 2-1 the previous day. The Binos fielded a stronger team against East Kilbride, but another defeat was to follow and Stirling limped out of the competition in last place. Although the competition results where very disappointing, this competition may have given Alan Moore a good chance to look over the several different trialists that where on display for the Binos over the weekend. Stirling completed their fifth game in eight days and this will have no doubt taken it's toll on Stirling's small squad, however, I am sure it will have improved their fitness levels. The Binos next take on first division side St Johnstone at Forthbank on Saturday and then it's onto the real thing when Ayr come to the city in Stirling's first league game. Match report below.

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Stirling where invited back to the East Kilbride tournament this season to defend their title that they won last season. Alan Moore opted to field a very young side against the Junior Scottish Cup winners, but in the end, the junior team edged through to tomorrow's final. Stirling again fielded trialists Cashmore, McSween and Adam Kassim, however it was young Nathan Taggart who set up John Miller (picture left) in the third minute to take the lead. Talbot equalised just before the break and then took the lead half through the second half. Talbot then held on for the last half hour and will now play Clyde in the final tomorrow. Bryan Young (a trialist for the Binos last season) was on show for Talbot as was former Bino Craig Ferroz who came on as a sub. The Binos will now play hosts East Kilbride in a mid day third place game tomorrow.

Stirling cantered into their fifth consecutive Stirlingshire cup final tonight when the Binos outplayed and out fought a weak Alloa side. The Binos started in a 4-4-2 formation with Hogarth, Hay, Graham, Forsyth, Devine, Trialist (ex Partick player Andy Gibson), Bell, Aitken, O'Brien, Cramb and Trialist (ex-Motherwell striker Kenny Wright). Colin Cramb did get on the score sheet and won the sponsors man of the match award, but it was his fellow strike partner Kenny Wright who stole the show. Wright was at the heart of most moves and looked a class above the rest. Fellow second division rivials Stranraer are also keen to sign the striker and after tonight's showing the Binos will be hot on his tail as well. Goals from Aitken (pen), Wright, Cramb and Bell saw the Binos reach the final and they will be hoping to make it four in a row when the final comes along. Match report below.

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Stirling today drew fellow second division rivals Cowdenbeath away in the first round of the Challenge cup. The game will take place on either Tuesday/Wednesday 15/16th August with a likely kick off time of 7-30pm. The draw could have been worse as the Challenge cup is regionialised this season with the Binos having the misfortune of being in the North section. The full draw is as follows:

North/East Region

St. Johnstone v Raith Rovers
Brechin City v Arbroath
Cowdenbeath v Stirling Albion
Forfar Athletic v Dundee
East Fife v Ross County
Montrose v Peterhead
Elgin City v Stenhousemuir

Bye:- Alloa Athletic

South/West Region

Airdrie United v Gretna
East Stirlingshire v Queen's Park
Dumbarton v Morton
Partick Thistle v Albion Rovers
Hamilton Academical v Berwick Rangers
Queen of the South v Stranraer
Ayr United v Livingston

Bye:- Clyde

The Binos made a double signing last night when both Colin Cramb and Marek Tomana signed up for the coming season. Cramb has featured in both the pre-season draw against SPL St Mirren and Monday night's Shire cup win over Dumbarton and scored a cracking goal in the St Mirren game. Cramb was recently with third division Stenhousemuir and scored 16 goals in only 25 appearances as the Warriors just missed out in promotion last season. Stirling will be Cramb's 15th senior club and the 32 year old has demanded some high fees in his time in the game. He started his career off at Hamilton Accies scoring 10 goals in the season before an undisclosed fee took him down to Southampton, however he only featured once as a sub in his season down there. He then moved back to Scotland and had a season with both Falkirk and Hearts before a £25,000 fee took him back down south to Division Two side Doncaster Rovers. He made just over 60 starts in his two seasons there scoring 25 goals which prompted a bid from Division One outfit Bristol City for £125,000. He made 41 appearances in his two seasons their, scoring 10 league goals and also had a loan spell at Walsall. Crewe then paid out £200,000 to take him to the Alexandra stadium and he stayed there for two seasons scoring 10 goals in 43 appearances, although he was loaned out twice both to Notts County and Bury. He then moved over to Holland and spent two seasons with Fortuna Sittard and had a loan spell back in England with Bury. He then spent a season each with Shrewsbury Town and Grimbsy Town before moving back north for a half season with first division Hamilton Accies before his spell with Stenny last season. Cramb comes along to the Binos with a bit of a reputation and the fact that he has had so many teams in his career speaks volumes. In saying all this, Moore has worked with many characters in his time with the Binos and has always got the best out of them and I am sure Cramb will be no different. The Binos also signed 26 year old midfielder Marek Tomana who came on as a sub in the draw with St Mirren and also played the full game in a 5-0 defeat by Dundee in a closed door game at Stirling uni. The Sloviakian had some nice touches in the St Mirren game and despite the scoreline in the closed door game, he put in a good shift and looked pretty useful. Not much is actually known about Tomana, although he did play for Sloviakian side FC Vion last season. Stirling boss Alan Moore will again be looking to field recent trialist's Ian McSween and Ian Cashmore again as he takes another look at the potential strikers. Ex Ayr striker Cashmore came on as a sub in the 2-2 draw against St Mirren and played the full 90 minutes in the victory over the Sons on Monday night in which he scored a cracking goal and got the sponsors man of the match. Ex Falkirk youth McSween was a target of Moore's last season and played the full 90 minutes against St Mirren on the right hand side of midfield. Moore also stated that he will be looking at ex-Partick winger Andy Gibson (who has had two previous spells with the Binos) again and also former Motherwell player Kenny Wright (who played as a trialist for Stranraer on Saturday and scored).

Stirling went into the Shire cup hoping to make it four years in a row that they have won the cup and build on their good performance they had on Saturday against St Mirren. The Binos lined up with Hogarth, Graham (Devine), McNally (Hay), Roycroft, Forsyth, Wilson, Bell, Aitken, O'Brien, Trialist (Cramb) and Trialist (Cashmore) in a 3-5-2. The Binos where not at their best in the first half and a bad challenge early on from Steven Bell in a 50/50 challenge saw the Dumbarton trialist stretchered off with a serious leg break. The Binos fell behind just before the break. Stirling reverted to a 4-4-2 formation after McNally (it looked like he may have picked up a back strain) was subbed for Devine and Graham was subbed for Hay. This system worked a lot better for us and we played a lot better in the second Half. The Binos equaliser came from trialist Cashmore after he shot from outside the box. The game ticked over to penalties and Dumbarton missed two penalties (Myles saved the last one) and the Binos converted their four penalties. The Binos now take on Alloa on Thursday night at the Recs and the winner will go through to the final. Match report below.

Pre-season got underway when SPL St Mirren came to Forthbank and they fielded a pretty strong team. However, it was the Binos who took the lead with the last touch of the ball when our trialist striker (ex-Stenhousemuir striker, Colin Cramb) cooley slotted him from the edge of the box. The Binos went a second goal up when John Fraser played a delightful through ball to O'Brien and he held it up perfectly before laying it off for the Fraser who curled it home from the edge of the box. St Mirren pulled one back a few minutes later and the Binos then threw on 6-7 players. St Mirren made a couple of subs themselves and dually equalised before the end. Overall it was a fair result and the Binos can take a lot from their performace.Team Line-up- Hogarth (Christie), P.Hay, Graham, Roycroft (Trialist- Adam Kassim), Forsyth, Trialist (Ian McSween- ex Falkirk player) Trialist (unknown), Fraser (Bell), Trialist (Steven Boyack) Trialist (unknown), O'Brien (Wilson), Shields (Trialist-Ian Cashmore-ex Ayr striker) and Trialist (Colin Cramb) McVicar. Stirling's next game is a home game against Dumbarton in the Shire cup at home this Monday.

Renewal letters have been sent out to all members with the exception of those who joined late last season and, therefore, do not need to renew.
With the renewal form is a letter explaining the new format for the Soccer Sevens, a registration form for the Scotland v Faroe Islands match on 2nd September and a letter to parents / guardians regarding the commercial opportunities at the club.
A note was also included advising that we hope that this year's free gift will be a personalised Stirling Albion ruler. As these will have to be specially ordered, members are urged to return their renewal forms by 31st July.

Finally the hunt for a striker and our first signing of the season came to an end last night when the Binos signed 23 year old Dene Shields on loan from Gretna. Shields started out his career with Raith Rovers and at the age of only 18 and a handful of games with the Kirkcaldy side, Shields was snapped up by then Premeirship side Sunderland Fc for a fee of £60,000. In his time there he never played for the first team, but instead seen loan spells at Scarbrough (who where in the Conference at the time) and then another Conference side at that time, Doncaster Rovers. He was then released in January 2003 and resigned till the end of the season for Raith Rovers. Brechin City was his next port of call for a season before being loaned to Cowdenbeath and then at the start of 2004/05 he signed for them permanently. He stayed there for a another year and a half before Gretna tabled a £30,000 bid for him and he ended up full time again at Raydale Park. Again out of favour, first division Stranraer signed him on loan for last season where he played 3(7) games,scoring one goal. Shields will start off the season with the Binos and hopefully he can slot into the team and score some important goals before going back to Gretna in December.

Stirling Albion take on Premier league side St Mirren at Forthbank this Saturday and the cost for this game will be £8 for adults and £4 for children and oaps. Other dates to note for your pre-season diary is, Monday 17th July- Stirlingshire cup home to Dumbarton, Thursday 20th July, Stirlingshire cup game at away to Alloa, Saturday 22nd July- away to Auckinleck Talbot at East Kilbride Thistle's ground in the EK cup and then we will play the winner/loser of the other game on Sunday 23rd July, again at East Kilbride Thistle's ground and then our last pre-season game will be against St Johnstone at Forthbank on Saturday 29th July. Season tickets are now on sale during the week (phone Marlyn on 450399 to confirm the best time to buy them) and before the St Mirren game on Saturday (although it is advisable to be a bit earlier than usual). As far as I am aware, your season ticket will get you into all the home pre-season games, home league and all home cup games- fantastic value for money and you will be helping the club financially as well.

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Stirling's search for a striker continues and the rumour mill is going into over drive as the Binos become the only team in the division not to sign a new player for the coming season. Stirling's pre-season training is now into full swing and the Binos have got several players in training with them. Amongst them is former Falkirk youth striker Ian McSween, ex-Ayr United striker Ian Cashmore and former Stranraer midfielder John Maisano. McSween and Cashmore have been former signing targets of Moore in his time with the Binos. Moore tried to pick up McSween in last January's transfer window, whilst Moore tried to sign Cashmore last pre-season when he opted for local team Ayr United. Aussie midfielder, Maisano is another player who will be familiar to the Binos faithful after previous spells with Morton and Ayr before signing for Stanraer last season. Another striker reported to be interesting the Binos is former Gretna striker Dene Shields. The 24 year has a varied career after starting his career with Raith before moving to Sunderland for £60,000. He then went on loan to Scarbrough and Doncaster before moving back to Raith. He was then off to Brechin where he got loaned out to Cowdenbeath before making the transfer permanent. A £30,000 transfer to Gretna took him to the borders side, where he was loaned out to first division Stranraer last season. On other news, Paul Nugent looks like he might be struggling to get back to fit after breaking his ankle last season. The right back has been ruled out of the up and coming pre-season friendlies, but is hopeful to be fit for the start of the season.

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