University of Stirling F.C.

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.

University of Stirling
Full nameUniversity of Stirling Football Club
Founded1969
GroundForthbank Stadium, Stirling
ManagerChris Geddes (player-manager)
LeagueLowland League
2019–20Lowland League, 10th of 16
WebsiteClub website

The club currently have five teams in the BUCS Football League and various in the Scottish Lowland Football League, East of Scotland Football League, Lowlands U20 Development League as well as 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.[1] The football scholarship programme is named after Craig Gowans, a talented Falkirk player who died in 2005 while training with the university.[2]

History

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6][7]

When it was announced in 2013 that Stirling University would be admitted to the Lowland League,[8] it was also announced that they would use Stirling Albion's Forthbank Stadium for their home fixtures.[9] In August 2014 they announced their new manager as Shelley Kerr, becoming the first senior club in Britain to appoint a female manager.[10] On 13 April 2017 Kerr was appointed as manager of Scotland women's head coach.[11] Following her departure, long-serving striker Chris Geddes was promoted to the role of first team coach after assisting Kerr throughout previous seasons.[12]

Current squad

As of 1 July 2020[13]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  NIR Ben Fry
— DF  ENG Alex Webb
— DF  SCO Callum Downie
— DF  SCO Robbie McGale
— DF  ENG Matthew Burrows
— DF  SCO Liam McMaster
— DF  GRE Giannis Kotzaegeorgis
— MF  SCO Callum Heath
— MF  SCO James Berry
— MF  SCO Callum Bremner
— MF  SCO Jason Jarvis
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ENG Josh Emmott
— MF  SCO Craig Brown (captain)
— MF  SCO Conor Doan
— MF  SCO Jack Adamson
— MF  SCO Louis Kennedy
— MF  CAN Aaron Chia
— FW  ENG Kieran Hall
— FW  SCO Euan Baird
— FW  SCO Jamie Penker
— FW  SCO Chris Geddes

Women

In 2014 the women's team joined forces with Falkirk L.F.C. and compete as Stirling University and Falkirk L.F.C..[14][15]

Season-by-season record

Lowland League
Season Division Position Played Wins Draws Losses GD Points Scottish Cup
Stirling University
2013–14 Lowland League 2nd 22 14 3 5 +22 45
Did Not Participate
2014–15 Lowland League 6th 26 12 6 8 +8 42 Second round, losing to Albion Rovers
2015–16 Lowland League 3rd 28 17 5 6 +33 56 Second round, losing to Queen's Park
2016–17 Lowland League 4th 30 16 5 9 +7 53 Second round, losing to Arbroath
2017–18 Lowland League 9th 30 11 5 14 -4 38 Second round, losing to Montrose
2018–19 Lowland League 10th 28 7 10 11 -7 31 Third round, losing to Elgin City
2019–20 Lowland League 10th† 25 9 4 12 -16 31 Second round, losing to Linlithgow Rose

† Season curtailed due to 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.

Honours

Below is a list of honours won by the first team squad of Stirling University Football Club.[16]

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References
  1. "Football (men) | Student life". University of Stirling. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  2. "Tragedy as footballer is electrocuted Power cables kill promising teenager". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  3. "Stirling offering a real education". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. "Scottish Cup: Rangers draw Forres Mechanics in second round". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  5. http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/news/news_20130528_1.php
  6. "Student footballer Lewis Hunter signs to East Fife FC". Brig Newspaper. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  7. "Montrose FC Online - GABLE ENDIES SIGN PRE-CONTRACT WITH PROMISING YOUNG LYONS". www.montrosefc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. "University football team selected for new Lowland league". www.stir.ac.uk. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  9. "Stirling Uni to use Forthbank". stirlingalbionfc.co.uk. Stirling Albion F.C. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  10. "Shelley Kerr is first female boss in British senior ranks". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  11. "Shelley Kerr appointed SWNT head coach". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  12. "Geddes graduates to top job at University of Stirling FC | About". University of Stirling. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  13. "Squad". University of Stirling Football Club. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  14. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/the-university-of-stirling-appoints-the-first-female-manager-in-british-men-s-senior-.1408465866
  15. http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1957&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=14210
  16. Honours - Stirling University FC Stirling University. Retrieved 24-05-2014.
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