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| Full name | Stranraer Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Blues or The Clayholers | ||
| Founded | 1870 | ||
| Ground | Stair Park, Stranraer, Scotland | ||
| Capacity | 5,600 | ||
| Chairman | Vacant | ||
| Manager | Vacant | ||
| League | Scottish Second Division | ||
| 2004-05 | Scottish Second Division, 2nd (promoted) | ||
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Stranraer F.C. is a football club from Stranraer, Scotland who were recently relegated from the Scottish First Division in a playoff with Partick Thistle FC.
Club History
editThe football club was founded in 1870 with the amalgamation of the local burgh teams into one single club. For many years the club existed in the wilderness out with the professional league structure. It was not until 1949 that Stranraer finally made their professional league début. The 'local' derby rivals are the "Auld Enemy" Queen of the South, despite being 65 miles apart, a strong rivalry exists between the two clubs, with derby games being fiercely fought affairs.
The football club is one of only a few others in the Scottish football leagues to be owned by its members. No one person has a controlling stake, ordinary supporters can become members and a committee is then appointed by the members at AGM’s. This has ensured that a geographically remote, financially perilous club like Stranraer has survived while many other clubs in a similar situation have fallen into the hands of unscrupulous or careless individuals who have then ran the clubs into the ground.
40's, with the cup successes and getting into the leagues
Para on the various league moves from 40's to 80's, including the odd cup run and the wooden spoon years.
Modern Era
editIntro blurb (effectively will carry on from club history)
The McAnespie era (1987 - 1996)
editStranraer took a bold step when they appointed the
From 1987 to 1996, details the rise and fall of the legend
The Money era (1996 - 1999)
editWith the departure of McAnespie, Stranraer had to find their first new manager in nearly 9 years. The choice was finally between current player and caretaker manager Robert Riley or long time St Mirren player/coach Campbell Money. The decision was to take a gamble and go with the more risky and ambitious appointment of Money. This would see the club appoint its first full time manager, Campbell’s job being split between commercial work for the club on a day to day basis as well as managing the team itself. Money brought in former Rangers player Jim Denny as his number two, and they set about turning the club around.
Money joined with Stranraer in serious relegation trouble (in x position, x points away from xyz), and his immediate task was to arrest this slide and avoid the drop. This was done, as is often with Stranraer, on the last day of the season. Stranraer required (was it a win, or just a draw) away at Montrose, and a Stevie Kerrigan first half goal was enough to secure second division status, and allow Money to make a fresh start for his first proper season in charge.
A great many squad changes took place in the summer of 1996, as a significant amount of McAnespie's championship squad left and a good number of new faces arrived at Stair Park. The season got off to a mixed start, with the club hovering in a mid-table position (CHECK THAT). Fortunes in the Leage Cup were poor, with a first round exit at the hands of a 2-1 defeat to Dumfermline. In the Challenge Cup, however, Stranraer steadily progressed, with wins over X, Y, & Z leading to a home semi-final tie against first division Morton. The team were considered underdogs in this tie against higher league opposition, but with a fine performance they ran out 3-1 winners, with goals from (Someone, McAuley, Someone). Thus Stranraer progressed through to the Challenge Cup Final where they met St Johnstone, at the time the runaway leaders of the first division. The final was played at a very blustery and wet Broadwood Stadium on the whatever of November 1996, with Stranraer considered rank outsiders against Paul Sturrock's Table topping side. The game was a very edgy affair, with Stranraer constantly on the back foot, making the odd forage into the St Johnstone half. One of those forages in the 40odth (what was it) minute resulted in a free kick to Stranraer not far outside St Johnstones box. Tom Black (or was it Jim Hughes - check) crossed in a dangerous ball to the back post, and amongst the scramble XYZ, under pressure from Stranraer's XYZ, put the ball into his own net. Despite constant barrages for the entire second half Sturrock's men could find no route into the Stranraer net, with Barney Duffy holding everything that the opposition and the wind could throw at him. The final whistle was eventually blow and Stranraer celebrated their first major cup trophy, 126 years on. The rest of the 1996/1997 season was a much more unsuccessful time for Money, with the club finding themselves once again in a relegation dogfight at the bottom of the second division. Stranraer went into the last game of the season against Stenhousemuir needing XYZ to survive. For the second season running the drop was avoided, with a 2-1 win securing a third season in division two.
Having just survived the drop for the second season running Stranraer went into the 1997/1998 season with few hopes other than attaining safely and consolidation. The last of McAnespies old squad finally moved on and Money brought in some more new faces in the hope of rejuvenating the squad. The start made to the season wan't promising, and by January (or we could go for the lowest point in feb) Stranraer were XYZ, XYZ points off the bottom and XYZ from the top. What then occurred was something which was only equalled by one (or was it two) other teams in Britain that season, as the team went on a magnificent run from February right through to May, coming into the final match of the season in second place, having won XYZ out of XYZ games since the XYZ of February. The table before the last game looked like this: (show table), with Stranraer away to Clyde, Livingstone XYZ to XYZ and Clydebank XYZ to XZY - with all three teams able to be champions, promoted or finish third. All Stranraer had to do was to win to ensure promotion, and the team took to the Broadwood turf knowing this point. At half time Stranraer were 0-0, having failed to make many inroads against a determined Clyde side. Livingston were XZY and Clydebank were XYZ, thus as it stood Livingston and Clydebank would go up and Stranraer would miss out. What followed in the second 45 minutes reversed all thoughts which were mulled over the half time pie and bovril by the large and edgy Stranraer support. The second half got underway and chances came and went, with the dream in a precarious state as radios were desperately clutched amongst the away support. Finally Stranraer took the lead in the 80th minute thanks to an Alan Landsdown goal and jubilation burst out amongst all the Stranraer support. The precious lead was then successfully defended for the final 10 minutes, and results elsewhere would dictate the destination of the championship trophy. At XYZ (all the opposition gubbins) and so as the final whistles blew across Scotland Stranraer found themselves promoted as second division champions, and back into the first division, 4 short years after earning the right to play there for the very first time.
The step up to the first division would prove as difficult for the club as it did in season 94/95. Squad improvements were limited due to financial straights, and bravely battling against relegation was the best that could be hoped for. The second game of the season pitted the team up against Hibernian, newly relegated from the premier league. Nothing was expected out of this game, but Stranraer came away from Easter Road with a shock 2-1 victory. It may have been the low point of the season for Hibs, who went on to win the leage, but it was the high point for Stranraer. While the club may have ended up with 17 points for the season (exactly the same as in 94/95) frustration walked hand in hand with defeat, as losses were commonly by a single goal, and those goals commonly occurring in the last 10 minutes of the game (out of the 29 defeats, 18 were by a single goal, and in 8 of those that goal was in the last 10 minutes of the match).
The club once again had to face the drop back into the second division, and with the honours of a Challenge Cup win and a second division championship under his belt, Campbell Money decided the time was right to move on, taking up the position of head of youth development at fist division Ayr United. After a search over the summer the Stranraer committee decided to appoint former Queen of the South boss Billy McLaren to the top job.
The McLaren era (1999 - 2003)
editFrom 1999 to 2003. Treading water, scottish cup quarter final, supporter discontent, relegation to third.
The Watt era (2003 - present)
editAfter the departure of Billy McLaren there was a great deal of speculation about who would take over, with the club now down in the third division for the first time in its history. It was with a great amount of surprise to Stranraer supporters that former blues defender Neil Watt was appointed as Manager, with Stuart Millar as his number two. Neil Watt came from Scottish Junior side Maryhill J F.C. which he had managed for numerous years. Upon arrival he downplayed Stranraer’s chances of immediately getting back into the second division, preferring instead to keep everything low-key and not allow expectation to outrun reality - this would be a key feature of Neil's management style. Stuart Millar joined as assistant manager, and came from a lengthy successful spell as manager of Cumbernauld Juniors.
With the nucleus of a good squad it was all about developing a strong team bond between the players and getting the tactics right on the park. Right from the start of the 2003/04 season Stranraer rose to the top end of the third division table. Stirling Albion lead the way in the division for the first half of the season, with Stranraer being the leader of the chasing pack. As the season continued Stranraer began to look very comfortable, winning games with a positive, pacey attacking game, lead by the strike force of Michael Moore and David Graham. Stranraer overtook Stirling on XXXX, and remained top of the league from that point onwards. Promotion was secured with a 3-2 win against third placed Gretna on the 1st of May. The final outcome of the league was shaped in the last two weeks of the season. Stranraer were three points ahead of Stirling with two games left, and the second last game was away against Stirling themselves. A large travelling support made the trip up to Forthbank Stadium hopeful of a away win and championship conformation. Stranraer took the lead via a Fraser Wright goal in 63rd minutes and went 2-0 thanks to Michael Moore, to the jubilation of the away supporters. This joy, however, was short lived, as Stirling struck back with a Craig Ferguson double in the 80th and 85th minutes, shattering the jubilant travelling support who felt they had the trophy in their hands. A draw thus ensured the championship would go down to the last game, with Stranraer just requiring a draw. The results of the final week were a 4-0 home win for Stranraer against Albion Rovers, & a 5-0 win for Stirling against Cowdenbeath, thus Stranraer were crowned champions of the third division, just 12 short months after relegation.
The jump up to the second division was expected by all to be a task of consolidation. Some key positions were strengthened, and some weakened (most notably by the departure of Michael Moore to St. Johnstone for £35,000) but ultimately a very similar team would be having to survive a league up. The second division proved as tough as is was feared, easy wins were now a thing of the past. But none the less, with the help of a settled solid side with a thorough knowledge of each other, Stranraer rose to the top end of the table, in a leading group of Brechin, Morton & Stirling. As the season progressed Stranraer lead the pack, and by the New Year they were XYZ points clear from Brechin at the top of the league. In the January transfer window a bid of £50,000 was made for the impressive Stranraer forward David Graham by Gretna and the club accepted the bid. Thus an important component of the team’s success was no more, and results suffered, with Brechin overtaking Stranraer to go top and Morton catching from 3rd place. The season was rescued with the return of Michael Moore from St. Johnstone with the original £35,000 transfer fee heading in the opposite direction. The season built to a climax, with Stranraer in 2nd place 4 points ahead of Morton with 2 games left. The two teams met in this second last game, and this meeting proved to be decisive to the promotion spot. Stranraer only needed a draw, while nothing less than a win for Morton would force it to the final game. Morton took the lead in the 40th minute with a headed goal from Peter Weatherson. Stranraer replied 2 minutes later with a superb effort from Captain Allan Jenkins. Despite constant pressure from Morton in the second half Stranraer held firm, and a full time result of 1-1 secured the club back to back promotion, and secured first division football at Stair Park in season 2005/06.
Currently Stranraer are competing well in the first division, and have, for the first time in their history, a chance of avoiding immediate relegation back to the second division.
Ground
editThe club is situated at Stair Park Stranraer, at the southern end of the public park. The land on which the club plays was donated to the people of Stranraer by the Earl of Stair in 1905. The local council thus assumed responsibility for the land and the club pays a nominal rent, with the council in return gaining one seat on the club committee. The ground itself consists of two main stands on either side of the pitch – a small northern stand (seating 300) which was financed and is owned by Dumfries and Galloway Council – and the larger, modern south stand (seating 1500) which owned by the club itself. The goalmouth ends are terracing, with the home western end having an enclosure and the away eastern end being a concrete and grass bank. The pitch dimensions are 110 yards by 70 yards. The modern south stand functions as the principle home seating, with full facilities underneath the stand for the club (Changing rooms, Board Room, Club Shop etc), it was constructed in 1995, replacing the 'old stand' which was a traditional old fashioned wooden structure.
Current Squad
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club Records & Honours
edit- Year of formation: 1870
- Most League points in a season:
- 56 (Second Division - Season 1993/94) (2 Points for a Win)
- 79 (Third Division - Season 2003/04) (3 Points for a Win)
- Most League goals scored by a player in a season: Derek Frye (Season 1977/78) & Michael Moore (Season 2003/04), 27 Goals
- Record Attendance: 6,500 ( v Rangers - 24/01/1948)
- Record Victory: 7-0, v Brechin City, Division 2, 06/02/1965
- Record Defeat: 1-11, v Queen of the South, Scottish Cup, 16/01/1932
- Honours:
- Scottish Second Division Champions: 1993/94, 1997/98
- Scottish Second Division Runners Up: 2004/05
- Scottish Third Division Champions: 2003/04
- SFL Challenge Cup Winners: 1996
- Scottish Cup Quarter Finalists: 2002/03
- Scottish League Cup Quarter Finalists: 1968/69
- Qualifying Cup: Winners (1937), Runners Up (1946, 1947)
Trivia
edit- Alex Fergussons first competative game of football was against stranny at stair park
- Stranraer were the last senior side in Britain to install floodlights - with the switch on occuring in 1982.
Refrences
edit124 years on
External Links
editwebsites, messageboards