Once upon a time the club played at the other 'Annfield' but the ground was as far away from Liverpool's version as you could get. An inner city old fashioned ground with little charm and physical attraction the club moved in the mid 1990's to a new ground the Forthbank Stadium and today it sits as one of the better grounds in the Scottish lower leagues with two seated stands and modern, safe terracing blocks behind each goal area. Its not a bad a town and stadium to visit on a Saturday afternoon and with the club in the news, all be it for all the wrong reasons, we went to find out more.

Stirling Albion v East Fife

Forthbank Stadium, Stirling

Saturday 23rd January 2010

Most of the current batch of players at the club are fairly young, and the club itself is a fairly young outfit in terms of its foundation which was as recent as 1945. Forthbank Park itself was the former home of the towns previous club 'Kings Park FC' although the current construction bares little resemblance to the previous ground. Today the ground's concept is as a community stadium and part of the town council's 'Active Stirling' approach to local health and fitness. Nearby the ground sit tennis courts, practice pitches and a new sports centre with outstanding modern swimming pool facilities. All in all the ground feels part of a regenerated modern local community far from a desolate out of town ground.

Stirling Albion though have problems on and off the field. Off it the club are up for sale and not doing particularly well. Income generation for the club via match-day attendance is minimal with the clubs proximity to Glasgow meaning that many football locals choose to support one of the larger Glasgow clubs.

Despite the club having a modern ground and a thriving student community, it's almost impossible for the club to attract new interest via attending games. Meanwhile, traditional fans of the club still crave for the older ground Annfield and its ability to generate atmosphere. Whilst crowds were never that big at the older ground, fans of the club loved the older Cow Shed End where loyal fans of the club would congregate and sing. Certainly, it was a football purists nightmare when the decision was made to move out the club out of Annfield was announced.

Amongst the stadium at many grounds in the lower leagues of Scotland the club have far and away one of the best localities and facilities. Stirling Council have since built a major sports complex adjacent to Forthbank and the Club as a concept is again at the heart of the community. In April 2009 the new £29million sports village opened up next to the ground. However, problems are surrounding the club from being chased for rent by the local council to failing to attract new fans through the gates. The Stirling Albion Supporters Association have launched appeals to buy into SAFC but so far the club have had no serious bidders and the future for the club is uncertain.

With Stirling Albion there appears to be a great deal of politics involved. The home of the club Forthbank Stadium is owned by Stirling Council and managed by the local authority's arms-length sports development company 'Active Stirling', which is giving its blessing to the plans for the purchase of the club but is also chasing the club for a figure thought to be £50,000. The latest plan for the club is to set up a world class sports medicine facility which will see the Forthbank Stadium being used by rehabilitating athletes. Another possibility being explored is selling naming rights for the club to a corporation.

Coming out of Stirling railway station, if you are slightly lost and unsure of where the ground is located, then just follow the horrible smell. That is not being derogatory simply factual as the ground is not 5 minutes from a local sewage works. Out of the station and across the railway tracks past the cinema and the stench just hits you. People walking by the works hold scarves to mouths and noses due to the all pervading stench of sewage spewing out of the eyesore. Just as you get past the sewage works the ground emerges and as soon as you see the ground what is noticeable is the extent to which the club are lodgers. The club logo is hardly on display outside and council branding is in predominance over any club branding.

Inside its slightly a different matter with one stand emblazoned with SAFC and the terracing ends which hold 300 each giving the ground a football only feel. As the teams emerge incredibly another lower league Scottish game sees another former Scottish International on display. Steve Crawford is now the manager of East Fife and he lines up for the team clad in black and gold.

Around 60 East Fife fans have made the journey from eastern Fife and despite Stirling Albion being second top the early exchanges suggest East Fife are the team on form. After eight minutes Lloyd Young gives East Fife the lead and the home keeper Christie should have done better. An own goal then pulls Stirling level and the hosts re-took the lead with a fantastic goal from David O'Brien.

Not 10 minutes later though its a shambles at the back and McManus levels again and soon after restores the lead. Then from a corner the equalizer comes through a Forsyth header.Eventually it all ends 3 goals each.

Stirling Albion offers a nice day out, with good pubs and a nice ground in a good strategic position at the heart of the country it worthwhile visiting.  With only 660 in attendance the ground was sparsely populated but the back drop of the Ochil hills makes pleasant viewing, particularly if what is occuring on the field is not ideal.